Oscar nominee calls on creative kids

Two-time Academy Award nominee and co-founder of Brown Bag Films, Darragh O’Connell, is calling on Clare pupils to embrace their artistic side and enter the 2012 Sightsavers Junior Painter Awards.
The annual painting competition invites primary school pupils from Clare to unleash their talent by engaging with the competition, using only their imagination to create an individual artwork.
The Sightsavers Junior Painter Awards gives youngsters the opportunity to engage with the value of their sight and learn about those children who live without it in the developing world. The winning pupil will receive prizes from the Art and Hobby Store. In addition, for the first time ever, the winning pupil’s school will also win a cash prize.
Speaking about his involvement in the Sightsavers Junior Painter Awards, the two-time Oscar-nominated animator and filmmaker said, “The only way to get better at something is to keep doing it and that’s the same for drawing and painting. Practise, practise, practise. Look at things around you, imagine how you would draw them or colour them. Draw and paint things that you like and love. Have fun and enjoy it. The more hard work and practise you put into it, the better you will be.
“I loved creating artwork for contests when I was young and I’m really excited to be part of Sightsavers Junior Painter Awards. With just three weeks to go, make sure to get painting. I cannot wait to see the paintings that are produced by the budding artists of the future.”
The competition is open to primary school pupil of all ages and this year’s theme is ‘i: dream’.
Pupil are invited to come up with their own unique vision of how they would like to see the world. Children will also learn about Sightsavers’ work to eradicate preventable and treatable blindness in the developing world through simple and cost-effective measures.
There are five competition categories: junior and senior infants, 1st and second class, third and fourth class, fifth and sixth class and a special needs category.
A total of 15 regional winners will be selected and will have the opportunity to see their work displayed at a special awards day in February 2013. The regional winners are then in the running to be awarded the top prize of overall national winner, with a runner-up and third spot up for grabs as well.
The closing date for entries is Friday, November 30. For more information on how to get involved visit www.sightsavers.ie/juniorpainter or www.facebook.com/SightsaversIreland.