After nearly 600 hours of work, I finally submitted my painting for the 2019 Archibald on the 3rd of April. As promised, here are some pics of the final portrait for those of you that didn’t get a chance to see it when I did the showing at Russell Lea Public School. It was an absolute honour to paint Mrs Lesley Pike. I can’t think of a more deserving person to have a portrait. When I think of Lesley, she sums up (to me) what I think of when I think of a true Australian. An Aussie Battler, strong-willed and full of life, Lesley has always been generous to community and her family; she really is an amazing woman. She has dedicated her life to education and the community. Lesley is the longest serving principal of a single school in Australian history…42 years! She taught 3 generations. She has also dedicated over 30 years to swimming and the Lane Cove Swim Club, as well as numerous contributions to the surrounding communities and other clubs. The Archibald is a great vehicle to tell her story and celebrate a great Australian woman’s achievements. The new Russell Lea Public School opens after the Easter holidays; so it is also a great way to celebrate the end of an era and the start of a new one. #archibald #archibaldprize #archibald2019 #ArtGalleryofNSW #dawnmpugh #RussellLeaPublicSchool
