The Artist is Holding Competition

LEADING ART magazine The Artist is holding an all media online competition with a section for watercolourists.

The prizes are pretty good with the grand prize being $500 and 7 first place awards of $100 each. If you are interested, contest details are available here.

Grand Prize Award: $500
7 First Place Awards: $100 each

The Grand Prize winner and all 7 First Place Winners will receive complimentary subscriptions to The Artist's Magazine and $100 worth of North Light Books.
Honorable Mentions receive complimentary subscriptions to The Artist's Magazine and $50 worth of North Light Books.
Winners will be featured on The Artist's Magazine website along with a list of Honorable Mentions. All Winners and Honorable Mentions will receive a certificate suitable for framing.

Deadline: November 3, 2008

Editor's Note: This is one chance Malaysian artists can take advantage of in promoting their works. The prizes may not be much in terms of financial returns but the exposure is definitely something to ponder. Think about it, ya!

Dream come true for Rafie Rahman

Dream come true - Rafie with his yet-to-be-completed Trafalgar Square piece in acrylic.

Two years ago, Rafie Rahman confided in me that he wanted to one day visit England, the birth place of British watercolour. However, he almost got to realise his dream two years ago, when his painting was selected to be taken to the London during the Malaysia Week. However, he did not get to go there.

In July this year, his prayers were answered. He was among five Malaysian artists, watercolourists to be specific, to be invited to show their works at the Potters' Field in London between July and August. It was a trip Rafie had been waiting for and got to go.

When I met him recently, I could see the distinct change in his style. Dabbling still in the aqua medium - not watercolour but acrylic - he has produced several pieces of work of landscape when he was in UK.

As you can see in the picture here, he is happily showing his Trafalgar Square piece which he has yet to complete. The colours are stunning and although hardly considered a completed first stage, the shapes are beginning to show.

This is why I think artists should go abroad and expose themselves to a foreign land. All artists need that exposure to do well, or improve on their current techniques. Without that kind of exposure, and chance to visit foreign art galleries, artists will only be confined to the local influences where art experience is concerned.


Want this piece? Get in touch with Rafie for the pricing.