Sky's the limit for 'People's Choice' artist
Published on 16 August, 2012
Agnes Water artist Marie Green has had great feedback since she's turned her passion for telescopic views of 'deep sky objects' into brush strokes on her canvas.
"The reason my 'Tarantula' artwork came into being is that I am an amateur astronomer with my own observatory and 8-inch Celestron scope. There are glorious dark skies on our rural hill here, so different to Sydney," Marie says.
"Deep sky objects are my passion and as the Large Magellanic Cloud is clearly visible, the Tarantula got a guernsey.
LINK HERE for background on the Bayton Award
"I actually started painting deep sky objects in 2011 for an exhibition I had been invited to in Anchorage and Wasilla, Alaska. Oddly enough quite a few of my original landscapes, flowers and animals had been sold to collectors there from my website. Anyway, since I had finally worked out a technique for painting deep sky objects, I did three and they were included in my Alaskan exhibition even though I honestly thought no one would like them.
"However, they all sold at the preview night for the exhibition so I was tickled pink. After that I decided I would do a body of work of deep skies along with my more known subjects for an exhibition in Brisbane this November.
"I was just so chuffed when the Rockhampton Regional Art Gallery telephoned me to say I had won the People's Choice award (Bayton Award $1000 prize) sponsored by CQUniversity. Believe me, the prize money won't go astray, but to have won the people's favourite with a deep sky really blows me away."
