I want to believe

Gemma Smith won the Clayton Utz travelling scholarship last night. She had work in the Optimism show at GOMA and is represented by Milani Gallery in Brisbane.

These were the entrants:
Jennifer Baxter
Chris Bennett
Kate Bernauer
Sue Beyer
Chris Booth
Kathryn Brimblecombe-Fox
Jasmin Coleman
Megan Cope
Ky Curran
Nameer Davis
Kim Demuth
Stefan Dunlop
Franz Ehmann
Simone Eisler
Julie Fragar
Anna Gonzalez
Anita Hochman
Madeleine Kelly
Lisa Lee
Mandana Mapar
Karla Marchesi
Alison McDonald
Bruce Reynolds
Giles Ryder
Gemma Smith
Arryn Snowball
Daynor Sudmalis
Gabriella Szablewska & Brent Wilson
Sally Williams
Hoe-Chee Yam

I knew I didn't have much of a chance to win but it felt pretty good to be included with these fantastic artists. I will probably enter a couple more competitions this year and give it a break next year. I have been accepted into everything I have entered this year and I am quite happy with that. The only thing was, my work has evolved to a higher level and my best work wasn't shown at any except for the Clayton Utz. Sometimes it feels like a waste of time being in these things, but a lot more people have seen my work and my name is getting out there. I won't have the time or energy next year to enter these things as I will be doing honours.

I can't wait to finish uni so I can get on with things. I have PLANS! I want to start applying for overseas residencies and grants to do work, but you can't until you are a 'professional' artist. That means finishing my degree. I feel like uni is holding me back at the moment but I think it is a necessary evil. I don't regret going back to do a fine art degree. It has helped me to focus and I have met heaps of great people. It has worked for me.

I haven't had a break for ages and I am a bit tired. Time to watch some X-files :-)