Surrounded by hand crafted beauty and displays of artistic talent, I admired the displays of picturesque scenes at the Combined Art Society of Sydney’s annual Art of Sydney Awards Exhibition. This tradition started with artists from local art societies meeting up in a car park asking about each other’s projects, and 34 years on works by artists representing twelve art societies from across the Sydney region continue to be put on exhibition each year.
A Feast for the Eyes
Walking around the exhibition I was amazed by the standard of work, which had all been carefully selected by the panel. It was delightful to see bursts of colour in every direction, with works in a range of mediums and a wide variety of styles, from realism to expressive, impressionistic pieces; the display was a feast for the eyes!
Landscape, Rural and Urban
One of the sections I first came across was Landscape, Rural and Urban. As a country girl myself, it was nostalgic to see the bush captured through a variety of different eyes. I adored an acrylic painting titled Moos in the Mist by Annette McCrossin. I got a good giggle out of the delightful expressions on the bovine faces staring out from the canvas, engulfed by flawlessly captured morning fog.
Another piece from this section that stood out to me was North Sydney in Jacaranda Season by Shelly Du. When I saw the watercolour landscape, I was transported straight into the scene, taking a leisurely stroll through the city in the spring. The watercolour medium lends itself to the feeling of serenity encapsulated in the painting, with calm beige tones combined with the zing of joy created by the pop of purple jacaranda petals.
Interpreting Themes Through Style
I was fascinated to see how the different artists interpreted the themes in their own styles. A painting that comes to mind is Michelle Hendricks’ Country, with its bubbling abstract swirls of paint. Metallic shimmers and bright colours intermingled with earthy tones sway on the canvas with a fluid feel.
The Marine Section and Best in Show
As I continued through to the marine section, I spotted some pieces by Steve Jannar. His artworks stood out to me, as he rendered scenes one might see at a dock, but not ordinarily pay close attention to. For instance, the winning artwork for Best in Show, Circular Quay, pictured the side of a wharf, utilising saturated colours to draw the eye and distinguish details. I was in awe of the way the water was painted, as if shimmering sunlight danced upon its surface.
Miniature Masterpieces
The exhibition even featured miniature paintings. I was impressed when I saw works by the winner of this section, Jean Murray, who painted a scene of two boys riding bicycles in watercolour and, despite using a bleeding technique, maintained clear silhouettes. I also enjoyed the level of detail depicted on such a small scale in a piece by Kurt Koeppl, who received highly commended for an impressionistic miniature of a Turkish harbour.
Final Thoughts and How to View the Exhibition
There are so many gems to be found at this exhibition, filled with rich colour combined with incredible skill from our very own Sydneysiders. While the physical event has wrapped up for 2026, the exhibition will continue online from the 6th to the 15th of February, where you’ll find high-quality images of the paintings and can purchase the wonderful works of art.
I couldn’t recommend highly enough that you take a minute to check out some of this year’s incredible artwork online, and maybe even plan your visit in person when the exhibition returns with even more local art next year. You can learn more on the Combined Art Society of Sydney’s website here:
Reviewed by Eleanor Edwards