Bush-lover Ted scores in new National Art Prize

Ted Lewis loves the Australian bush.

 And it’s a subject that is proving increasingly-popular for the local artist who was recently listed as a finalist in the prestigious National Capital Art Prize.

 “My entry was for a painting called “Outback Track” Ted said from his property in rural Ophir, explaining that the image was inspired by a special trip.

 “It was actually based on a flight over the Painted Desert in South Australia. I took a lot of photos, and the painting was based on them,” he explained.

 A veteran bush-painter for more than a quarter of a century, he said that he decided for something a little different for the inaugural Canberra-based Art Prize. “Upon entering this art competition, I thought I would paint a totally different subject.

 “Being Inspired by a recent flight with a friend over the Painted Desert in South Australia, I found painting the Australian landscape from an aerial view with the vibrant colours of the outback really enjoyable and motivating.”

 The unique pictorial properties of the Australian landscape however forms a large part of his body of work with his art partly-inspired by his rural lifestyle.

 “I’ve got a bush-block out of Orange. I have the privilege of living surrounded by bushland at Ophir.

 “Because of this, I try to capture and absorb and paint the everchanging colours and seasons of the wildflowers, gum-trees, natural scrub, blue hills, creeks, and waterfalls,” he said.

 His country locale allows him to often set-up an easel around his own property when he sees something that he wants to capture.

 “A lot of my paintings are from around our place on the Ophir Road, there’s always something new that I can look to as a subject,” he added.

 Painting, he added, is in his blood, taking-up oil colours at age 16 with his first exhibition at only 18 — a time when most young men are more interested in cars, sport and girls.

 “I’ve always loved it, I’ve been a full-time painter for the past 25 years,” he added.

 Locals interested in supporting Ted’s efforts have been invited by the event organisers to vote online for his entry in the viewers award category.

 “The Orange community can proudly support their local artist by selecting their work in the People’s Choice Award which is now open for voting,” a spokesperson for the prize said.

 “All finalist artworks are on display in a virtual gallery and the public can vote daily to determine who wins this category.

 “The winner of this category will take home a cash prize of $2500. It’s an opportunity for every Australian to view, experience and share in Australia’s creativity with voting closing Thursday, September 30.”

 The National Capital Art Prize is making Australian art history as the only art competition to allow entrants to paint any vision, such as portrait, landscape or abstract, on any subject.

 Every State and Territory can claim they have finalists in one or more of the four main categories which include Open, First Nations Prize for Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander artists, Landscape and Student.

 The Art Prize that in its inaugural year shares a $45,000 pool category with winners announced in October and a public exhibition in Canberra (lockdowns not withstanding) to follow.

 “This is the first year of it, I entered it because I deal with a gallery down in Canberra. It’s gone very well with over 1000 entries overall. I entered four different pictures and got in on the Open Section where there are not too many landscapes,” Ted said.

 Finalist artworks can be viewed at: www.nationalcapitalartprize.com.au/2021finalists/. For more information about the judges and the public exhibition visit: www.nationalcapitalartprize.com.au.

 Ted encouraged locals to get online and have a vote in the competition. “Locals can vote for whoever they want, hopefully some will do so for me!” he laughed.