A big congrats to Tiziana La Melia of Vancouver, British Columbia for winning the 2014 RBC Painting Competition with her art, “Hanging on to the Part,” (oil on panel, 42×25 inches)!
I loved receiving a copy of all the finalists in the competition catalogue. We are a seriously creative and talented country here in Canada! I had my favorites and my daughter, Hannah, had her own. That’s the beauty of art, right? The eye of the beholder…
Before the winner was announced, I flipped through the catalogue of finalists with Hannah, who is a buoyant and outspoken four-year-old. I asked her to give me her first response to each piece. I asked her, “Do you like it?” – And she was candid and insightful with her own preferences. One thing was sure, my mini-me knew exactly what she liked and had a strong reaction to the paintings.
I share my daughter’s reactions here not to upset anyone or poke fun, but as the honest and often humorous reactions as a child. Sometimes the art world can be so stuffy and we all need to chill out and enjoy the craziness of it all every once and a while.
I am not including the pictures of each artist’s work out of respect, but please visit the RBC Painting Competition website so you can follow along with the images as Hannah makes her declarations.
Here is what Hannah said:
Of 2013 national winner, Colleen Heslin’s “Almost Young, Wild and Free”
Hannah said: “I don’t like these parts,” as she gestures to the whole thing.
Of 2013 honourable mention winner, Neil Harrison’s “Knowledge”
Hannah said: “I like it. It looks like something a cowboy wears.”
2012 honourable mention winner, Colin Dorward, painted, “Labyrinthineon”
Hannah said: “It looks cool!”
From this year’s cream of the crop:
Ashleigh Bartlett of Calgary AB, “Ballet Duo”
Hannah said: “It looks cool.”
Carly Butler, Halifax NS, “Hurricane”
Hannah said: “I like it. It looks like a canyon. It looks like a piece of paper.”
Jennifer Carvalho, Toronto ON, “Landscape (pink)”
Hannah said: “I like it because it looks like outside.”
Wallis Cheung, Toronto ON, “Cut Corners”
Hannah said: “I don’t like it.” (Me: “Why don’t you like it?”) “Because I don’t like it.”
Teto Elsiddique, Halifax NS, “7 of 6”
Hannah said: “I like pink. I don’t like that colour,” she pointed to the rest of the image.
Karine Frechette, Montreal QC, “Cyclone”
Hannah said, “Yes, I like it! She made it, Mom,” she said excitedly as she pointed to the picture of Karine. “It looks cool.”
James Gardner, Toronto ON, “Fixed Rock”
Hannah said: “I like it because it has cool colouring.”
Ufuk Gueray, Winnipeg MB, “Market” – 2014 HONOURABLE MENTION
Hannah said: “Yes, I like it because that side looks cool,” as she pointed to the circle of colour.
Tiziana La Melia, Vancouver BC, “Hanging on to the part” – 2014 WINNER!
Hannah said: “I don’t like it because it looks upside down.”
Nicholas Lachance, Montreal QC, “index no. 3 The book of Empathy” – 2014 HONOURABLE MENTION
Hannah said: “No, I don’t like it because it looks dark, it’s just two colours.”
Gavin Lynch, Ottawa ON, “Before the Fire (2014 version)”
Hannah said: “I don’t like it because the trees have owies because they cut them down. The trees are poor because they got cut down.”
Megan McCabe, Toronto ON, “Wading”
Hannah said: “I like it because it looks like it has water skies.”
Laura Piasta, Vancouver BC, “Bog Breath”
Hannah said: “I don’t like it because I don’t like it.”
Robert Taite, Winnipeg MB, “Untitled Work from Always Somewhere Else”
Hannah said: “I like it. Yes, because it looks kinda funny, it makes me laugh, funny pictures.”
Elysanne Tremblay, Montreal QC, “Salut bonhomme, salut bonhomme”
Hannah said: “I don’t like it because it doesn’t look cool.”
There you go! The RBC Painting Competition finalists according to a four-year-old!
