
A KALLISTA artist has been highly commended for her portrait of Doctor George Chaloupka, an Aboriginal rock artist.
Kordeyla Zhan Sui is one of five artists to be given the commendation as a finalist for the Doug Moran Art Prize.
The Mail reported on Tuesday, 27 February, that Ms Zhan Sui had made the finals of the art prize.
She told the Mail she never expected to be chosen as a finalist because she only entered the painting in the competition because her friends encouraged her to.
Ms Zhan Sui went head-to-head with 29 other finalists for the grand prize of $100,000 but it was Sydney artist Leslie Rice who took out the honours.
But Ms Zhan Sui said it was a great feeling to be recognised and commended for her painting.
The Moran Prize attracted a record 4500 entries this year and the judges said it was inspiring to see such a diverse range of paintings.