HONOR Adams has a penchant for painting celebrities.
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The nine-year-old's portraits of the Queen, Prince Harry, Frida Kahlo and Simon Cowell and a watercolour of Justin Bieber watch over her dining room table.
But it is a portrait of her family's Indonesian sponsor child, Pretty, 7, that has propelled Honor herself into the limelight.
Christian child development and advocacy organisation, Compassion Australia - based in Warabrook - has commissioned Honor for a competition.
Sponsors must explain in 50 words or less how helping a child in poverty has impacted their life for the chance to win Honor's portrait of their sponsor child.
"I feel good about it - a little nervous and excited," Honor said, adding she was "proud" her work would hopefully be displayed in someone else's home too.
She will donate half her fee to the organisation.
"I think Australian kids should sponsor other kids so Compassion can help them, so that they might get to go to school, get food, have medicine when they're sick and have shoes - some kids don't have shoes."
Honor's mum, Sarah Adams, said she was happy her daughter was using her talent to help others.
The family has sponsored Pretty for four years and had sponsored another four children before her.
Mrs Adams has sponsored children for more than 15 years and her photographer husband Ben Adams has travelled overseas with the organisation to meet sponsored children and share their stories.
"I'm super proud of her," Mrs Adams said.
"I like that something she is passionate about and likes doing can bring awareness to Compassion, it's not just for pleasure."
Honor has been drawing since she was two and watching YouTube videos about drawing for the past year.
She started painting last September alongside her dad, who was rediscovering the art form.
Together they would search online for an image of a celebrity to paint and set up easels on the back deck.
"I like doing it because it's really fun," she said. "I like mixing the colours. I feel happy when I'm painting because I can be creative."
Her first painting was of the Queen to indulge her fascination with royalty. It remains her favourite.
"I really like her jewellery. It's a bit different to the others. Plus blue is my favourite colour."
Mr Adams said he had been contacted after posting Honor's work on Instagram by about 10 people wanting their portraits painted too.
She has painted his friend, Gareth, who bought the work for $20, as well as her grandmother for the Young Archie competition.
Honor was recently given a book about Jane Austen, who she said was likely to be her next subject.
She started painting David Walliams dressed as a bride, "but I didn't finish it because he looked like a finger".
As for Elvis, who caught her interest at five and who her dad has painted? "He's on the maybe list."
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Helen Gregory
Helen Gregory joined the Newcastle Herald in 2010. She is the masthead’s education reporter and has written for the H2 and Weekender sections, as well as across a range of issues. Helen is a Walkley Award winning journalist and was also part of the Newcastle Herald team that won the United Nations World Environment Day Media Award for Environmental Reporting.
Helen Gregory joined the Newcastle Herald in 2010. She is the masthead’s education reporter and has written for the H2 and Weekender sections, as well as across a range of issues. Helen is a Walkley Award winning journalist and was also part of the Newcastle Herald team that won the United Nations World Environment Day Media Award for Environmental Reporting.
