Jocelyn encourages the next generation of artists

At the age of almost 87, Patonga artist Jocelyn Maughan doesn’t plan to retire her easel anytime soon.

With her collection of 81 watercolour portraits recently on exhibition at the Gosford Regional Gallery as a finalist in the Gosford Art Prize, Maughan hopes to encourage the next generation of artists by judging the annual Young Archies Portrait Drawing Prize, for which entries are now open.

Maughan said she had been an artist “from about the age of five”.

“My family all drew and painted,” she said.

Maughan has spent her life drawing, painting and teaching and took first place in the Gosford Art Prize in 2019.

She started the arts school at Sydney’s Meadowbank TAFE when she was 26 and retired at 55, but remains generous in sharing her talents and knowledge.

She has so far painted murals on about 40 garages around Patonga, asking no fee but requesting that homeowners make a donation to the Patonga Bush Fire Brigade.

“It started when one local asked if I had ever painted a large magpie and if I could do one on his garage door,” she said.

“I drew it up first on a piece of paper and the homeowner helped paint it – he did the top bits for me,” she said.

“Since then many people have asked me to paint their doors and I always involve local children who are interested.”

Maughan has a few rules for her garage door artworks.

“The paintings have to be associated with Patonga – flora or fauna; I did do a fishing boat on one,” she said.

“I get homeowners to do a bit of homework to get them involved.”

Maughan is already working on her next project.

“It will be a plover, about 1.5m high, and three little plovers.,” she said.

A Patonga resident for the past 33 years, Maughan offers her studio as a free space for the community, doing portraits for nothing but always requesting sitters to make a donation to the Bush Fire Brigade.

“I feel at my age I can’t take it with me and I like community involvement,” she said.

The annual Young Archies Portrait Drawing Prize, judged by Maughan, is all about encouraging the next generation of artists.

“Entries need to be on a piece of A4 paper and must be of someone known to the young artist,” she said.

“They must be done through a personal sitting – not from a photograph or similar.

“We want to encourage the kids to actually look at people.”

There are four categories for young people aged 5-18, with entries to be displayed at the regional gallery concurrently with the Archibald Prize exhibition, on show until January 11.

The categories are: 5-8 year olds; 9-12 year olds; 13-15 year olds and 16-18 year olds.

Entries must be submitted in person to reception at the gallery by 3.30pm on Sunday, December 7, with the child’s name, age and contact person/number written on the back.

They should also be registered at https://www.trybooking.com/DGCLE

Vouchers for art materials will be offered as prizes.