Junior artist’s heartfelt portrait earns spot in Young Archies

SEVEN-year-old Albertine Eeles from Bangalow Public School has been named a finalist in the Art Gallery of NSW’s Young Archie portrait competition — the junior counterpart to the renowned Archibald Prize.

Albertine was chosen as one of 70 finalists in the 5–8 years category from more than 3,000 entries for her touching portrait, Papa in London.

“My papa was in London working, and he sent a selfie, and I missed him,” she said.

Art is Albertine’s favourite subject at school and she learned about the competition through her art teacher, Jenevieve Beves. Creativity

also runs in the family — her mother is a picture book illustrator, and Albertine began exploring art from a young age.

“I love to draw animals, especially cats, but I also draw people or mermaids,” she said. “I just got some acrylics for my birthday. I spend a lot of time in my room doing art. I have a very big desk and it’s always covered in craft things.”

The winners of the Young Archie competition will be announced on July 5 but Albertine won’t be able to attend the event because she will be in England serving as flower girl at her aunt’s wedding.

“But we did go to Sydney to see everyone’s pictures,” she said. “We stayed in a fancy hotel by the Botanical Gardens. We saw the whole Archibald exhibition, and my painting on the wall! Some people in the gallery even asked for my autograph.”

Finalist artworks from the Young Archie competition will be on display at the Art Gallery of NSW until August 17.