Martine Emdur Claudia Karvan, interior

Claudia Karvan has been acting in Australian films and on television since the age of 10. “Although completely smitten and consumed by her new role as a mother, Claudia also manages to pursue a successful career in a notoriously difficult industry,” says Martine Emdur. “Her talent, passion and ability to juggle these demands with such grace is an inspiration.”

Arriving at Karvan’s home was “wonderful, not to mention chaotic,” says Emdur. “Family and friends coming and going, and preparations for travel were all thrown into the mix, although she remained calm and engaging amongst the chaos. Claudia is a confident, down to earth, physically strong woman, which is how I wanted to paint her. Baby Audrey and her partner Jeremy are such an integral part of her life that I felt it necessary to include them. I chose to paint Claudia in a strong light and high contrast to maintain focus on her, with a softly lit view down the hall that allows the viewer to explore other aspects of her life.”

Born in Sydney in 1966, Emdur began painting as a commercial artist. In 1997 she became a professional artist and has since had six solo exhibitions. She was a finalist in the 2001 Archibald Prize.