Moore painting publicity.

After not getting into the Archibald earlier this year, my entry of Richard Moore WAS in actual fact selected by the Salon de Refusés, aka Hidden Faces of the Archibald. But for personal reasons I refused the Refusés.

I'd posted the painting on my blog, and shortly there after I was contacted by someone who wanted to do a profile piece on me and my entry of Richard Moore for the RMIT Alumni online newsletter. I was very flattered and accepted the opportunity to share my painting to a wider audience.

(click here to read profile)

Archibald Portrait Prize Submission - Mark Two!

One lesson learnt from last year's submission - paint someone actually known in the Arts, Letters and Sciences and NOT yourself (unless am actually known and highly regarded in one of those areas..... hmmm, obviously not quite yet).

Learning from my mistakes I chose to approach Richard Moore, Executive Director of the Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF), who has been responsible for overseeing operations of Australia’s largest annual film festival from 2006 - 2010. Being a generous man and a man of good humour who indulges a good coffee, he agreed to sit for me.

In 2009 he authorized the screening of Jeff Daniels’ controversial documentary 10 Conditions of Love, a film about the Uyghur activist Rebiya Kadeer. The film was shown in the face of intense pressure from Han Chinese activists, including the Chinese Consulate.

My main motivation for approaching Richard Moore was I admired the way he stood his ground in the screening of 10 Conditions of Love despite pressure inside and outside Australia. Australia is a very privileged country to have the right of free speech and I think Australians should be reminded of this. I call the painting Speak Freely as in, "Permission to speak freely, Sir!" and as Australians.... we can!

Click on picture for a larger image

My entry into the Archibald for 2010 was unsuccessful. Which is only a shame because I so dearly wanted to share the painting's message to live and nation wide audience. I'll admit I'm a little disappointed at the outcome. I'm a little bruised and a little battered, but I'm all the more determined too.

Fingers crossed I may be selected for the Salon de Refusés aka. Hidden Faces of the Archibald.

696INK: Grand Opening Group Show (Featuring work by ME!)

Jon Beinart, creator of Toddlerpedes and founder of BeInArt Surrealist Collective asked me (via Elspeth) to submit my Maam Alian works into 696INK’s grand opening group show.

This was very flattering... so I am.

This visual art and tattoo gallery, although small, is an amazing place with really exceptional works by many truly amazing artists. Included in this group show will be Elspeth McIntosh, Jon Beinart and Jason Jacenko and many more kick-arse artists.

Details: Friday 5^th of March, 6pm – 696 Sydney Road, Brunswick, VIC.

Email 696ink@gmail.com to be on the mailing list.

Above flyer artwork by Jason Jacenko.

Poster Concept: Adelaide Fringe 2010

For a bit o fun I entered the Adelaide Fringe 2010 poster competition in September last year.

Having attended the Fringe before, I felt it to be a Festival that offered a lot in terms of fun, entertainment and atmosphere. Thus my concept was based upon the idea of “Adventure and Fun for the Senses”.

The outcome? Well I didn’t win… this time.

I realise I missed a very important detail – it was the Fringe’s 50th year. A very important milestone and very important marketing angle for the Festival. Silly Lucy. So I appreciate the relevance of the winning entry.

(I still feel my poster is pretty cute though)

Archibald Portrait Prize Submission – Mark One!

2009 was my first attempt at submitting a piece into the coveted and highly respected Archibald Portrait Prize run by the Art Gallery of New South Wales.

Having left it too late to find an appropriate candidate ("An Australian citizen renowned in the Arts, Sciences or Letters"), I chose to use myself as the subject. This unfortunately was an inappropriate choice as I am not yet a "renowned" person within the Australian Arts community… yet.

Although unsuccessful in being short-listed this time, it was a fantastic exercise to paint to a large scale and hit a tight deadline. I'm really pleased with the final result - I think the way I've painted my hands is beautiful.

Inspired by 2008 Archibald Prize winner Del Kathryn Barton, I chose to paint what I was personally most passionate about.: drawing, painting, my friends and my family.

First EVER Exhibition

CONGRATULATIONS!

Yes, congratulations to me!

Congratulations to me for finally exhibiting for the first time EVER!!!

Finally after much support and gentle but persistent nagging from friends and family, it was very appreciated nagging by the way, I finally got my act together and teamed up with fellow artists Emma Kirsopp and Elspeth McIntosh to create the exhibition Mammalian.

Here is the ultra rad flyer/invite we sent out. I'm very proud of it

(Thank you Emma)

Here is the show's title and our names printed on the window of Hogan Gallery.

Very exciting indeed.

When I first approached the theme of Mammalian my mind went completely blank, I had no ideas, I was stuck. So I asked a number of friends what they thought of when they heard the word “Mammalian” and the main response I received was “Boobies!”

A friend, Greg Shields, cleverly made the suggestion of “Ma’am” and “Alien”. I thought, “Brilliant! A female alien made of boobies!” And that, folks, is how the character of Maam Alien came about.

She’s a sexy, sassy, strong superhero come pin-up girl presented in the format of a comic book series with influences from pin-up artists Gil Elvgren and Bill Ward and the wonderful comic artist Albert “Asterix” Uderzo. Imagining that the Maam Alien series could be pitched to a viable publisher, I have put together a folio of potential comic book covers, painted on canvas to illustrate how her series would look.

Click on any of the photos to view larger

My intention is that you laugh and be entertained by her and her adventures.

One commission, two commission, three commission MORE!

Below is a selection of past painting or portrait commissions I've had in the last two years.

Click on any photos to view larger

Some are wedding presents, some are birthday presents and some are just personal and special gifts.

Flirty Fleur

A lot of my work is inspired by my friends and people I know. Fleur is someone I've known seemingly forever. However, unlike most of my subjects, Fleur actually asked me to paint her - "when are you going to paint me?" .... so I did:

Click on the photo to view larger

This piece is called "Flirty Fleur" as I intended it to capture her very social personality. Is she toasting the viewer or accepting a free beer that happens to be coming her way?

Mum

This is a very personal piece. It’s a tribute to my mother who passed away from bowel and liver cancer in 2002. She was a strong and beautiful woman whose love was unconditional and everlasting.

Click on the photo to view larger

In this painting her spirit is represented in the form of a Ghost Gum with strong branches that support the family she made for herself – My dad, my sister and myself.

Represented on the ground below is the unfortunate “family politics” that occurred as a result of her passing.

We still mourn her and miss her everyday.

Comics and "Drawing Jams" and Astérix

Something that I would like to do more of is comic book/strip art.

It's an art form I really enjoy and admire. I learnt to read as a child with comic books and magazines - which is how I became a big fan of Astérix and Mad Magazine, two publications that I feel have influenced my drawing style.

It's a dream of mine to one day have enough really good work that I could publish my very own graphic novel *sigh*.

This fantasy is further fueled by, what I call, "Drawing Jams" with talented cartoonists such as Ben "Hutcho" Hutchings, and David Blumenstine. Two comic book artists with very different and distinctive styles, but both very focused.

They're very inspiring really *double sigh*

The strip I did below was essentially an exercise to test my "line work". I wanted to do something that was fine lined and looked finished. I'm pretty pleased with the result (and I think you can also see the Uderzo influence)

A dark piece and yes a bit gross, I call this strip DIY Heartbreak and I dedicate it to anyone who's ever had their heart broken.

For me though, this strip was more about wanting something so badly but feeling I have no control on its outcome: "Fine! I'll save myself the wait of disappointment and stomp on my heart right now! That'll save us all a lot of time! That'll show 'em!! So there!!" (etc. etc.)

*triple sigh*