Beach debris inspires Uki artist

Artist/art teacher Hobie Porter is thrilled his landscape painting, titled Resorption, has been chosen in a statewide landscape competition.

Contributed

A LENGTH of rope washed up on the beach found its way into the hands of Uki artist Hobie Porter, who immortalised it in oil.

The washed-up rope is one of the finalists in a state-wide landscape competition.

Resorption was one of two landscape paintings by Tweed artists that are finalists in Countryscapes 2011 competition.

Artist/art teacher Hobie Porter has been painting for 10 years and said he was not expecting good news when he opened the letter from competition organisers.

"I'm thrilled that I've been chosen. I've entered before but this is the first time I've been selected as a finalist," Mr Porter said.

"It's really difficult for artists to get into these prizes and it's an honour when you do get chosen so just being a finalist is being a winner."

Mr Porter had just sold his painting at a Sydney exhibition and had to ask the buyer to part with it temporarily for the exhibition.

"The buyer was very understanding."

Mr Porter said he liked to explore the theme of resorption.

"I found this piece of rope and I talk about the circular things like how the tides rise," he said.

"I'd like to create a circular form that returns on itself like the waves, like the ebb and flow. And the way we ebb and flow with the natural environment."

Tyalgum artist Barbara Goodrich was the other Tweed artist to make the finals.

The final 60 artworks will be exhibited at the Bathurst Regional Art Gallery from November 25 to January 15.

Essential Energy Art Prize for Landscape Painting has a $35,000 prize.