Finger painting by artist with nerve injury wins Australian art award

The Archibald Prize is one of Australia's most respected art awards, especially for portrait painting. This year, the People's Choice Award, which is decided by votes from the public, was won by Loribelle Spirovski, a Filipina-Australian artist. Her winning portrait is of William Barton, a famous Aboriginal Australian musician. What makes this achievement even more remarkable is that Loribelle painted the portrait using only her fingers. She had suffered a nerve injury that made it difficult for her to use a brush, so she found a new way to express her creativity.

Loribelle has been a finalist for the Archibald Prize several times before, but this win was particularly meaningful to her. She said she was 'overjoyed' that so many people chose her painting as their favorite. After a few challenging years, she described this experience as a beautiful reward. She also expressed her gratitude to William Barton for allowing her to paint his portrait and to everyone who responded positively to her work. When Loribelle first met William Barton in October, she was still recovering from her injury. She played his music while she worked on the painting, which helped her connect with her subject and find inspiration. She explained that painting with her fingers was almost painless, and it made her feel alive in a way she hadn't felt for a long time.

Loribelle was born in the Philippines in 1990 to a Filipino mother and a Serbian father. She moved to Australia in 1999 and graduated from the College of Fine Arts in Sydney in 2012. On her website, she says her art is influenced by the different cultures of her parents and the countries she has lived in. The People's Choice Award is unique because it is based on votes from people who visit the gallery and see the finalists' paintings in person. This year, the main Archibald Prize, which comes with a prize of A$100,000, was awarded to Julie Fragar. She is the 13th woman to win the main prize in the award's 104-year history. Another award, the Packing Room Prize, is chosen by the staff who handle and install the paintings in the gallery. This year, it went to Abdul Abdullah for his portrait of fellow artist Jason Phu.

The Archibald Prize has a long history and is highly respected in the Australian art world. Winning any of its awards is a significant achievement for artists. Loribelle Spirovski's story is inspiring because it shows how artists can overcome challenges and find new ways to create. Her finger painting of William Barton has touched many people and brought her recognition and happiness. It also highlights the importance of diversity and personal experience in art, as Loribelle draws on her mixed heritage and life journey in her work.