Harmony in the world is about the face lifting of all things bygone.
This piece is a paint over of a semi-final making piece in the Doug Moran National Portrait Prize.
As with most things in life, a face lift was needed.
Under the inspiration of Kandinsky and the Fauves, Maree the Digger’s Wife is now in harmony again.
Oil on canvas
White float framed
87 cm x 115.5cm
$3200 AUD
The Doug Moran National Portrait Prize is the richest awarded art prize in Australia. The brief is for Australian artists to paint a portrait of someone known or unknown to them and to interpret the persons look and personality. The thousands of entries are culled to semi-finalists, then a final 30 (all of whom receive $1000) and a finalist winner, who receives $150,000.
The Moran Family established the award in 1988 and the finalists will be on exhibition in Paddington Sydney from November this year.
Gold Coast artist Samantha Beau has been selected as a semi-finalist with her portrait Maree Widow of a War Veteran. The finalists will be announced as this edition of Blank goes to print.
Sam has given us an insight to her portrait of Maree.
I’ve been painting since I was a child but only recently have, I considered a full-time career shift. Being an artist in Australia is a tough career path. My natural medicine business has got me to now, but my plan is that art will become my main career.
The reasons were many. She has been a nanny to my kids for 12 years and her husband Johnny was a returned Vietnam veteran. Over the years I have got to know Maree and Johnny. Johnny was quite depressed and negative after the war. Many war casualties are psychological and not physical. My son seemed to help him find the happy switch again and it was wonderful to see. I painted him for the Archibald 6 years ago and then he died later that year at 62 yo. Maree now soldiers on and seemed a perfect representative of a veteran’s widow.
Maree is indicative of many women her age. She married young and has stuck by her husband through thick and thin. Many soldiers that have returned from war zones, even peace keeping deployment, have unreconciled scars and hurts. The shrapnel of war is not always visible. It can penetrate into one’s soul and stay there, haemorrhaging joy until it is removed, and healing can occur. I think many don’t receive the guidance they need to do this important healing step.
I wanted to capture Maree’s happy disposition but pay tribute to the women she represents. Her silhouette reveals the veteran’s anguish of being alone, against a khaki toned horizon. Loneliness and despair are rife.
Well winning will be a game changer for me and my three children. I have worked hard for many years and been a single parent has been a juggle. The prize will change our lives for sure. The other message is that I want to convey is one of gratitude. Gratitude for the men and women who have been to war to fight for our democracy and way of life, and for those who are married or partners to them.
Author:
Publication:
Gold Coast Bulletin
Publication Date:
October 2019
10/1/2019
I feel absolutely honoured and ecstatic that I have made the semi finals of the Doug Moran National Portrait Prize.
This is the biggest prize in Art in Australia and to be selected is a dream come true.
I asked Maree Heron, my friend and over the years, my “children’s nanny”, to sit for the portrait.
My desire was to honour all the women (and partners) of men (and women) who go to war. They are the forgotten people who sacrifice so much. Often not knowing if they will speak to their loved one again.
Or, as in the case of Maree, the husband they said good-bye to, will be the same husband they welcome on the flip side.
The piece is abstract, uses the khaki of war yet I tried to capture the colour of the heart – pink.
I want it to be a tribute to all who have been involved in war, protecting Australia, in the past, currently and into the future.
Every day I am grateful for the freedom of speech, safety on our shores and it is because of the silent people who support those at war.
To win the Doug Moran National Portrait Prize would be a dream come true. I have submitted 2 entries in the past and would love to win.
It will highlight and help thank those mentioned above. It will help my dear little family (I have been a single mum raising three children solo for 13 years) and the sheer accolade.
My fingers, toes and hair are all crossed.
Finalists are announced 16th October 2019, Winner announced on 30th October.