New England Illustration Prize
The New England Writers’ Centre is very pleased to announce the results of the 2018 New England Illustration Prize, which this year was open to illustrators all over Australia, at any stage of their careers, who were invited to create an illustration, suitable for a children’s picture book, around the theme of ‘A Fun Day Out’.
The judges were picture-book author Lesley Gibbes, publisher and author Margrete Lamond, and bookseller Michelle Wheatley, who reported that there were many innovative and surprising interpretations of the theme from illustrators from around the country, and that it was not an easy task selecting the finalists.
The New England Writers’ Centre warmly congratulates all winners, and sincerely thanks our wonderful judges and sponsors. And a big thank you to all the illustrators who entered!
The judges were picture-book author Lesley Gibbes, publisher and author Margrete Lamond, and bookseller Michelle Wheatley, who reported that there were many innovative and surprising interpretations of the theme from illustrators from around the country, and that it was not an easy task selecting the finalists.
The New England Writers’ Centre warmly congratulates all winners, and sincerely thanks our wonderful judges and sponsors. And a big thank you to all the illustrators who entered!
A word from the judges...
It was a pleasure to be offered the opportunity to judge the 2018 New England Illustration Prize. There were a total of 26 illustrations from 26 illustrators around Australia, many of which were outstanding, and of which there were a myriad innovative and surprising interpretations of the theme A Fun Day Out. It was not an easy task selecting only three finalists, and the judges spent some time championing their personal choices before arriving at the final three: Martina Heiduczek (first place), Paul Heppell (second place), Jenny Hale (third place). There was also a special admin prize, chosen by the deputy chair of the New England Writers' Centre awarded to Catherine Duncan.
All three judges agreed from the start that Martina’s illustration was the stand-out entry in this year’s submissions. Her sense of colour, tone, movement and expression is sensitive and nuanced, and while her objects are lightly abstracted, their forms are balanced and their gestures vivid and engaging.
Martina’s interpretation of the theme is quirky and playful. The triangular composition that moves from left to right across the page shows an awareness of the progression of story, and balances the drama of positive and negative space on the page.
One of the judges describes her response as follows: “The glow on the faces, the shading and shadows, the subtle smiles, the texture of the tree, the feeling of movement on clothes and wings and leaves, the swinging of the fishing line and binoculars, kite and tea pot. Little details like the glow of the lamp projecting onto the Bear’s tummy, the angle of the guitar from the perspective of the ground as well as the angle of the hand strumming, the napkin poking out of the picnic basket and the inside detail of the lantern all add to a very detailed and at the same time a very simple illustration.”
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This illustration was an interesting and gently subversive take on the brief. It looks like night, but it could also be a dark overgrown forest in the daytime. Paul utilises tonal value, texture and composition to vivid effect. The triangular projection of torchlight creates a striking contrast to the darkness of the rest of the scene; the shadowed areas are monochrome with deliberately blurred mark-making to accentuate the sense of visual ambiguity. Detailed mark-making on the character and in the brightly lit triangular section further accentuate the contrast between darkness and brightness, while the overall textured nature of the image provides a tactile sense of the outdoors. The particular strength of this illustration is that it creates an immediate sense of curiosity and suspense: where is the child going? What happens next?
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Jenny has a strong sense of form, colour, tone and line, and creates vivid and pleasing characters and objects. Her choice of subject delves into the heart of a child's world of imaginative play, and is an inventive interpretation of the theme A Fun Day Out. The details are cleanly rendered and balanced in the overall composition of the page, and the slightly darker tone of the toy-filled area contrasts with both the child, who appears to be more brightly lit, and with the white space of the background. The fading of dark-toned and detailed foreground to white background, the brightly lit child and the absence of setting details, underscores the suggestion of a child is fully absorbed in an imaginary world.
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The Prizes...
The first prize, sponsored by Pinerolo Children’s Book Cottage in the Blue Mountains of NSW and the New England Writers’ Centre, was awarded to Martina Heiduczek from Mermaid Beach, Queensland. The prize includes a creative weekend at Pinerolo, including a full day picture book course with author Glenda Millard and publisher Margaret Hamilton, two days’ accommodation at the cottage in inspiring surroundings, and money towards travel expenses.
The second prize, sponsored by New England based children’s picture book publisher Little Pink Dog Books, was awarded to Paul Heppell from Normanhurst, NSW. Paul wins a $250 cash prize and a selection of picture books from Little Pink Dog Books.
The third prize, sponsored by New England based children’s book publisher Christmas Press, was awarded to Jenny Hale from Greenwich, NSW. Jenny wins a $150 cash prize and a selection of books from Christmas Press.
The second prize, sponsored by New England based children’s picture book publisher Little Pink Dog Books, was awarded to Paul Heppell from Normanhurst, NSW. Paul wins a $250 cash prize and a selection of picture books from Little Pink Dog Books.
The third prize, sponsored by New England based children’s book publisher Christmas Press, was awarded to Jenny Hale from Greenwich, NSW. Jenny wins a $150 cash prize and a selection of books from Christmas Press.
A special Admin Prize, judged by NEWC Deputy Chair Becky Holland, was awarded to Catherine Duncan of Armidale, NSW. Catherine wins a selection of picture books from Little Pink Dog Books and Christmas Press. The judge commented: ‘This appealed as a lovely innocent illustration, full of the possibilities of a fun day out. ‘
