Do you have a sporting hero?

Vincent Namatjira admires AFL player Adam Goodes. Adam is a great footballer, but he has also taken a strong stance against racism and bullying. Both men stare out at us from the canvas with friendly expressions while they shake hands. Adam is also shown in the background wearing his Sydney Swans uniform. Vincent holds an Aboriginal flag on the right. Notice how the painting is made using the colours of the Aboriginal flag.

Can you spot some footprints? Who do they belong to? How do you think Vincent added them?

Have you ever drawn something and then scribbled on it or totally changed it?

Abdul Abdullah created a realistic self-portrait, then obliterated the top of his face using a can of black spray paint. Bold white outlines replace some of his features. We can still tell it’s a face, but now it’s half a cartoon. Imagine what Abdul’s eyes might look like underneath the black paint. Do you think they’re wide open, or shut?

How do you think Abdul felt when he destroyed hours of painstaking work?

Have you ever sewn or made something for yourself to wear?

Kate Beynon made this elaborate, nature-inspired robe as a kind of sculpture. A pair of eyes stare out from the robe as a form of protection. Her dog Tudo is wearing a collar that matches her outfit. Notice how the green lines highlighting Kate and Tudo’s faces reflect the colours of the robe and the background. Kate made this artwork during Melbourne’s second coronavirus lockdown.

Look closely at her face. How do you think she is feeling? Why might she be wearing the robe?

What activities do you like to do with your family?

For Emily Crockford, it was spending time with her dad surrounded by flowers and nature as he flew his model planes. Look closely at the figures, the buzzing planes and the pattern of flowers. Imagine how Emily might have planned each section of the artwork. She carefully chose and applied background colours, and then added all the different lines, dots and decorative elements over the top.

How long do you think this painting took to create?

How many different colours can you see in this very ‘white’ painting?

If you look closely, you’ll find lots of different colours in the folds, creases and shadows of this realistic portrait. Artist David Capra is depicted in his performance outfit with his faithful dachshund Teena perched on his shoulders. Teena plays an important part in David’s performance art. She helps him explore feelings and worries, and together they make art that shows how humour can help overcome anxiety.

What do you like to do to cheer yourself up if you’re feeling a bit sad or anxious?

Describe the different shapes and lines in this painting.

Yoshio Honjo’s portrait of celebrity chef Adam Liaw was inspired by Japanese mythology. He used special Japanese paper, ink and pigments to depict Adam as Ebisu, the god of food. Adam stands on a craggy rock and wrestles with a large orange fish as waves break around them. The outline of the rocks and the curling tips of the waves create a scene full of action and drama.

What do you think is going to happen next in this story?

Notice all the lines, colours and textures in this large painting.

Imagine artist Craig Ruddy as he painted this portrait of writer Bruce Pascoe. How do you think Craig would have moved his hand, arm and body? How quickly do you think he worked? If you look closely you can see the many layers of paint he used and the charcoal lines that give Bruce’s face so much energy. Bruce wrote a book called Dark emu that shows how Aboriginal people cared for the land. His eyes stare off into the distance as if he is thinking deeply about something.

Where do you think he is and what is he staring at?

Look closely at how Jennifer Scott has painted light and shade in this painting.

Her portrait of the engineer Raymond Rauscher has flat contrasting colours and a metallic sheen. Raymond is shown leafing through a book with pictures of buildings. This gives us a clue about the type of work he does teaching engineering students. Books, vases, a mug of pens and a camera all sit neatly on the furniture behind him.

What do you think the rest of the room looks like?

Notice the detail in this large portrait.

Every feature is captured with intricate realism, right down to the individual hairs on L-FRESH The LION’s face. Claus Stangl has painted him side on, so we focus on the profile of his nose and beard. Notice how the light plays across the strands in his beard. L-FRESH wears a patka – a head-covering worn under turbans to keep long hair neat and tidy. Its warm colour and undulating shape stands out from the dark, mysterious background. L-FRESH’s pose gives him a powerful and regal appearance.

Where do you think he could be?

Do you have a favourite singer?

Kaylene Whiskey loves the country musician Dolly Parton. She’s painted a self-portrait imagining what it would be like if Dolly came to visit her. They are surrounded by an unusual mix of objects, food, wildlife and even flying superheroes – all painted with bright colours or decorative patterns. Can you spot some stick-on plastic jewels? Dolly holds a banjo and Kaylene has a camera over her arm. Maybe Kaylene plans on taking a photo of her idol singing a song.

Three beautifully wrapped presents are on the floor between them. What do you think could be inside them?

Did you pick up any hobbies or activities during the 2020 coronavirus lockdown?

Actor Meyne Wyatt decided to spend the lockdown getting back into painting – something he had done in the past and was keen to try again. The shades of yellow, gold, orange and pink give Meyne’s face a warm glow as he emerges from the darkness. Imagine Meyne painting his self-portrait while staring in a mirror. Can you see the concentration on his face? Describe his features and his expression.

What type of face do you pull when you are concentrating?

How many faces can you see in this portrait?

There could be more faces than you think! Tiger Yaltangki has painted himself twice – upside-down at the top and really small near the dinosaur’s jaw. There are also more hands and feet than you might expect. Take a close look at the central skeleton-like figure and the spiky dinosaur to see how their limbs are repeated. Tiger’s love of music is also celebrated in the painting.

Can you see a band name and a shape of a musical instrument? What music would suit this portrait?

Have you ever eaten seaweed?

Professor Tim Flannery is a scientist who’s been researching how seaweed can help prevent climate change. Seaweed grows fast, it’s nutritious and full of protein, and its bugs can even clean polluted water. Tianli Zu has depicted Tim as if he is underwater, looking up through a forest of kelp. Daylight plays through the seaweed like a ray of hope. Tim’s uplifted face adds to the painting’s hopeful mood.

What actions can you take to help the environment and save our planet?