Noel Thurgate Homage to Peter Powditch

Noel Thurgate chose Peter Powditch as a subject out of admiration for his achievements as an artist – ‘as well as the undeniable fact that he has a great head’.

‘The assemblage of materials and textures in the painting are a tribute to Peter’s magician-like abilities with masonite, empty cigarette packets and other found objects,’ says Thurgate.

‘Peter is a superb draftsman, especially when it comes to drawing the human figure. He is one of those rare artists able to combine the complexities of the largely unseen inner dynamics of the figure with the visible external contours; and do it with incredible sensitivity and simplicity – just curved lines and straight lines.’

‘As someone who has spent a lifetime drawing from the figure and teaching life drawing, I can confidently say that it is bloody hard! The entire composition of this painting is underscored by a similar interplay of straight and curved lines.’

Born in 1955, Thurgate lives and works in Berrima in the NSW Southern Highlands. He has over 30 years’ experience exhibiting and teaching. This included nine years as head of drawing at the National Art School, Sydney. He was an Archibald finalist for three consecutive years from 1977.