Youth inspire Noelene’s art

Do you recognise the local youth captured in Ripplebrook artist Noelene Downie’s artwork?

Noelene’s oil on canvas artwork “Skate Park” was recently announced as a finalist in the Lethbridge 10,000 Small Scale Art Awards in Brisbane. It is the second year running she has been named a finalist.

Noelene said Trader photographs capturing a Gippsland regional skate event at Trafalgar Skate Park as well as a photograph she took of a Warragul youth riding a modified high-rise bike had inspired the artwork.

Measuring 61cm by 61cm, “Skate Park” was announced a group two finalist. It will appear online whilst the group one finalists will be displayed in the Brisbane gallery and are in the running for major awards.

Noelene said it was a huge boost to have art displayed on the Lethbridge website, stating “it certainly helped last year”.

Spending about 20 hours creating the small-scale work, Noelene said it was a change from her normal wildlife and wilderness inspired works and sought to make a social statement by representing local youth activities.

Noelene has been painting for many years and her favourite medium at the moment is oil on linen.