“This is Arani, my first and best friend. The first 10 years of my life I spent chasing after her, catching bugs, climbing trees and stalking kangaroos,” Violet Watts said.
The portrait of Violet’s best friend has earned her a finalist spot in the Young Archies which is held in conjunction with Australia’s famed Archibald Prize.
Violet said her artwork was inspired by her friend’s fascination of animals and the natural world.
“I chose to draw Arani because to me she will always be the one I look up to in hope of knowledge, fun and maybe even instructions on how to dissect frog,” she said.
“This image symbolises her shy, private personality and how submerged she is within the world we are lucky enough to grow up in.”
The 16 year old Cape Naturaliste College student said she was quite shocked when she found out she was named a finalist in the art prize.
“It was sprung on me and I wasn’t expecting it at all, but simply became excited and overjoyed when it sunk in,” she said.
Violet’s artwork will be hung in the Art Gallery of NSW in Sydney where she will visit with her family for the opening and awards night on July 28.
“I first thought of entering the Young Archibald Prize after my beautiful mum mentioned it to me, it seemed so out of reach at the time but I promised to think about it,” she said.
“I ended up taking a bunch of photos of my friend Arani and was re-inspired to enter.
“I am really looking forward to seeing all the other Young Archie finalists and their amazing work in the gallery when we visit in July.”
Violet said she mostly enjoyed the water reflections on her prized work and it was something new to her and she was excited to see how it turned out.
”There are many small artists lots around my age that I follow on social media who inspire me every day when I see their amazing works of all different styles,” she said.
“My mum Jane Watts is also a huge inspiration to me as she paints beautiful images of people and flowers intertwined with colour, as well as local artist Lori Pensini.”
