‘Rob Oakeshott’ by Ursula Theinert. Acrylic and Charcoal on Canvas Capturing the essence of a person is the challenge of portaiture, writes perennial Archibald Prize hopeful Ursula Theinert.
By Ursula Theinert
I’VE been entering The Archibald Prize since art college days, starting as an art practice exercise in 2005. I haven’t been successful in getting into The Archibald but have gotten into the Victorian Salon des Refuses or the Hidden Faces of The Archibald each year.
I’ve had the pleasure of meeting some very interesting, talented and inspirational people, including Giles Parkinson and Lenore Taylor. It’s fun and exciting meeting them and getting to know them at their sittings and by corresponding to them and often coming together again at the openings of The Hidden Faces of The Archibald exhibitions.
This year I painted Rob Oakeshott, the former Independent MP for Lyne in New South Wales. Rob was only 40 when he, along with Tony Windsor, made a brave choice and backed Julia Gillard’s Government.
Rob was and is an idealist, a devoted family man who believed in the proposed emissions trading scheme and the NBN, and secured a $75 million extension to the regional hospital. Rob the outsider was motivated by policies and had the courage to stand up for what he believed in.
After I read Rob’s candid memoir The Independent Member for Lyne, I was compelled to try to capture this man of principal. At the delightful sitting at his home with walls filled with children’s paintings and toys strewn round about, I asked what he was doing after the turbulent 43rd parliament. Rob said he initially was a house husband and now works part time for the UN He is a lawyer but has decided to go back to university this year and do a medical post grad to become a doctor.
We discussed his time as a politician, and I wondered how different his life might be if he had chosen Tony Abbott. His expressive blue eyes often seemed to look into the distant past as he pondered my questions, as I sketched. Rob responded that even in hindsight he had made the right decision.
His old school principal would be proud of Rob remembering his words “you’ve got to stand up for what you believe in regardless of the consequences”.
I have simplified my colour palette to emphasise the meditative tone of my portrait. The painting focuses on the pensive, knowing eyes as I tried to capture the insightful reflection of the honourable and independent Rob Oakeshott.
I’ve have had some very high moments with Alan Kohler opening the Hidden Faces of The Archibald in 2011 at the Hilton Melbourne South Wharf. My portrait of Deborah Forster, the wonderful author of ‘The Book of Emmett’, was a finalist in the prestigious Portia Geach Exhibition in S.H. Irving Gallery in Sydney and my portrait of Gerrie Chriistie, who was the CEO of the Royal Flying Doctor Service in Victoria for many years, was a semi-finalist in the Doug Moran Portrait Prize.
It’s also given me an increased discipline in my art practice and mark making as painting a portrait brings different problem solving skills from landscape painting. I have definitely been enriched and my artistic skills improved by my portrait painting.
Indeed, attempting to capture the “essence” of the sitter is a challenge. It’s a great thrill when the sitter and their family at the “unveiling” feels that I have captured them.
Of course this prestigious portrait prize has about 1000 artists entering with only about 40 finalists chosen. The odds aren’t great, but ... maybe 2016 will be the year my portrait of Rob Oakeshott will get into The Archibald Prize!
Visit www.ursulatheinert.com.au to view more of Ursula Theinert’s Archibald Prize portraits.
I’VE been entering The Archibald Prize since art college days, starting as an art practice exercise in 2005. I haven’t been successful in getting into The Archibald but have gotten into the Victorian Salon des Refuses or the Hidden Faces of The Archibald each year.
I’ve had the pleasure of meeting some very interesting, talented and inspirational people, including Giles Parkinson and Lenore Taylor. It’s fun and exciting meeting them and getting to know them at their sittings and by corresponding to them and often coming together again at the openings of The Hidden Faces of The Archibald exhibitions.
This year I painted Rob Oakeshott, the former Independent MP for Lyne in New South Wales. Rob was only 40 when he, along with Tony Windsor, made a brave choice and backed Julia Gillard’s Government.
Rob was and is an idealist, a devoted family man who believed in the proposed emissions trading scheme and the NBN, and secured a $75 million extension to the regional hospital. Rob the outsider was motivated by policies and had the courage to stand up for what he believed in.
After I read Rob’s candid memoir The Independent Member for Lyne, I was compelled to try to capture this man of principal. At the delightful sitting at his home with walls filled with children’s paintings and toys strewn round about, I asked what he was doing after the turbulent 43rd parliament. Rob said he initially was a house husband and now works part time for the UN He is a lawyer but has decided to go back to university this year and do a medical post grad to become a doctor.
We discussed his time as a politician, and I wondered how different his life might be if he had chosen Tony Abbott. His expressive blue eyes often seemed to look into the distant past as he pondered my questions, as I sketched. Rob responded that even in hindsight he had made the right decision.
His old school principal would be proud of Rob remembering his words “you’ve got to stand up for what you believe in regardless of the consequences”.
I have simplified my colour palette to emphasise the meditative tone of my portrait. The painting focuses on the pensive, knowing eyes as I tried to capture the insightful reflection of the honourable and independent Rob Oakeshott.
I’ve have had some very high moments with Alan Kohler opening the Hidden Faces of The Archibald in 2011 at the Hilton Melbourne South Wharf. My portrait of Deborah Forster, the wonderful author of ‘The Book of Emmett’, was a finalist in the prestigious Portia Geach Exhibition in S.H. Irving Gallery in Sydney and my portrait of Gerrie Chriistie, who was the CEO of the Royal Flying Doctor Service in Victoria for many years, was a semi-finalist in the Doug Moran Portrait Prize.
It’s also given me an increased discipline in my art practice and mark making as painting a portrait brings different problem solving skills from landscape painting. I have definitely been enriched and my artistic skills improved by my portrait painting.
Indeed, attempting to capture the “essence” of the sitter is a challenge. It’s a great thrill when the sitter and their family at the “unveiling” feels that I have captured them.
Of course this prestigious portrait prize has about 1000 artists entering with only about 40 finalists chosen. The odds aren’t great, but ... maybe 2016 will be the year my portrait of Rob Oakeshott will get into The Archibald Prize!
Visit www.ursulatheinert.com.au to view more of Ursula Theinert’s Archibald Prize portraits.