Hi from Australia
 

It's about time I introduced myself to you all. I have been recovering from a car accident, but now I'm back in action. Having been keen on painting people as long as I can remember I studied for a diploma in visual art a few years ago. Now I am endeavoring to work as a full time portrait artist in Brisbane, Queensland and things are looking up this year with my winning several first prizes, public choice, champion awards and being bought into a public collection. I enjoyed a two week workshop with Daniel E. Greene at his studio last year. This really boosted my confidence. It was a portrait I did there which received three major prizes at a show. They were thrilled when I sent the news. I've attached a picture of myself with a recent painting.
Pamela Scherf

Hi, and welcome!

Welcome, Pamela.
It will be very nice to see more of your work!
Ilaria

Pamela, don't tell me you did the Daniel Green in Australia & i missed it.!!!

nah ! - not possible. :sunnysmil

Good to see you here.

Hi Pamela,
What a beautiful work.
Welcome.

Welcome, Pamela,

I credit my exposure to Australia's 19th Century impressionists -- Streeton, Roberts, Conder, McKubbin and the like -- as well as a list of contemporary Aussie artists with giving me the push to get serious about painting when I returned to the U.S. after living in Sydney. I surely do miss the NSW Art Gallery. And I was always ready to be surprised by the local portrait competitions. (The consolation Packers' and Viewers' Choice prizes were usually more in the SOG vein than were the nominal winners.)

You did well to already come by a Daniel Greene workshop. There is none better.

Looking forward to your active participation, now that you're back on your feet.

Thank you Chris, Claudemir, Tricia, Llaria and Steven for your prompt and warm welcome, and no, Tricia, Daniel Greene's workshop wasn't in Australia. It was in his studio in North Salem New York and I received an RADF grant to help me get there although it didn't go far with the exchange rate. It was my first time overseas and I found everyone wonderfully warm and welcoming. It was an experience I will never forget, certainly broadening my horizons.
Pamela Scherf
Ps. I've attached a picture of the painting which won the portrait award at the Caloundra Art Festival.

Welome, Pamela! What exciting work! I can see why your portrait of the red-haired girl has caught the eye of judges. It has so much life and movement as well as a great composition and facial expression. I hope you'll join in the forum discussions and post lots of your work.

Alex

Thank you Alexandra for your wonderful comment. You know this was third time lucky. A lot of the judges here in Australia often go for the more abstract work as you would see if you view the winning portrait in this years Australian "Archibald" prize. I have entered this one three times but havn't yet succeeded in even being hung. Here goes next year though with probably a self portrait Rembrandt style. I am a great admirer of his work. There's also the $100,000 National Doug Moran Portrait prize next year. I seem to do better there as I was a semi-finalist last year. Pamela

Welcome, Pamela! I'm really enjoying your lively work and I'm so glad we now have a couple of Aussies on board here to keep us in touch with the state of portraiture down under. Oz seems to be a hotbed of activity (as opposed to, say, Canada. Somebody correct me if I'm wrong and Canada has become a portrait hotspot.)

Can you give us some links so that we can see some of the prizewinners you're talking about?