Archibald, BaldArchy, Doug Moran Exhibitions

Hi, Friends, are you enjoying a long weekend? (*Queen's Birthday.)
Now, I'll take you to the interesting and famous portrait exhibitions in Australia.

First, Archibold Prize 2011. Archibold prize is the oldest and most prestigious portrait prize in Australia. Any portraitist dreams to be a winner and a finalist. This year, 41 participants are selected out of 900 paintings. You can imagine how competitive it is. The winner is Ben Quilty, "Margaret Olley" (oil on canvas). Margaret Olley is the famous lady in art. She did a model for Archibold 50 years ago as well. It has become a hot topic and public attention. Below is the NSW Art Gallery.
Second, BaldArchy that parodies the title of Archbald, yes, an upside-down word. It exhibits "caricatures." I sketched BaldArchy 2010 that was quite fun. This year, at BaldArchy 2011, I came across an interesting lady drawing an abstract painting in front of the first prize work at Tap Gallery. She puzzled me and happily teased at me. Friends, please get surprised, she was "Madam Lash"!! Madam Lash is a very big name in under-culture and famous portraitist on controversial subjects. Hahh...., a world is small. I often come acorss famous people while sketching outside. I might be a very lucky artist?!

Third, Doug Moran Pize is the world richest portrait and photographic prizes. $150,000 for the best work.
Free Exhibition 2011 at NSW State Library(21st April - 26th June).

The portrait winner is Vincent Fantauzzo, "Baz Lurhmann 'off screen.'" Vincent often becomes a finalist at Archibald, too.Did you enjoy these exhibitions? If you'd enjoy my skeches, come over Sadami's Graffiti and have a cuppa with me.

Finally, Salon des Refuses. "Salon des Refuses" is another venue for unsuccessful Archibald applicants. It displays interesting and unique portaits from Archibald participants.

This weekend, Sunday, 19th June, 11:00 AM,
Sydney Sketch club will visit Salon des Refuses at National Trust, Sydney Observatory Observatory Hill, The Rocks.

So, Friends, come and join our sketching.
Happy painting!!

The City at Night : People are People

Hello, Friends, even though we have a lot of rain these days, you and I will go for sketching people on streets in the City at night today.

Busker at Station

The night City has many faces. Homeless guys, rich&poor, young&old, buskers, illegal traders, police, drunkards, sex industry workers, happy&sad, overseas, artists, all kinds of people get together at the one place, the "City" and disclose their lives boldly. Night darkness curtains fiascoes off guilt. Alcohol helps people leave shyness, moral and social norms far behind. Freedom and chaos are praised.

In the chaos, sketching is much like finding gold from mud, scoop it up and scatter it on papers. Value study at night is very interesting. Unfortunately, paper did not get dry well in the rain. Expected washes never came up. In the pub. Just the royal wedding was on a TV. Securities and young people enjoyed my sketches. Technically, rough sketches, quick watercolor and pin-down inspirations are my tasks.

I saw an old lady busker. Quite rare to see a granma-like figure play a guitar. Not many people gave her money tonight. Her very sad face ached my heart badly. "Oh, you're so sensitive. But the truth is truth!" she said cheerfully. She'd rather enjoy the miserable situation than cursing at others. Great and I admired her attitude. That pensioner was planning to go home, UK and saving a little bit money from busking.
One, I assume, a homeless lady passionately looked at my sketching for nearly 20 minutes(=till the end) on an under ground way to Central Station. She talked to me in Non-English. I had no idea. She tried hard to tell in English my portrait captured a model's inner world and emotions(*the first uploaded busker's portrait). "Spirit! Model's spirit! My English is bad." Once, she loved drawing in her country. "Very poor. Very poor. My English is bad."(*sorry I did not get her story well.) She took the brush from me, "Pen. Horse. Animal. Rice paper. Expensive." (...I wish I could tell her mine is made of a "Squirrel" another animal!). She kept on talking and would not go away. Looked very poor with 2 worn out plastic bags stuffed with cheap daily needs -- a typical homeless appearance, even though she said, "after work." Nearly 12 o'clock?! You do not look like a Cinderella. A face and hands were very dirty, full of wrinkles with some cuts or cracks. Big patches were here, there on her jacket. Honest, I've never seen a middle aged lady wearing a patched and thin cloth in autumn Sydney. Even a homeless guy wears well and warm, because charity provides clothes. If a language difficulty hinders this lady from accessing help and art work, it's pity... She passionately talked on how marvelous materials and how wonderful Chinese painting was.

I picked up a Chinese brush from my bag and ... gave it to the lady. Of course, I'm not rich at all!!(*I bought it this year.) I might be too simple...
The lady looked to get a bit surprised, happily accepted it, walked away and disappeared in a crowd. Ah, if that lady could have been the sympathetic millionaire, that'll be wonderful! (*The Model Millionaire (Oscar Wilde) is my favorite short story. Big laugh and so subtle!! ) But a fantasy would not happen on me. I'm ready to die in poverty. My dear artist friend says, "You're not alone! We're in the same boat!!" Oh, what a great friendship! Hahaha!
Now, let's go home. Home, sweet home. I'll take a train.
So many different people, some might be cunning. But I'd believe in people's good will. One homeless and beggar gentleman offered his jacket on steps for me (*I made that scene into a "cartoon" uploaded at Sadami's Graffiti). Many people actually respected the artist and never scorned me even in the chaos. Friends, that's my great and genuine honour.

I hope you enjoy my daily sketches of people and share joy with me.
Happy painting!