HIDDEN FACES
The 2020 Victorian Salon des Refusés
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Cat #17 Lana McLean
THE JAPANESE SANDMAN - EXCHANGING YESTERDAYS FOR TOMORROWS - DOUG AITON Oil on Canvas 130 cm h x 100 cm w $12,000 Artist’s Statement Doug Aiton is a well-known journalist, radio announcer, and author who formerly worked for The Age, the London Times and AC radio’s drive time. He has interviewed many famous people including, Germaine Greer, Michael Caine, Sophia Loren, Bob Hawke and many more. He discovered Jon Faine and, until COVID-19 closed businesses in Geelong, he was the host of Pulse Radio’s Friday Drive program at 4-6 in Geelong on 94.7 - The Pulse. His favourite musician is Mozart or The Beatles and three people he would like to have to dinner are: David Attenborough, Helen Mirren and Michael Parkinson. I had the great pleasure of meeting Doug in a radio interview on his Drive Time program in Geelong several years ago when he interviewed me about my Archibald portrait entry of retired Geelong AFL captain Barry Stoneham. It was Doug’s charisma and iconic radio history that motivated me to ask to paint his portrait. During 2019, I visited Doug while he was on-air in his studio and took photographs. He invited me back and interviewed me each time I returned, which included visits to paint from a sitting, and the final unveiling. I am very grateful for Doug’s appreciation for the arts and his historic support. It was a great privilege to get to know Doug and to have been given permission to paint his portrait. This portrait was submitted for the 2020 Archibald Prize. click on artwork to enlarge |