As part of the Make Decisions Real project, we ran an Art Competition for people with an intellectual disability. The theme was ‘I make my own decisions’.
We had 18 entries into our Art Competition. Three winners were chosen by the Make Decisions Real Peer Workers. Each winner won a cash prize. They also had their artwork feature in resources created for the Made Decisions Real project.
This is our online art gallery, which shows their work. You can click on each image to look at them bigger.
The winners of the Make Decisions Real Art Competition:
Gallery with 3 images
Alt text: Paint on canvas, self portrait. Image shows George with a guiding hand on his shoulder. The hand represents George’s supports that help him with decision making. George is wearing a black shirt with words about decision making printed on it.
George Williams, “My Path, My decisions”. George said his artwork ‘represents how I decide, and what it means to choose my own different pathway as I develop and learn from the best people in my life.’
Alt text: Paint on paper. Image shows sashimi sushi, soy sauce and chopsticks on a bright green background. The image represents the artist’s love of painting and sushi.
Matthew Lam, “I love sushi”. Of his artwork, Matthew said, ‘I like drawing and sushi.’
Alt text: Fineliner pen on paper. Image shows 3 overlapping circles, with intricate geometric designs inside each circle. The image represents how decision making is like a puzzle, with lots of decisions to make and questions to ask.
Sarah Porter, “Puzzle of Decisions” ‘Shows there are lots of decisions to make, and questions to ask. Sometimes they are like a puzzle that can go together in different ways.’
These are some of the other artworks submitted for the competition.
Some of these were chosen to feature in some of Inclusion Australia’s communications.
Gallery with 13 images
Alt text: Unknown medium on paper. Image shows 3 friends, with 2 decision supporters in the background waving. Jason describes his image as “support, happy, enjoy”.
Jason Vu “Choosing Friends”
Alt text: Paint on canvas, multiple panels in series. Image shows brightly coloured abstract geometric shapes in shades of yellow, orange and purple. Michael describes his painting series as “decisions mean trying something new, thinking outside my square. The tapestry of life, different angles we can see, looking in my community.”
Michael Smart “Life Angles: Chapter 1 to 4” (multiple artworks in same series)
Alt text: Photo collage. Multiple photos of Sarah making different decisions in her life, including swimming, going out for lunch, tenpin bowling, and upholding her right to say ‘no’.
Sarah Warner “My life, my choice” (photo collage)
Alt text: Mixed media on card. Shae’s artwork shows an owl on a branch. The owl is made of brightly coloured scraps of card, fabric, dyed feathers, artificial flowers. The branch is made of leaves from a tree. Shae says the mixture of colours and textures is a representation of who he is and the decisions he makes in life.
Shae Wroe “Random Randy the Owl”
Alt text: Markers on paper. Tammy’s art is a word collage of brightly coloured words and drawn images representing the decisions she makes in her life, including ‘independent living’, ‘new friendships’, and ‘support workers’.
Tammy Smith “I make my own decisions”
Alt text: Watercolour on paper. The image shows a deckchair and beach umbrella on the yellow sand, with blue water and a red sky with an orange sun. Daniela says the image makes her feel relaxed and happy.
Daniela Giovinazzo “Sunset at the Beach”
Alt text: Acrylic paint and olive oil on canvas. The image shows swirled green paint on a purple background. Eddie says his artwork represents his ability to create his own organic and spontaneous decisions, shown by the green sprouting from a purple cosmos.
Eddie Raubenheimer “Tree of life”
Alt text: Watercolour on paper. Image shows Australian native flowers in shades of green, red, yellow and blue. Patrick says his painting shows his love for indigenous culture.
Patrick Hammond “Indigenous Flower bush”
Alt text: Paint on canvas. Image shows a black and red ocean liner on a dark blue sea, with a big yellow sun in a light blue sky.
Mark Stewart “Ocean liner”
Alt text: Paint on cardboard. Image shows abstract shapes in shades of yellow, read and brown. Darrell says “I love artwork, especially the sensory aspects of it. I like to touch, feel and the smell of the paint, and where I can use my imaginations on paper.”
Darrell Amazona “Art is Purpose”
Alt text: Pencil on paper. Image shows tracing of 2 hands with a colourful background of green, red and blue. The background includes drawings of things important to Luca: an Italian flag and an Australian flag, a soccer ball, music notes and a house. The hands contain handwritten words of motivation and guidance like “stay positive”, “take care of yourself”, and “help as many people as you can”. Luca says the drawing means enjoying the things you love.
Luca Gianessi “Being Respectful”
Alt text: Paint on canvas. Image shows yellow and gold circles and a black swirl on a blue background. Perri says the artwork makes them feel happy like the sun on the ocean.
Perri Bastian “Wind of the ocean”
Alt text: Watercolour on canvas. Image shows a pastel coloured sun, a cloud, a butterfly and a bee on a brightly coloured striped background in shades of green, yellow, red and blue. Teneille says the painting represents happiness.
Teneille Bird “Happiness and Kindness”
You can read more about the Make Decisions Real art competition here.