Charlotte Varcoe
MOUNT Gambier/Berrin artist Amaya Gamage has been recognised for her wonderful and colourful drawings.
Amaya has been drawing since a young age, starting by drawing on walls, furniture and any paper she could grasp and at the age of 15, the budding artist moved to graphic drawing using illustrator.
Now, Amaya has been nominated for the Carclew Creative Achievement Award after being awarded the contracts to decorate two general practitioner clinics in Victoria.
Her colourful displays now line the walls of Coleraine Family Health with 28 pieces as well as a further 25 at the Casterton Family Health.
Since then, Amaya was also awarded the contract to decorate the recently opened Urgent Care Clinic in Mount Gambier/Berrin with 32 artworks expected to brighten the clinic.
She has also received second place in the Youth Category at the Wattle Range Council art exhibition in November last year for her ‘Dan’s Cat’ work as well as the NDIS inclusive award at the South East Art Society Open Art Awards for her graphic drawing ‘The Rhino’.
She has also achieved her first exhibition at the Main Corner Art Complex and published her first book ‘Amayas Animal Alphabet’.
Amaya’s mother Rasika Rampatige expressed how proud they were of her achievements due to her hardwork and determination.
“We are very proud of her and Amaya achieved what she has achieved so far with hard work and determination,” Ms Rampatige said.
“She faced many challenges along the way but she faced them with courage.
“The nomination itself would be a big confidence booster for Amaya to continue to work toward her dream of becoming a graphic artist at a professional level.”
She said when more people heard about her talent it would help take steps towards further establishing her as a freelance graphic artist.
Alongside the nomination, Amaya also has a solo art exhibition schedule for April at the Riddoch Art Gallery and a feature artist at the Creative Art for Health project at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Adelaide in September.
Amaya is also enrolled to study graphic design at TAFE SA beginning this year.
