Interview with Jason McNamara - 2018 Stanthorpe Art Prize Winner
Jason McNamara with his winning work “Clyde & Mary” from the 2018 Stanthorpe Art Prize.
What made you decide to enter the Stanthorpe Art Prize in 2018?
I found out about the Stanthorpe Art Prize from another successful Ipswich Artist, Donna Davis. Before that, I had only entered into the Ipswich Art Prize.
Has winning first prize in the 2018 Stanthorpe Art Prize changed anything in your art life?
Definitely. It has motivated me to enter more awards around Australia. After winning the Award, I was not aware of how groundbreaking it was until other photographers came up to me on the night saying how important it was for a photograph to win an Art Prize that has many other more traditional forms of art as competition. They were very proud that one of their own had won.
Did you gain any exposure from being a winner?
I sure did. Many people in the arts community knew my work from winning. In fact, I was recently a finalist in the Brisbane Portrait Prize and when I dropped off my art, someone came up to me and asked, “You’re the guy that won the Stanthorpe Art Prize, aren’t you?"
2018 Stanthorpe Art Prize Award – First Prize – “Clyde & Mary” by Jason McNamara. Finalist - Olive Cotton Award for Portraiture
Where has your work taken you since 2018?
Since 2018 I have been asked to commission some portraits and have also won and have been a finalist in numerous other well known Art prizes.
Do you plan to enter the 2020 Stanthorpe Art Prize?
I sure will be. I really enjoyed being a finalist at the Stanthorpe Art Prize. I got to meet some really nice people and loved visiting the town and can’t wait to have a reason to go back.
More of Jason’s work:
Recent works by Jason
Nathan & Jeeves - Finalist Fremantle International Portrait Prize 2019. Photo by Jason McNamara.
Paul Rix - Winner Ipswich Art Awards 2019 (Photography). Photo by Jason McNamara.
Willie “Bomba” King 2019. Photo by Jason McNamara.
Mayor John Nugent - Winner - Ipswich Art Awards (Photography). Photo by Jason McNamara.