Prizes at art shows

Umina artist Ms Judith Hoste has received several commendation awards for her paintings in last month's Great Lakes and Tumut art exhibitions.

Ms Hoste was awarded a highly commended for her acrylic painting entitled Nature's Magic featuring bushland in the National Park at Cherrybrook in the Forster exhibition at the start of April.

In the same exhibition, she also received a commended award for her watercolour painting Days End.

Ms Hoste said the painting featured very strong colours of the sunset which always inspired her.

The early April Tumut exhibition saw Ms Hoste take out another commended title for her watercolour Late Afternoon Kosciuszco National Park.

"I was inspired by a photo of the area a friend gave me," Ms Hoste said.

"The photo showed the National Park in the spring when the flowers were in bloom."

Ms Hoste works out of her home-studio in Umina and teaches regular classes at the Ettalong Beach Arts and Crafts Centre.

"I have been teaching since 1985 and have taught some 400 students over this time, with a few still attending classes," Ms Hoste said.

"I have been painting since 1981, learning from a teacher at Booker Bay, Mrs Ethel Jamieson who was very well known in the area.

"I teach all the mediums and enjoy painting in all of them.

"I find it such a wonderful way to express myself and a great way to relax.

"Painting has brought me many friends and allowed me to win many awards over the past years including the Gosford City Grandma Moses Art Prize."

Clare Graham, 15 May 2009 Interviewee: Judith Hoste, Umina