Upwey’s Claude Ciccone is in the running for a national art prize. 23049 Picture: Luke Plummer.
By Casey Neill
ARMED with a wooden viewfinder and a keen eye, Upwey artist Claude Ciccone positions a range of objects in the corner of his outdoor studio and selects a scene.
The viewfinder highlights the collection in a way similar to looking through a camera, providing a focus.
Just over two months ago Mr Ciccone, 50, captured one such scene in Still Light Theatre at 3 O’clock.
The oil painting is now a finalist in the national Eutick Memorial Still Life Award.
“It’s a delight to be in the selected finalists,” Mr Ciccone said. “I was shocked. It was very exciting.”
The award is the Coffs Harbour Regional Gallery prize for still-life artists and was first presented last year. This year about 90 finalists were selected from more than 400 entries and $22,500 will be awarded over five categories at the exhibition’s opening on 31 October.
Mr Ciccone has taken part in exhibitions and held solo shows since the 1980s but only this year has he found success.
He won the Belgrave Fire Brigade Art Show Jack Montgomery Award in May and took out the Sherbrooke Art Society Tom Roberts Award in June.
He now guides young oil painters in Ferntree Gully and East Ringwood three times a week.
Anyone interested in his oil-painting classes should call 9754 3041.
