Sophie cape has been announced as the winner of the Portia Geach Memorial Award for her spectacular portrait of actor Dan Wyllie. Consisting of oil and acrylic paints, charcoal, bitumen ink and soil, Romper Stomper measures 209 x 203cm and expressively captures the personality of the actor as well as the characters that he has performed over the years. "I just did a whole lot of sketches then I took the canvas out to the bush and attacked it in an abstract way...It's more about getting the emotion and feelings and energy into the work first. Then back in the studio I started to pull the face out." - Sophie Cape in conversation with the Sydney Morning Herald The fact that this painting was decided upon over 300 entries to the prize and then again out of 49 finalists speaks volumes of its undeniable quality and likeness. For taking first place Sophie will receive $30,000. An annual prize, the Portia Geach Memorial Award exhibits contemporary portraiture by Australian women artists and is recognised as a significant celebration of the talents and creativity of Australian female painters. The prize was founded by Florence Kate Geach in memory of her sister Portia Geach with the first award being given in 1965. Congratulations Sophie!
Sophie Cape, Romper Stomper, 2014, oil, acrylic, bitumen, charcoal, ink and soil on canvas, 209 x 203cm[/caption] 
