Young Nicholas Vincent from The Ponds is just 10-years old but he already has a portrait on exhibition at the Art Gallery of NSW.
The Year 5 student at Our Lady of The Rosary at Kellyville is a finalist in The Young Archie 2020 competition and will find out on October 24 if his portrait of his dad Richard has won first place in his age group.
It is the eight year that the family-friendly Young Archie competition has run alongside the Archibald, Wynne and Sulman Prizes.
This year young artists, aged 5 to 18, were asked to submit a portrait of someone who is special to them and plays a significant role in their life. There were 1800 entries.
Nicholas found out about the competition when visiting the Archibald Prize website, a week before closing date.
He called his pen and pencil drawing Daddy Da Best and wrote: “I have chosen to draw my dad. I have done so because he plays an important role in my life. He cares for everyone. He is my Role model and, as the title says, he is the best.”
His mum Brigid said Nicholas would sing and draw with crayons long before he could walk. Grandparents on both sides were artists.
The first time Nicholas attended the Art Gallery of NSW was with his parents and older brothers, Joshua and Matthew. He said seeing his painting at the gallery was “pretty cool”.
He plans to paint his mum’s portrait next year.
The entries were judged on merit and originality by artist Marikit Santiago, Archibald Prize finalist in 2016 and Sulman Prize finalist in 2020 and 2019, and Victoria Collings, family programs manager, Art Gallery of NSW.
Learn more about Our Lady of the Rosary Kellyville