A Sacred Heart College student has won ‘Best in Show’ for their painting at the Napier Schools’ Year 12 Art Exhibition. 

Alec Lynam says the award came as a shock, given they were up against students from schools around the city. 

The exhibition is part of a Hawke’s Bay initiative, held at Creative Arts Napier (CAN) and Arts Inc Heretaunga in Hastings to showcase the creativity of students in the respective areas. 

The oil painting was a self-portrait of the 17-year-old, as part of their Level 2 NCEA Two-panel portfolio. 

“I’m very proud of myself. I like painting and I put a lot of work into each piece, making sure they were good. But it was a surprise.”  

As part of the award, they won a gift voucher to Gordon Harris, an art supplies store. 

Alec has always loved painting and has taken the subject since Year 9. Next year, they plan to take photography alongside painting and design. 

“I’ve always loved drawing and painting. I don’t really find it schoolwork, it’s just something I enjoy doing even out of school.”  

However, self-portraits are something Alec only recently got into. 

“I’ve been doing self-portraits all through the year, so I’ve done a fair amount of practice on that sort of painting.

“I find that kind of painting fairly easy, but it takes a while to set up and paint.” 

Sacred Heart College Head of Art, Sandie Howlett, says Alec is skilled, talented, and able to communicate their ideas through painting.

“To have someone working in oils has been really exciting. It has given Alec an opportunity to fully explore what paint can do.”  

They routinely have students enter both the Napier and Hastings’ Schools Year 12 Art Exhibitions, as they have students from both areas.  

“All the Year 12 art students had the opportunity to put work into both of those competitions.” 

“We do get excited when one of our students win because only six out of all the schools get chosen. So, it’s quite exciting.” 

They have had a number of students win awards at the competition over the years. Last year, then Year 13 student and Arts Leader Mia Anderson won the photography category at the exhibition in Hastings. 

Article added: Wednesday 30 November 2022