It’s that time of year again

It’s that time of year again when we Australian artist’s pack our larger than life portrait projects of to the countries two major competitions; the Archibald prize (over 800 entries last year) and the Doug Moran national portrait prize (over 500 entries). I personally am only entering the DMNPP this year, with a portrait of my 14-year-old daughter. My baby left for the judges this morning, and looking at the photo image now makes me feel both proud and nervous.

Portrait painting, I think is the most magnificent and challenging form of painting, I also find it the most exiting. Having painted numerous commissioned and non-commissioned portraits over the past couple of years I’ve felt exhilarated from start to finish, from considering which medium and style would best suit the sitter, to the last minute touches before a deadline.

The amazing privilege for an artist is to immortalise someone, but the ultimate satisfaction is for someone to see himself or herself. Having said that I think its time for me to try another self-portrait, and I almost defiantly will be painting over a previous one.

In the immortal words of Erica Badu “keep in mind that I’m an artist, and I’m sensitive about my stuff.”