Creativity down to a fine art

Dardanup Primary School students were excited to show off their artistic talents at the Dardanup Art Spectacular last Friday.

DAS committee member Ros Edmonds said the event is held each year to raise money for the school and neighbouring primary school Our Lady of Lourdes, raising about $3000 last year.

"The kids are encouraged to take part, it's really fantastic," she said.

Year 6 students Paige deMunck, 11, and Caelin Stuart, 10, submitted their artworks earlier in the month to try their luck against more than 200 other South West entries.

"It's growing every year, it's amazing, so we're hoping to raise more this year," Ms Edmonds said.

A number of prizes were up for grabs, including People's Choice, Best Emerging Artist and Best Primary School Dardanup Artist.

Paige submitted a photograph she took of the sunset over her house. "I'd been wanting to get a camera, then I got one and started taking photos with it," she said.

"I like to experiment taking photos and seeing if they turn out good."

Caelin entered a portrait of her sister she painted and was working on a second painting to enter the Ferguson Valley Art Prize with the theme of Flight.

"I really like painting and I always wanted to enter," she said.

"My Grandma bought my painting last year.

"It was a painting of the ocean with sea creatures and dolphins."

Dardanup Primary School art teacher and DAS committee member Chris Smith said they gave students information about the event and encouraged the artistic students to submit entries.

"Every year we get three or four of our talented art students submitting pieces," she said.

"I always put a couple of my own entries in as well."