John Copes Portrait Prize 2022 ~ Finalist Sonya Jane Thoms

Sonya Jane Thoms is a finalist in the John Copes Portrait Prize, which runs from September 21 to October 3, 2022, at the Bowral District Art Society in Bowral, NSW, Australia. Her portrait of Professor Mark Howden, created using oil and impasto techniques on canvas, is a contemporary artwork that employs expressive mark-making and brush strokes to capture her subject.

"Meet Professor Mark Howden, the Director of the Australian National University's Institute for Climate, Energy and Disaster Solutions. My portraits are inspired by the human narrative, our shared experiences, and our strengths, wisdom, and journeys. I aim to convey these themes through my work. As a painter, I express myself through free, expressive brushstrokes. With my paintings, I want to illustrate the story of my subject, create a likeness, and engage the viewer, inviting them to ask questions," says Sonya.