Brush up for prizes

By Tania Martin and Melissa Grant
TWO hills artists have put the final brush strokes on their master pieces as they vie for the ultimate art prize – the Archibald Prize.
Gembrook’s Peter Biram took up the challenge to paint Bud Tingwell and Monbulk jeweller Ken Hunt has immortalised well known actor Stefan Dennis.
For Biram painting the famous Tingwell was his most challenging subject to date.
“I respect him so much as an individual – I wanted to do him justice, I just wanted the portrait to be right.”
Tingwell is the fifth subject Biram has painted for the prestigious Archibald Prize.
Biram said it usually took him about a week or two to complete a portrait, but it was six months until Tingwell’s was done.
“I got to the point where I said this is ridiculous, it’s never going to be perfect,” he said.
Biram said he was nervous about showing Tingwell the final product.
“People say it’s probably the best portrait I’ve done,” he said. “I’m too close to it – I can’t make an objective opinion.”
For Hunt choosing well known actor Stefan Dennis was as easy as picking up the phone.
Dennis is known for his work as the resident villain on the popular soap opera, Neighbours.
He has admired Hunt’s paintings from afar for many years which can be seen on display at Monbulk Jewellers.
Hunt said it wasn’t until the last minute that he decided to enter the Archibald Prize again this year.
“It’s also a totally different style to what I normally do,” he said.
The painting was on display in Ken’s shops until last week when it was shipped off to New South Wales for judging.
Hunt said he has already had a lot of feedback on the painting.
“A lot of people are saying it’s the best thing I have done,” he said.
But it’s not just the Archibald Prize that has kept Hunt busy.
He has also entered the Doug Moran National Portrait Prize which is a prestigious competition in its own right.
Hunt has entered both competitions every year since 2000.
He was named a finalist of the Doug Moran Portrait Prize in 2007 with his contrast of one of Monbulk’s finest, Sergeant Alan Fincher.
Hunt said although the Archibald Prize was the more prestigious of the two competitions, the Doug Moran had one of the biggest prize pools in the world.
He said the Doug Moran prize was completely opposite to the Archibald Prize because paintings have to be of someone who is not in the public eye.