ARTIST Mirjana Psakis admitted she had to type Anthony Ackroyd’s name into Google before entering the Celebrity Portrait Prize.
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On Wednesday, September 17, Ms Psakis was declared the prize’s winner at Bowral and District Art Society (BDAS) Gallery.
Tulip Time ambassador and the prize’s model Mr Ackroyd adjudged Ms Psakis’s portrait as best at the exhibition’s official opening.
Ms Psakis doesn’t receive a prize, but she does have bragging rights over fellow participating artists Zoe Olivia Young, A-F Fulgence and Carlos Barrios.
Ms Psakis said she didn’t know much about Mr Ackroyd before the competition.
“I had never heard of Anthony, I had to Google him… so I had no pre-conceived ideas (for the portrait),” she said.
Ms Psakis, of Mittagong, described Mr Ackyoyd as an “old soul” after chatting to him about his family history and ancestry.
She then decided to paint his portrait using vibrant colours.
Mr Ackroyd joked the artist had captured his “old soulness” and described it as a gorgeous portrait.
“It’s really sensitive, a beautiful rendition of the Ackroyd,” he said.
Mr Ackroyd congratulated all four artists on their “fantastic” contributions.
It was the fifth time BDAS had run the event.
Participating artists used whichever medium they choose to work in a portrait of that year’s Tulip Time ambassador.
Modelling taking place over one day in August at the BDAS Gallery.
All four artists took a unique approach to their work, with Ms Young using video and sound in her portrait.
The Celebrity Portrait Prize works will remain on display at The Brown Bookshop, Bowral, until the conclusion of Tulip Time.
At the conclusion, the winner of the People’s Choice award will be announced.
For more information, call the BDAS Gallery on 4861 4093.
Anthony shares his views
By Josh Bartlett
CELEBRITY Portrait Prize model Anthony Ackroyd was impressed with the standard of entries.
Mr Ackroyd shared his thoughts on each of the four entries.
Mirjana Psakis’s work:
Mr Ackroyd said Ms Psakis’s entry was “gorgeous”.
“It’s really sensitive, a beautiful rendition of the Ackroyd,” he said.
“I think you’ve captured my ‘old soulness’ there.”
A-F Fulgence’s work:
“It’s a little ethereal, isn’t it,” Mr Ackroyd said.
“I think it’s very beautiful, very soft.”
Carlos Barrios’s work:
Mr Ackroyd joked that Mr Barrios “went for realism” with his cartoon portrait.
“It captures a quirky side of me,” he said.
Zoe Olivia Young:
Mr Ackroyd said Ms Young’s piece, which included video and sound, was “just so creative”.
“It’s creative, brilliant, innovative – it’s fantastic,” he said.
“It’s really funny as well.”
VIDEO1: BDAS president Maureen Varnavsky unveils the four entries for the Celebrity Portrait Prize. Video by Josh Bartlett
VIDEO2: Tulip Time ambassador Anthony Ackroyd announces Mirjana Psakis as winner of the BDAS Celebrity Portrait Prize. Video by Josh Bartlett
