WELL PAID ARTIST

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29273, 3 August 1960, Page 10

WELL PAID ARTIST

£7OO For Murals And Prizes

“The Press” Special Service AUCKIuAND, August 1. Some people may think that art does not pay but Mr David J. Barker, an art student of 18 who won second prize in this year’s Kelliher landscape competition, knows otherwise. In his spare time this year Mr Barker has earned just under £7OO for murals and competition prizes. He began winning prizes while still a pupil at Takapuna Grammar School. He became a kind of professional amateur competition winner in painting, poster and colouring contests organised by local firms. He soon amassed an impressive collection of bicycles, certificates, a watch, a tennis racquet, and a radio. He won about £7O in various contests and also received £lOO for colouring in a jelly. He chose lemon and raspberry. He won a certificate for a poster in an American competition. He still has the certificates, but sold the surplus bicycles, keeping one for his own use. Now in his first year at Elam School of Fine Arts he has graduated to bigger prizes. He won £3OO as second prize in the Kelliher competition last week| Mr Barker won £3O for second prize in the Auckland Racing Club’s competition this year. He also has an £B5 commission to paint a mural for the Auckland Electric Power Board and a contract worth £2BO for the Auckland Harbour Board mural at Prince’s Wharf. Mr Barker paints landscapes in a representational style to please himself. But he finds a ready sale for many of his paintings at £2O to £3O each.