Painting Simon Chapman for the Archibald Prize

I’ve known Simon Chapman for many years but I really only got to know him as a close friend several years ago when I played guitar for a while in his covers band, the Original Faux Pas. I enjoyed a few years playing 60s and 70s rock and roll as Simon belted out the tunes.

When I set myself a goal for 2013 of entering the Archibald competition, Simon was the obvious choice for a subject. Not only does he fit the bill for the award criteria – as a professor of public health at the University of Sydney, he is a well known public figure – but he is a fellow of diverse interests, offering plenty of pickings for a portrait artist.

simon_final_lrOn one hand, he is this really clever, dedicated academic who works extremely hard in his day-job, but he has almost an alter ego of a fun-loving guy who loves rock music and is passionate about his beloved koi collection. He also loves fine shoes – and showing them off.

Simon has always struck me as an enthusiast who remains young at heart with an endearing boyish quality (despite having recently celebrated his 61st birthday). I also thought he would be interesting to paint because of his most prominent physical attributes – these amazing brown eyes that look at you very directly, and a pronounced forehead and head.

This was my first attempt at painting a serious portrait, and it was even more difficult than I expected. At first, I was painting him as an older person, probably what he might look like in ten years. It was frustrating because it wasn’t the Simon I knew. I made about half a dozen starts on the painting, working and re-working his face and head until I finally ended up with this composition and image. Initially I had planned to put more detail from his office in the background but in the end, I went for simplicity.

I feel the painting captures some of the humour that I associate with Simon. The pond reflects Simon’s koi-love, as well as being a bit of a joke about him being able to walk on water. The cigarette packet is a nod to his decades of campaigning work to reduce the misery caused by the tobacco industry.

But I also had a bit of fun with it, changing the ghastly plain pack throat cancer images to the iconic mouth of the Rolling Stones, whose music both Simon and I love. Simon has told me that he also sees this part of the painting as a bit of a tongue poke at the tobacco industry. And he is certainly known as someone who relishes a fight with the enemies of public health.

Being a graphic designer by trade, I always set out to make strong images.

The painting mightn’t have taken out the Archibald, but it has been a rewarding exercise, and has sharpened my resolve to incorporate my fine arts skills into my graphic design work when it’s appropriate.

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I’m now looking forward to returning to painting some of the subjects that I’m more familiar with – like landscapes and my dear donkey friends.

I wouldn’t mind trying for the Archibald again some day. Any suggestions for subjects?