On the Wild Side
Local artist is short-listed for prestigious international prize
A local wildlife artist has been short-listed for a prestigious international prize.
Romaine Dennistoun, who lives off Askew Road in Shepherd's Bush, has had her artwork recognised in the Wildlife Artist of the Year 2009 competition.
The contest, run by the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation, is in its second year and Dennistoun has been short-listed in the 'Animals in Motion' category with a piece called 'Gossiping Gals'.
"'Gossiping Gals' are three Purple Swamphens from Madagascar which I saw at the Cotswold Wildlife Park last year," said Dennistoun. "It is a walk-through area dedicated to Lemurs and these colourful birds. I was totally focused on my drawing, when a black lemur leapt on to a nearby post, seized my sketchbook, took one look at my drawing and scampered up a tree. One of the hazards of drawing from life!” she said.
“Drawing from life is exciting and frustrating in equal measure. Weather, mood, (both mine and my subject's!), and almost anything else can undermine my efforts, but patience, persistence and a passion for what I do are the essential ingredients. Then, after countless discarded sketches, my subject may approach and briefly look at me. Conspiratorially we share something indefinable. And at last the drawing comes. It is that connection with the wild that makes all the other factors worthwhile,” Dennistoun said.
Over 100 works of art have been short-listed including sculpture, oils and watercolours created by both professional and amateur artists from around the world.
"The quality of entries in the second year of the competition has been quite outstanding," said David Shepherd, CBE, who is one of the judges.
Dennistoun says the organisation behind the competition works to protect wildlife: “The David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation raises funds to support endangered species, without which our planet would be immeasurably poorer. And of course he himself is world-famous for his wildlife paintings.”
She says she is thrilled to have had her work recognised: “Even to have reached this stage is a huge honour as the competition is open to wildlife artists worldwide. I was absolutely stunned to have been selected! At the same time, when I pack my sketchbook and paints, and return to, for example, Barnes Wetlands, I am faced with all the same difficulties, so in practice the prize would spur me on to work harder in my search for that defining line which says "elephant" or "swan",” she said.
All the short-listed pieces will go on display at the Mall Galleries in central London at the beginning of next month, with a private viewing and prize-giving ceremony on 1 June.
All the artwork will be for sale and the profits will go towards saving endangered wildlife.
Yasmine Estaphanos
27 May 2009
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