Masterton man finalist in IHC Art Awards

THUMBS UP: Daniel Clark, 22, of Masterton, would like to be an artist and sell his work.

Young adults from Masterton's IDEA Services Youth Centre visited Arts on High in Lower Hutt yesterday where their very own Daniel Clark has his artwork on display.

Mr Clark, 22, was chosen as one of 30 nationwide finalists in the IHC Art Awards for this year and is now in the running to win $5000.

His nominated art piece is a miniature clay model dog which was inspired by his family's German shepherd called Mojo who is turning six this year.

"Mojo is brown and black and has big brown eyes like me and like you," Mr Clark said.

"So it's the same thing as Mojo but it hasn't got no teeth to brush but it's always poking its tongue out.

"But it needs a name tag."

Denise L'Estrange-Corbet judged the regional round that Mr Clark entered in Lower Hutt last week and said the submissions into this year's awards were exceptional.

"The artists really do deserve to have at least one piece of their work in every home or workplace in New Zealand - it just brightens your whole day," she said.

Ms L'Estrange-Corbet is judging this year's IHC Art Awards with musician and jewellery artist Boh Runga and graphic novelist Dylan Horrocks on August 27.

People's Choice will also be determined by Facebook voting during August. Finalists' work will be auctioned on the awards night, with 100 per cent of the proceeds going to the artists.

On selling his art work and becoming an artist, Mr Clark laughed and said he "might as well".