THE Hamilton Rotary Club Art Show have announced this year’s guest artists will be Petschel House creatives, Jenni Mitchell and Mervyn Hannan.

Following the cancellation of the last two art shows due to COVID-19, more than 350 paintings are expected to be exhibited at the Hamilton Performing Arts Centre (HPAC) throughout the show’s four-day duration, including pieces from both Ms Mitchell and Mr Hannan.  

When announcing the guest artists, Hamilton Rotary Club Art Show director, Brian Jenkins, said both Ms Mitchell and Mr Hannan had lifetime careers in the arts, which have consisted of extensive travel in Australia and overseas, resulting in some beautiful works of art.

“Both artists have got several pieces on display at the art show and they are available for sale,” he said.

Both artists now reside in Hamilton after moving to the area from Eltham in 2016, and work at Petschel House where they have set up a studio, gallery and picture framing workshop at the historic bluestone property.

Before coming to Hamilton, Ms Mitchell grew up in Eltham where she studied at Montsalvat prior to attending Phillip Institute, now RMIT, with majors in painting and printmaking.

She also has a Master of Visual Arts from Monash University and has worked throughout Australia, in the Antarctic, and the High Arctic Norway where she painted the polar landscape and seas.

Ms Mitchell is a talented artist who works in a range of mediums including oil, watercolour, acrylic, gouache, printmaking, photography, and silversmithing.

Her works are represented in public and private collections in Australia, and overseas, including USA, UK, and Japan.

Mr Hannan also grew up in Eltham among the artists and writers at the Montsalvat Artist’s Colony, and spent much of his adult life making art while travelling throughout Europe, Asia, Africa and the United States.

A natural artist, Mr Hannan creates his visual art works by using multi-media processes from traditional paint on canvas, drawing, pastel painting, carving construction and clay modelling.

His work is held in private collections internationally and throughout Australia and remnants of ephemeral pieces can be found in unusual locations throughout the world.

Mr Jenkins said the art show had received a large number of entries from artists across the state with the community embracing the shows long-awaited return.

“Entries have closed, and we have over 200 entries from local Hamilton and Victorian artists,” he said.

“Preparations are going well, everything is all happening and it’s all planned.”

The show will kick off at 7pm on Thursday, October 6, with the popular Preview Evening, which consists of a formal opening, followed by award presentations and a gourmet supper and drinks.

Mr Jenkins said there will be six judged awards in the senior category, including the award for best work in any medium which has a $2000 prize, and awards for best oil or acrylic, best watercolour, and best painting by a local artist, which all have $800 prizes.

The Barry and Stella Downs award is also on offer in the young artist category, with a winner and runner up set to be announced at the gala opening next Thursday.

The art show will run until October 9, with attendees also able to cast their votes for their favourite piece, with the winner receiving the people’s choice award and $200 prize.

Tickets for the Hamilton Rotary Club Art Show are available for prepurchase at the HPAC, MUD Gallery, David Edwards Framing, and Robson’s Guardian Pharmacy, with tickets also available at the door on the night.

All artwork on display will be available for purchase with more information about the art show available at the new website - artshow.rotaryhamilton.org.au