Tea, Cake and Family History
Donna Hawkins
- Sitter: Zita Poynting
- Medium: Mixed Media
- Dimensions: 95cm x 105cm
- Representation: This artist represents themselves
About the artwork and sitter
This is a portrait of the artist’s mother, 90 year old, Zita Joy Poynting.
Zita spent many years holidaying in Brisbane before bravely relocating here last year from her Blue Mountains home of 65 years. ‘Her only regret is that she didn’t come sooner.’
Zita spent her life caring for others, both personally and professionally, as a registered nurse. Despite suffering a traumatic childhood and much loss as an adult, she remains cheerful and content.
‘She’s the most kind and compassionate person I know. I have endeavoured to tell her life’s story with the photographs of beloved family and symbols of all she holds dear.’
About the artist
Donna Hawkins is involved with the Redcliffe Art Society, and was recently selected as a finalist in the 2023 Moreton Bay Region Art Prize.
She enjoys working across all genres, often incorporating mixed media, acrylics, pastel, coloured pencils and collage into her work.
Her painting style is illustrative, graphic, sharply defined, and punctuated by her love of vibrant colour.
This is the first time she has entered the Brisbane Portrait Prize.
“Donna says she could probably have painted this portrait blindfolded, as she knows the subject so well."
Behind the scenes
Donna says she could probably have painted this portrait blindfolded, as she knows the subject so well. Known for her imaginative and colourful works, Donna enjoyed telling her mother’s story in her carefully constructed composition, painting it over and over in her mind before committing her brush to the canvas. She loves using mixed media, incorporating texture and collage, as she has here. Thrilled to learn that she won People’s Choice in the 2023 Moreton Bay Region Art Prize, she hopes that being a finalist in the 2023 Brisbane Portrait Prize will be the catalyst to gaining a wider audience for her work. She welcomes commissions (in any genre). Look for her on social media.
