2019 Illustration Prize Winning Entries
This year we had a record number of entries in the Illustration Prize from all over Australia. The work was of very high quality and there were lots of different takes on the theme of 'A Cosy Day In'.
The judges were Anouska Jones from Exisle Publishing, author Natalie Jane Prior, and illustrator David Allan.
The first place winner goes to Kristin Devine.
Second place goes to Julia Wakefield.
Third place goes to Belinda Muir.
The Admin Prize goes to Paul Heppell.
First prize is a $350 contract with Christmas Press for a few illustrations in their 2020 Christmas anthology.
Second prize is $250, sponsored by Little Pink Dog Books.
Third prize is $150 sponsored by Granny Fi's Toy Cupboard.
The Admin Prize is a professional portfolio assessment.
The judges were Anouska Jones from Exisle Publishing, author Natalie Jane Prior, and illustrator David Allan.
The first place winner goes to Kristin Devine.
Second place goes to Julia Wakefield.
Third place goes to Belinda Muir.
The Admin Prize goes to Paul Heppell.
First prize is a $350 contract with Christmas Press for a few illustrations in their 2020 Christmas anthology.
Second prize is $250, sponsored by Little Pink Dog Books.
Third prize is $150 sponsored by Granny Fi's Toy Cupboard.
The Admin Prize is a professional portfolio assessment.
|
|
|
What the judges said...
Judge one: First, this is a prize for illustration, not art. It is very clear from looking at the entries that a lot of the contestants (including some with high levels of technical skill) do not fully understand this distinction. In assessing the entries, I have looked first for an understanding of what good illustration should be trying to accomplish. Illustration is storytelling; it requires characterisation, story and forward movement, and it should both interact with and enhance the text. In the case of this competition, the very vague theme “A Cosy Day In” really challenges competition entrants to put their own stamp on the subject. The fact that we have so many versions of the same picture: fireplaces, blankets, books, pets, and rain or snow outside the window (all of which are effectively static) really makes the few that are illustrations rather than pictures drawn to a theme stand out.
Judge two: A wide range of styles and approaches to the theme of ‘a cosy day in’. Some illustrations were artistically strong but didn’t really capture the essence of the theme. Others featured a great concept that was perhaps lacking in execution. Those that stood out were the ones where the theme was immediately apparent, the execution was to a high standard, and the illustrator had also kept in mind that this was a competition for children’s book illustration, and had met all the requirements of that genre. They also had that special something, or ‘smile factor’.
Judge three: A great selection of entries in this years' prize. I was pleased with the overall quality of the works presented to me. Many of the entries had similar elements, each with their own twist. I based my decisions on artistic merit, theme and whether or not it could be considered an illustration. There were many entries that were almost there, but lacking something that would turn it from a sketch into a full illustration that I could imagine in a book with text on the page. The winning entries could all be part of picture books on the shelves today.
Judge two: A wide range of styles and approaches to the theme of ‘a cosy day in’. Some illustrations were artistically strong but didn’t really capture the essence of the theme. Others featured a great concept that was perhaps lacking in execution. Those that stood out were the ones where the theme was immediately apparent, the execution was to a high standard, and the illustrator had also kept in mind that this was a competition for children’s book illustration, and had met all the requirements of that genre. They also had that special something, or ‘smile factor’.
Judge three: A great selection of entries in this years' prize. I was pleased with the overall quality of the works presented to me. Many of the entries had similar elements, each with their own twist. I based my decisions on artistic merit, theme and whether or not it could be considered an illustration. There were many entries that were almost there, but lacking something that would turn it from a sketch into a full illustration that I could imagine in a book with text on the page. The winning entries could all be part of picture books on the shelves today.
First place by Kristin Devine
Second place by Julia Wakefield
Third place by Belinda Muir
Admin Prize by Paul Heppell
