“Gemma”
Grace Paleg is an Australian artist who specializes in the medium of pastel. She keeps changing her mind about how long this apprenticeship is! Maybe a few years, maybe ten or twenty as she once thought – not so – Grace is up to 50 and is now beginning to hope her apprenticeship won’t be cut short. There is a lot of work to be done and she feels now with every new painting that her journey has just begun.
She has always enjoyed and been confident in her abilities to draw, and happily, no-one ever told her that she couldn’t.
Having studied Graphic Design at Swinburne in Melbourne for two years and life drawing and portraiture at East Sydney Tech. Although Grace enjoyed very much the life of the art student she feels that the best instruction she received was working privately in oils with the late Leslie Sinclair at Monsalvat in 1985. She appreciated greatly her expertise in tonal impressionism and her honesty and quiet humility. Grace also benefited from the tuition of the late Allan Martin at his studio in Eltham. She has never had lessons in pastel but knows that her founding in oil paves the way perfectly for pastel.
When she had two young sons, she found it more and more difficult to juggle the busy lifestyle with the restrained requirements that go along with working in oil. Not so the get-up-and-go of pastel. A friend and fellow artist introduced her to the medium in 1987 and she has been with it happily ever since.
Grace began exhibiting in 1990 and joined the Victorian Pastel Society in 1993. She is also a member of the Australian Pastel Society, and the Australian Guild of Realists Artists; and member and past President of the South Coast Pastel Society.
Her family spent seventeen years in country Victoria before a move in 1994 to the south coast of N.S.W. where she opened the Grace Paleg Fine Art Studio Gallery two years later.
It is from here that Grace continues to work and teach local students, as well as hold workshops for various groups around Australia.
“View Grace’s detailed resume and awards“
Grace Paleg is a Fellow and signatory member of The Australian Guild of Realist Artists
Dedicated to the excellence of realist and representational art.
Grace Paleg is a recipient of the
Signature award of the Pastel Society of Australia
“No-one else can capture light like she can.”
Dottie
Grace’s Awards
Grace Paleg is a well known and prolific artist of 50 years experience who has exhibited regularly and successfully in many major shows and galleries.
Grace studied Graphic design at Swinburne in Victoria and life drawing and portraiture at East Sydney Tech. Studies followed with the late Lesley Sinclair and David Moore at Montsalvat and Allan Martin at his studio in Eltham. Grace’s earlier work consists of over 300 commissioned portraits and in the past years, she has diversified in subject matter to Life Drawing, Landscape and Still Life.
During 1990 Grace began exhibiting and teaching at her studio. In conjunction with these activities, she has been an invitation judge at Art Shows and has been giving demonstrations and workshops for Art Societies throughout Victoria N.S.W. and A.C.T.
After a move to the south coast of N.S.W. in 1994 with her family, Grace commenced work as a tutor with the Eurobodalla Adult Education Centre teaching portraiture. The Grace Paleg Fine Art Studio Gallery was opened in November 1996 and it is from there that Grace continues to work and teach. She is a member and past President of the South Coast pastel society and a member of the Victorian Pastel Society. Grace’s preferred medium is pastels, and her skills with these have earned her the number of awards shown below.
2021
Creative Arts Batemans Bay Inc., 36th Annual Visual Arts Exhibitio
People’s Choice award – 2D Fine Art
“The Road to Braidwood”
2020
Pastel Society of Victoria, Australia’s 33rd Annual Exhibition
Highly commended “The Road from Durras”
The Pastel Society of Victoria, Australia
Eckersley’s Members’ Encouragement Awards
First Prize – Professional Pastelists: ” Fall on the Fourth Dimension”
AGRA Autumn Online Exhibition 2020
Commended ” Fall on the Fourth Dimension”
2019
Creative Arts Batemans Bay Inc., 34th Annual Exhibition
First Prize: “Love The Bay”
Award of Excellence -Judges Choice:”Cups of Joy”
Pastel Society of Victoria, Australia – Awarded Signature Award 2019
Finalist in the Basil Sellers Art Prize
Finalist in the 14th International ARC Salon Competition (2019-2020)
“River of Dreams”
Invitation to exhibit in the Inaugural Exhibition of The BAS 2019
“River of Dreams ”
“Calamity before the Calm”
Pastel Society of Victoria, Australia’s 32nd Annual Exhibition
Highly commended “Amber Autumn”
South Coast Pastel Society Annual Exhibition 2019
Peoples Choice “Fall on the Floor”
2018
Finalist in the Basil Sellers Art Prize
Finalist in the 13th International ARC Salon Competition
AGRA Spring Exhibition 2018
Highly Commended “Smell the Roses, Feel the Joy”
Pastel Society of Victoria, Australia’s 31st Annual Exhibition
Presidents’ Award “Cups of Joy”
Camberwell Art Show July 2018
Highly commended “Cups of Joy”
Shoalhaven Art Society 53 Annual Open Art Exhibition 2018
Highly Commended “Cups of Joy ll”
Peoples Choice “Cups of Joy ll”
South Coast Pastel Society National Exhibition 2018
First Prize Best painting by a member of the South Coast Pastel Society “Jane”
Second Prize Landscape “Earthscape QF445 1998”
Montaque Arts and Craft Easter exhibition 2018
First prize works on paper – “Spacescape Gracefully Dreaming”
Creative Arts Batemans Bay Inc., 33rd Annual Exhibition
First Prize best Pastel “Earthscape Impossible”
Highly commended “A light on gum and Nautilus”
2017
Creative Arts Batemans Bay Inc., 32nd Annual Exhibition
Second Prize- Best Pastel “Launceston Still life”
Kiama Art Society 39th Annual Exhibition
Second Prize Still life “Launceston Still life”
Montaque Arts and Craft Easter exhibition 2017
First prize works on paper – “Early Morning Magic”
2016
AGRA Winter Exhibition 2016
Highly Commended “Earthscape Batemans Bay”
Pastel Society of Victoria, Australia’s 29th Annual Exhibition
Best in Show “Earthscape Batemans Bay”
Batemans Bay Arts and Crafts Society, 31st Annual Exhibition
The John Malloy award – Best Portrait “Eunice”
First Prize – Best Pastel “The Passage of Light 3D”
South Coast Pastel Society National Exhibition 2016
Best in Show “Jenny”
Highly Commended “Adams Dream”
The Australian Guild of Realist Artists Online Summer 2016 Exhibition
2nd Place Award “Three Sheep”
Highly Commended Award for “The Passage of Light 3D”
2015
The Australian Guild of Realist Artists
Certificate of Recognition for a high standard of Artistic merit and consistent quality in AGRA exhibitions
The Australian Guild of Realist Artists
The David A Taylor award 15/16
Best painting in show at the Medallion Exhibition 2015 ‘The Apology’
The Australian Guild of Realist Artists Online Spring 2015 Exhibition
Second Prize ‘Rowena’
The Inaugural Olive Tree portrait Prize 2015
First Place ‘Eunice’
The Australian Guild of Realist Artists Online Winter 2015 Exhibition
Highly commended ‘Mr Christopher A James’
Alley Archies Portrait Prize Escape Artfest
Highly Commended ‘Mr Christopher A James’
Kiama Art Society 37th Annual Exhibition
Figurative/Portrait Second Place ‘Rowena’
Still life Commended ‘The Apology’
St John’s Art Show Boorowa
Best in Show
The Australian Guild of Realist Artists Autumn 2015 Exhibition
Commended ‘Paleg Pears’
River of Art 2015
Highly commended ‘Claude Claudette and Clueless’
Australian Guild of Realist Artists Online Summer 2015 Exhibition
First Prize “Rex begonia with Jeannetta”
Commended “one Pear”
Batemans Bay Arts and Crafts Society, 30th Annual Exhibition
The John Malloy award – Best overall exhibit ‘Little brother, big Sister Maddie and Harrison’
Second Prize Pastel The maids of Orlean’
Commended Pastel ‘ Portrait Susan Nader’
2014
Australian Guild of Realist Artists awarded Fellowship Status AGRAF
Australian Art Magazines Art Prize Challenge No. 58
Finalist Flowers and Gardens “From the Garden”
Australian Guild of Realist Artists, Spring seasonal Exhibition 2014
2nd Runner Up Best in Show ‘Sash’
Kiama Art Society 36th Annual Exhibition
Still life, Highly Commended. (From the Garden)
Australian Guild of Realist Artists Online Autumn Winter 2014 Exhibition
Second Prize (Roses and Tea with Anne)
Commended (Sash)
Batemans Bay Arts &Crafts Soc Inc
29th Annual Art & Craft Exhibition
First Prize Pastel
Batemans Bay Arts &Crafts Soc Inc
29th Annual Art & Craft Exhibition
People’s Choice
Australian Art Magazines Art Prize Challenge No. 55
First Prize- Best Still Life & Florals
The 2013-2014 International Art Renewal Centre Competition
Finalist in Animals (“Seagull Shindig”) and Still life (“Kiss the Floor”)
Pastel 2014: Realism and Impressionism, Collection Beaux-Arts Realiste
Honourable mentions: “Kiss The Floor”, “Little Brother, Big Sister”
The Inaugural Access Archaeology & Heritage National Exhibition
Award for the best painting by a member of the South Coast Pastel Society
“The Bay Boardwalk at Twilight”
2013
Pastel Society of Victoria, Australia’s 26th Annual Exhibition
Runner-up for Best in Show award
Australian Guild of Realist Artists On-line Autumn 2013 Exhibition
Third Prize (Kirsten)
Batemans Bay Arts and Crafts Society, 28th Annual Exhibition
The John Ward Memorial Prize – Best overall exhibit (“Lee”)
Commended Pastel
The 2012-2013 International Art Renewal Centre Competition
Finalist in Landscape (’Strike me Lucky’)
2012
The Australian Guild of Realist Artists
The Terry Collins Medallion ‘12/13
Signatory Membership
Australian Guild of Realist Artists On-line Summer 2012 Exhibition
2 Highly Commended awards
Australian Guild of Realist Artists On-line Spring 2012 Exhibition
2 Commended awards
Kiama Art Society 34th Annual Exhibition
Still life, First Place
Batemans bay Art & Craft Society Annual Exhibition
The Cystic Fibrosis Award of Excellence
Best Pastel
Shirley Hannan Portrait Prize”
Finalist
French Art Magazine “Practique Des Arts”
Published and front cover
Finalist in Australian Artist Art Prize Challenge Series. Challenge no.
Favourite Subject
Shoalhaven Art Society Annual Exhibition
Second Prize overall
St Peters Anglican College 2012 Art Show
Highly Commended
Australian Guild of Realist Artists, AAL Summer Autumn 2012 Competition.
Second Place
2011
Batemans bay Art & Craft Society 27th Annual Exhibition
Peoples Choice
The South Coast Pastel Society Glimpses Exhibition
Third Prize, People’s Choice
The Pastel Society of Victoria Annual Exhibition
Overall winner, Best in Show
The Australian Guild of Realist Artists Summer Exhibition
Best in Show “Fall on the Floor”
2010
Montague Art and Craft Easter show
Best in Show “The Passage of Light”
Batemans bay Art & Craft Society 26thAnnual Exhibition
First Prize Portrait ArtyBald “Memories of our Matriarch”
Highly Commended “Fragrant Light”
2008
South Coast Pastel Society’s “Italian Exhibition”
The inaugural Eric Kirkland Art Prize “The Search”
Kiama Art Society 30th Annual Exhibition
1st Place, Illawarra Region Painting by a Member of the Kiama Art Society
2nd Place Portrait Painting
AGRA Summer Exhibition
Commended AGRA Summer Exhibition
Batemans Bay Arts & Crafts Society Inc. 23rd Annual Exhibition
2nd Prize, Drawing “India”
2007
Herald Sun Camberwell Rotary Art Show
Best Pastel in Show
Australian Guild of Realist Artists – Summer Exhibition
Runner-up Best Painting
Australian Guild of Realist Artists – Autumn Exhibition
Highly Commended
Australian Guild of Realist Artists – Winter Exhibition
Highly Commended
2006
Batemans Bay Art & Craft Society Inc. 21st Annual Exhibition
First Prize Peoples Choice
Second Prize Pastel
Montague 25th Art and Craft Easter Show
Peoples Choice
2005
Australian Artist Art Prize Challenge Series. Challenge no.20 still life
Second Prize
The Combined Moruya C.W.A. & South Coast Pastel Society Inc. “Days of Innocents” Exhibition
Peoples First Choice award
Kiama Art Society Annual Exhibition
Highly commended (members)
2004
Batemans Bay Art & Craft Society Inc 19th Annual Exhibition
Second prize Pastel
Shirley Hannan Portrait Prize
Second Prize Peoples choice
Kiama Art Society Annual Exhibition
First Overall Exhibit
Highly commended (Traditional)
Pastel Society of Victoria Annual Exhibition 2004
Ming B. Mackay Prize for the most popular pastel voted by Victorian Pastel Society members
2003
Batemans Bay Art & Craft Society Inc 18th Annual Exhibition
Best Painting overall
First Prize Portraiture
Second prize Pastel
Best Female Artist hanging overall
Kiama Art Society Annual Exhibition
First Overall Exhibit
Alexander Berry Art Exhibition 2003
Highly commended (Portrait)
Shoalhaven Art Society Annual Exhibition
Commended (Traditional)
2002
Batemans Bay Art & Craft Society Inc 17th Annual Exhibition
First Prize Portraiture
The South Coast Pastel Society’s Great Fakes Show
Third Prize
Kiama Art Society Annual Exhibition
Second Best Overall Exhibit
Peoples Choice
Highly Commended (Pastel Section)
Judged the Bega Valley Regional Gallery Art Awards
Shoalhaven Art Society Annual Exhibition
First Prize (Portrait Section)
Commended (Still life Section)
2001
Batemans Bay Art and Craft Exhibition
The Chris Vardon Portraiture Prize – First Prize
Second Prize Pastel.
Montague Art and Craft Easter show
Best Pastel
Second prize, Oils
Kiama Art Society Annual Exhibition
Second Best Overall Exhibit
Highly Commended Portraiture
Peoples Choice
Shoalhaven Art Society Annual Exhibition
First Prize ( Portrait Section)
Highly Commended (Pastel Section)
Bega Valley Regional Gallery Art Awards
Best Pastel
Alexander Berry Art Exhibition 2001
The Shoalhaven Portrait Acquisition
Homage to Moruya Granite Art Exhibition
The Peter Thomas Award Best Pastel
2000
Batemans Bay Art and Craft Exhibition
The Chris Vardon Portraiture Prize – First Prize
Best Pastel
Highly Commended
Herald Sun Camberwell Rotary Art Show 2000
Expo Hire Prize, Best Pastel In Show
Montague Art and Craft Easter show
Highly Commended
Commended
Australian Artist Art Prize Challenge Series. Challenge no.1 – Landscape
Third Prize
Finalist in the Australian Artist Art Prize Challenge Series. Challenge no. 2 Still life and Floral
Kiama Art Society Annual Exhibition
First prize Still life
Peoples choice
Shoalhaven Art Society Annual Exhibition
First Prize ( Portrait Section)
First Prize Best Flower Painting
Bega Valley Regional Gallery. John Balmain National Portraiture Award
First Prize
Bega Valley Art Awards
Best Pastel
1999
The Chris Vardon Portraiture Prize
First Prize
Montague Art and Craft Easter Show
Second Prize (Pastel)
Herald Sun Camberwell Rotary Art Show 1999
Expo Hire Prize, Best Pastel in Show
Kiama Art Society Annual Exhibition
Second Prize (Portraiture)
Highly Commended, Still Life
Peoples Choice
Shoalhaven Art Society Annual Exhibition
First Prize Still Life Section)
First Prize Portrait Section)
First Prize Traditional Section)
People’s Choice
Bega Valley Art Awards
Best Pastel
Finalist in the AME Bale Travelling Scholarship
1998
Inaugural Chris Vardon Portraiture Prize
First Prize
Montague Art And Craft Easter Show
First Prize, Any other Medium
Kiama Art Society Annual Exhibition
First Prize (Portraiture)
Invitation Artist at the Bega Valley Regional Gallery
‘A Celebration of Pastel and Watercolour’
Shoalhaven Art Society 33rd Annual Art Exhibition
The Holiday Haven Excellence in Art Award
Highly Commended (Portrait Section)
Portia Geach Portraiture Award 1998
Viewers choice
1997
Kiama Art Society Annual Exhibition 1997
First Prize, Best Still Life
Highly Commended (Traditional)
Commended (Still Life)
Shoalhaven Art Society 32nd Annual Art Exhibition
The Inaugural John Proudfoot Memorial Award
First Prize (Still Life)
First Prize (Portrait)
Bega Valley Art Awards
Best Drawing or Pastel
Portia Geach Portrait award
Accepted for Hanging in 1997
Waverly Rotary Art Show
Featured Artist
1996
Forest Gallery Solo Exhibition “A SHOW OF GRACE”
Portland 20th Art Exhibition
Art Purchase Acquired by the City of Lismore Council
Montague Art and Craft Easter Show 1996
Best Painting Overall
Twice Highly Commended
Camberwell Rotary Art Show 1996
Best Pastel under $700
Commended
Waverly Art Show
Twice Highly Commended
City of Liverpool 10th annual Art and Craft Exhibition
Commended
Batemans Bay Art And Craft Society Clyde River Art Exhibition
Best Painting Overall
Best Pastel
Kiama Art Society Annual Exhibition 1996
Best Still life
Highly Commended
Shoalhaven Art Society 31st Annual Art Exhibition
The Holiday Haven Excellence in Art Award
Best Still Life
1995
Cowra’s Festival of International Understanding. Arts Council Art Exhibition 1995
Highly Commended
Montague Art and Craft Society Show
First Prize, Best Pastel
People’s Choice Award
Kiama Art Society Annual Exhibition 1995
Best Still Life
Highly Commended (Portrait)
Commended (Traditional)
Shoalhaven Art Society Annual Exhibition 1995
First Prize (Still Life Section)
First Prize (Portrait Section)
First Prize (Traditional Section)
Neptune Festival Art Exhibition 1995
Batemans Bay First Prize
1994
Rotary Club of Yea Annual Art Show 1994
First Prize (acquisition) Best Exhibit
Camberwell Rotary Art Show 1994
Rembrandt Pastel Prize. First Prize Best Pastel
Highly Commended
Shoalhaven Art Society Annual Exhibition
First Prize (Still life Section)
Highly Commended (Portrait Section)
Toorak College Fine Art Exhibition
Best Pastel
Kiama Art Society 16th Annual Exhibition 1994
Best Still Life
Twice Commended (Portrait and Traditional Sections)
People’s Choice Award
Bega Valley Art Awards 1994
Major Award (acquisitive)
Best Pastel
Neptune Festival Art Exhibition 1994 Batemans Bay
Second Prize
Highly Commended
1993
Rotary Club of Yea Annual Art show
First Prize (Acquisition) Best Exhibit
Second Prize
Studio Roest Art Gallery at the old Post Office, Seymour, 1993
First solo Exhibition. “GRACEFULLY YOURS”
Camberwell Rotary Art Show 1993
Rembrandt Pastel Prize, First Prize Best Pastel
Brighton Art Exhibition 1993
Brighton City Council, Acquisition Award
Best Painting in Exhibition.
Parade College Annual Art Exhibition 1993
Two Honourable Mentions
Pastel Society of Victoria Annual Exhibition 1993
Micador Prize
Ming B. Mackay Prize For the most popular pastel voted by Victorian Pastel Society members
Glen Waverly Rotary Art Show 1993
Honourable Mention
1992
Rotary Club of Yea Annual Art Show 1992
Highly Commended.
Herald Sun Outdoor Art Show 1992
First Prize (Pastels)
Studio Roest Art Gallery at Kinglake, 1992 – Annual Autumn Exhibition “GRACE AND CHARM”
Featured Artist.
Parade Art Exhibition 1992
First prize (Best Exhibit)
Highly Commended.
Echuca Art Group 38th Annual Exhibition 1992
Highly Commended.
1991
Rotary Club of Yea Annual Art Show 1991
Highly Commended.
Albury/Wodonga Artists Society 1991
First Prize (Acquisition – local scene)
Highly Commended (pastel)
Parade Art Exhibition 1991
Two Highly Commended (Pastels)
