Kayla's portrait a triumph for her gran

GEORGE NEWS - The South Cape Association for Visual Arts (Scava) held their seventh annual prize-giving event on Tuesday 25 September in the Art Gallery of the George Museum.

This year, portraiture was the most popular category. Hoekwil resident Rosanne van Niekerk was awarded first prize for a large pastel and charcoal drawing of her granddaugher, Kayla. The work not only impressed the judges, but also the opening night gathering of art lovers. Scava chairman, Maura St.John said, "What I thought would win, didn't.

"What I thought wouldn't win, did. This year the three judges ignored known names, sizes and popular genres and concentrated purely on creativity, skill and originality. So when Rosanne won a first she was doubly pleased."

As a child in the Welsh valleys Rosanne was always sketching, and feels privileged to have had her passion for pencil and charcoal drawing rekindled. She started doing portraits when a Rastafarian, who was helping to renovate their Hoekwil home, asked if she would draw him.

This led to many more requests and exhibitions. "As I like to create detailed images, I work solely from life, augmented by quality photos of family members, pets and wildlife," she says. "My aim with this portrayal of Kayla was to capture her strength of character which is tempered with a certain softness. I feel very honoured to have won this award."

Eighteen new award winners were feted at a bumper opening at the George Museum Art Gallery.