MFA students reach finals in national painting competition

Studio Arts MFA students Betino Assa, who's in the print media program, and Corri-Lynn Tetz, in the painting and drawing program, have been named among the 15 finalists in the 2012 RBC Canadian Painting Competition. Katie Lyle, BFA 05, is also a finalist.

It was the first time Assa entered the nation-wide contest, submitting what he felt was his strongest 2D work to date. The acrylic on engraved Plexiglass piece that caught the eye of the jury is called Gathering in the forest 12 a.m. (at right).

Tetz entered an oil-on-panel painting entitled Housefire 3. Lyle's piece is White Knight (oil on canvas).

Administered with the support of the Canadian Art Foundation, the RBC painting competition aims to support talented emerging artists across Canada. The winner and two honourable mentions will be named on November 29, with the winner receiving a purchase prize of $25,000 and the runners-up pocketing $15,000 each.

How would Assa put the exposure and the cash to use if he were to win? He'd invest in art supplies and equipment - and on producing more work. "I would be more motivated to maintain and improve my imagery and exposure," he notes.