The Portrait Collection
Most artists try portraits and all that I know find them intimidating. I have not done many but I hope they do the sitters justice. It can be very difficult expressing an individual’s strengths and vulnerability when often they overlap in the making of that person.
Max Fatchen 2012
Max Fatchen poet, writer and journalist is greatly loved through his writings in the Adelaide’s Advertiser newspaper and in books, both poetry collections and novels. But he is truly revered in the plains north of Adelaide around Angle Vale, Smithfield and Gawler where he lived. He was known as a community minded neighbour whose carefully written columns were crafted with affection but without affectation.
I was lucky know Max and have painted his portrait twice. This last one was done as he was cared for in the Gawler and Mallala hospital. Although physically incapacitated he remained alert and continued to write until his death at 92. He saw the studies for the painting but sadly not the finished work.
Max never returned to his beloved beach in his last year of life but that did not stop him travelling back there.
This portrait reached the semi finals of the Moran Portrait Prize in that year and was a great fillip for my sense of myself as an artist, for that I thank Max.
©malcolmrichardsart2016
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