The Mollymook artist said she was “absolutely stunned” when she was announced the winner of the ARTfest prize with her work titled Gazing Into The Past.

“I have only just started exploring oils and I’ve never painted a portrait,” she said, “so this was a real challenge for me.”

“I never expected to win with such very high standard of entries.”

Sadhana has taken art courses and was a member of a life drawing group and said she had previously thought about entering the art prize, but had lacked the confidence.

“This has certainly given me the confidence to enter other art competitions,” she said.

Sadhana’s self portrait, which she refers to as “her”, centres on the “powerful eyes” which the artist explained were “pensive and thoughtful”.

“I like the light on the face and the negative space.”