HIDDEN FACES
The 2023 Victorian Salon des Refusés
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Cat#12 Louise Foletta
THE COMEDIAN Rod Quantock Watercolour 75 w x 105 h cm NFS Artist’s Statement Rod Quantock is a Melbourne-based comedian. At the time of this painting, he had won the $20,000 Sidney Myer Performing Arts Award. I completed two portraits and made several unsuccessful starts of him. I wanted to show slightly different sides of this ever-changing character. Painting a comedian and actor is rather challenging as they can change their whole look and become a different person you know to be him. Rod did present a few other challenges. One day, he arrived for a sitting and said, ”Hurry, be quick, my car is running, If I turn it off, it won’t start again”. Then another time not only had he had the flu and his skin was grey but his hair had just been cut and was now short. He did not look like my sitter. It is a fun challenge to do a portrait, not only are the colours and nuances of the watercolour medium so different to landscape painting, but the interaction with the sitter can be a really important and enjoyable part of the project. When you think of it, how often can a person sit doing nothing else but be the centre of attention and talk. |