Archibald Prize 2013
Slideshow of focus works
Click on one of the small images to scroll through.
1/10
Giles Alexander Simulations
2/10
Del Kathryn Barton hugo
3/10
Peter Daverington The patriot: self-portrait with Albino Joey
4/10
Vincent Fantauzzo Love face
5/10
Prudence Flint Ukulele
6/10
Warwick Gilbert Don Walker
7/10
Paul Jackson Jo
8/10
Carlo Pagoda Habit de jardinier
9/10
James Powditch Ben Quilty, where is my mind? (after the Pixies)
10/10
Joshua Yeldham Self-portrait: Morning Bay
Focus works
If printing this education material, we suggest you also print the relevant linked pages from the prizes database.
1
Giles Alexander
Simulations
More about this work, artist and sitter in the prizes database
Children’s label text
This painting is about a person called Lily Serna who is a mathematician and a TV presenter.
- What do you think the different images of Lily Serna say about her?
- Look closely. Can you see some holes? How many holes can you find?
More questions and activities
- Suggest reasons why the artist, Giles Alexander, chose to include multiple portraits within this small-scale work. What other elements has he included to reveal more about Lily Serna’s life and interests?
- How has the artist created the illusion of space within this work? Create a series of drawings demonstrating a use of depth and space. Develop your most successful drawing into a painting.
2
Del Kathryn Barton
hugo
Archibald Prize 2013 winner
More about this work, artist and sitter in the prizes database
Children’s label text
The man in this painting is a well-known actor called Hugo Weaving. The artist, Del Kathryn Barton, has created intricate patterns and leaves around him.
- Do you think it would have taken her a long time to paint?
- Notice the animal whose tail twists into the background. What kind of animal do you think it is?
More questions and activities
- Imagine what Hugo Weaving is thinking. Observe how he is calmly holding the animal in his arms. What does this suggest about his nature or about his relationship with the animal?
- Observe how the decorative patterns are placed side by side in this painting. What effect does this have? Invent your own patterns and use them within a portrait to create texture and movement.
3
Peter Daverington
The patriot: self-portrait with albino joey
More about this work, artist and sitter in the prizes database
Children’s label text
The artist, Peter Daverington, has painted himself surrounded by creatures, symbols and art styles from around the world.
- What does he remind you of with his pointy hat?
- Can you find these things: a landscape, a green star, an Asian dragon, stars and stripes from the American flag, Arabic writing, an Elizabethan collar, a joey and real gold?
More questions and activities
- The artist has stated that he wanted to create an 'absurdist image’ of himself. What does this mean and how is it reflected in his approach to this self-portrait? Identify the symbols and artistic styles he has used in this painting. What does this portrait tell viewers about him?
- Write a list of the things you are interested in. Construct a self-portrait through the layering of objects you own and other personal symbols.
4
Vincent Fantauzzo
Love face
More about this work, artist and sitter in the prizes database
Children’s label text
The actor in this painting – Asher Keddie – is looking straight at us. Notice how her eyes follow you around the room. Some people think this painting is like a photograph.
- Did you think it is like a photograph? Why?
- What do you think the person is feeling?
More questions and activities
- Why do you think the artist, Vincent Fantauzzo, has blurred the background in this photo-realist portrait? Discuss the role of photography in the Archibald Prize.
- Observe how the top of Asher Keddie’s head is cropped, like in a candid photograph. Take a series of photos of a friend. Select the strongest image and use this as the basis of a portrait.
5
Prudence Flint
Ukulele
More about this work, artist and sitter in the prizes database
Children’s label text
The artist, Prudence Flint, has painted her friend deep in thought as she strums her ukulele. She seems to be unaware she is being watched.
- Do you feel like you are looking in on a private moment?
- Look at the things on the table. What can they tell us about the girl?
Other questions and activities
- Observe how the artist has allowed space to exist around the figure. Describe how she has created a calm, reflective portrait. What does this portrait reveal about the private world of the subject?
- Create a portrait of a friend inspired by this restrained style. Ask your friend to pose doing an activity they enjoy in their free time. Limit your colour range and select muted tones.
6
Warwick Gilbert
Don Walker
More about this work, artist and sitter in the prizes database
Children’s label text
The artist, Warwick Gilbert, and the sitter, Don Walker, are both musicians who love Australian art. You could say the artist has painted two paintings – one of his friend and one of a well-known Australian painting, Sofala 1947 by Russell Drysdale.
- Do you think the artist and the sitter are having a conversation? What do you think they are talking about?
Other questions and activities
- The artist reflected that the sitter’s pose reminded him of William Dobell’s controversial 1943 Archibald Prize winning portrait of Joshua Smith. Find an image of this portrait and compare and contrast the paintings.
- The background of this portrait references Sofala 1947 by Russell Drysdale in the Art Gallery of NSW collection. Select a landscape work from the Gallery’s collection of Australian paintings and appropriate it for a background in a portrait of an Australian you admire.
7
Paul Jackson
Jo
More about this work, artist and sitter in the prizes database
Children’s label text
The woman in this large painting is Joanna Braithwaite, an artist who loves to paint creatures that combine human and animal parts. The artist Paul Jackson has painted her surrounded by all sorts of weird and wonderful creatures – some real and some imagined.
- Can you spot some caterpillars? How many other creatures can you see?
More questions and activities
- What is Joanna Braithwaite sitting on? Do you think she is feeling comfortable?
- Invent some names for the 'hybrid’ creatures.
- Describe the overall mood of this composition.
- Ask a friend what their favourite animals are and why. Create a portrait of this friend and include their favourite animals in your composition in a fun and unexpected way.
8
Carlo Pagoda
Habit de jardinier
More about this work, artist and sitter in the prizes database
Children’s label text
The artist’s father was born in Italy and after he came to Australia he became a very keen gardener. In this portrait Carlo Pagoda has painted his father covered with fruits and vegetables and standing in an Italian landscape. He has drawn with a texta pen onto the stainless steel and has used oil paint on his father’s wise, old face.
- What fruits and vegetables can you see?
- How would you paint a special friend or family member?
More questions and activities
- Identify how the artist has presented his father’s interests and personal history. Compare and contrast the treatment of the face and the figure. How do these two approaches add to the success of the work?
- Use a permanent marker on a sheet of copper or zinc to create a detailed portrait of a family member in this style. Consider the items you could use to create their figure.
9
James Powditch
Ben Quilty, where is my mind? (after the Pixies)
More about this work, artist and sitter in the prizes database
Children’s label text
The artist James Powditch has painted another artist, Ben Quilty, with cars on his mind. Ben Quilty used to paint large pictures of cars, but now he paints other things.
- Do you like to daydream?
- What objects can you see at the bottom of this painting? Who do you think they might belong to?
More questions and activities
- How has the artist created a sense of playfulness in this portrait? What do think this portrait reveals about Ben Quilty, a previous Archibald Prize winner.
- Create an unconventional self-portrait using a selection of found objects and photocopied images to represent your personality, interests and dreams for the future.
10
Joshua Yeldham
Self-portrait: Morning Bay
More about this work, artist and sitter in the prizes database
Children’s label text
The artist Joshua Yeldham thinks the things in this self-portrait could say who he is: the owl, the tree, the music, the figures, even the things stuck onto the carved wood.
- Can you spot what they are?
- What things would you include in a self-portrait to tell people who you are? What animal would you be?
More questions and activities
- Identify the elements in this painting that make it a unique among the Archibald Prize 2013 finalists. Read the artist’s statement and suggest who the figures are on the right of the painting. How does this portrait challenge traditional ideas of portraiture?
- The artist identifies with the owl. Select an animal that you feel a connection with. Use this as a starting point for an artwork. Consider using a limited colour range and including 3D elements.