WOOMBYE fine arts artist Michelle Manns is one of 42 artists who have submitted work to the Seeing the Soul exhibition, raising money for the Hoofbeats Sanctuary.
The Hoofbeats Sanctuary is a trauma-healing centre that allows women and children to participate in equine therapy programs, improving their mental health while healing with horses.
This exhibition will showcase 72 artworks from 42 artists from all over Queensland, and each piece will be up for auction, where 50 per cent of the proceeds will go to the Hoofbeats Sanctuary.
Michelle Manns has been a mixed media and fine arts artist and illustrator since 2016, and was invited to be part of this exhibition, for a chance to win the art prize valued up to $15,000.
She said she is honoured to be a part of this inaugural exhibition to help raise money for Hoofbeats Sanctuary, and thoroughly enjoyed the process of creating equine themed art.
“When I saw the brief, I thought it was wonderful they wanted a horse art piece without anything on them, so that inspired me a lot because I thought how great to see them in their natural form,” she said.
“I also love colour so I’m really a bit vibrant when it comes to my acrylic paintings, so I wanted him to be very colourful and alive and freeform, so he looks like he is moving in the painting.”
Michelle said although it took a while to produce her design idea, once she did it only took her three weeks to complete the art.
“It took me five weeks to come up with my painting idea, and once I came up with it, I knew immediately it would be perfect, and it turned out exactly how I pictured it,” she said.
Michelle wasn’t initially aware there was an art prize for the exhibition, but she said if she did win, she would love to take a trip as she is an avid traveller.
The exhibition opens on March 31 and will be open until April 30 at the Cooroy Butter Factory Arts Centre.
There will be an overall winner, category winners and runners-up (painting/drawing, sculpture/3D and photography) and a People’s Choice Award up for grabs throughout the exhibition.