Queanbeyan artist Georgina Poulous with her unnamed work which was awarded as overall winner of the Queanbeyan Arts Society's Abstract & Abstraction exhibition/competition. Photo: Kim Pham
Winners from the Queanbeyan Art Society's Abstract & Abstraction Art competition/exhibition.
QUEANBEYAN artist Georgina Poulous has been asked more than a few times about the thought processes that go into her award winning abstract pieces.
But for the 68-year-old painter, the inspiration behind her colourful use of canvas is not so easily explained.
"A lot of people ask me the same question as to what I have in mind when I paint but I just have to tell them there's nothing really, I never plan what I'm going to paint before I start," she said. "I just look at the canvas and start painting.
"I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing but I love to be surprised by how my works turn out. I look at my work most of the time and think to myself, 'did I do that?'
"I enjoy using colour so I start out by putting colour on the canvas and then go from there."
On Sunday, Poulous picked up her latest award after taking out overall honours in the Queanbeyan Art Society's Abstract & Abstraction Art competition/exhibition.
In awarding Poulous' piece the competition's top honour, judge Ric Bennett described the unnamed work as being open to "many interpretations without being overpowering."
Polous began painting about 20 years ago. And despite her current preference for abstract works, the Queanbeyan local said she was originally attracted to the medium by the impressionist works of French artist Paul Cezanne.
"Originally I was inspired by Cezanne's work and I did copy a lot of his paintings but one day I decided I didn't want to do that anymore, I wanted to do my own thing," she said. "I showed one of my early [abstract] works to my teacher and he said to me, 'you didn't do that did you?'.
"Since then I do what I want to do and I get a great sense of satisfaction in knowing that everything I paint is entirely original and my own work."
Poulous said she had no immediate plans for her next project but would instead simply "paint what comes." She did however, say she would like the opportunity to exhibit some of her works should she find a suitable space.
Poulous has twice previously exhibited her works, once at The Q and once at the Hellenic Club in Canberra.
"I'd like to have another exhibition but it's very hard to find somewhere to display your pieces," Poulous said. "I think the big galleries only want people who've got names [in the business] and who've got certificates and things like that.
"I don't have those things, I just love to paint."
Di Mortimer was awarded second place in the overall judging for her work Ribbons of Life.
The award for best acrylic piece went to Sue Roger while Nic Rajic was awarded for best Oil work. The nod for best watercolour went to Rosemary White.