By LARA PERKINS
FOR Emerald resident and Monbulk jeweller Ken Hunt, painting has always been a part of his life.
From an early age, he would watch his father paint, which eventually inspired him to pick up a paint brush and follow in his father’s footsteps.
Since 2000, Ken has entered the Archibald Prize 13 times.
And his 2016 entry in the Archibalds – of close friend and tennis champion Ian Goolagong – is sure to impress the judges.
Ken met Goolagong while he was on holidays in Cairns and they struck up a friendship.
“We got chatting and then met up in Melbourne,” Ken said.
Mr Goolagong is the National Indigenous Coach for Tennis Australia and is the only male Aboriginal to have played at Wimbledon.
He uses tennis to teach social inclusion and tries to enhance and nurture Indigenous talent in Aboriginal communities.
Ken had been periodically working on the painting for 18 months and finished it earlier this year, but said that it took longer than usual to complete this entry.
He also said this work is different from his usual style.
“Ian is a very proud Indigenous man and loves his tennis, so I have tried to capture that in the painting,” he said.
“He’s very happy with the outcome and I’m pleased, too.”
Ian and Ken still talk often and are pleased with the end result.
The Archibald prize is an Australian art competition that is nearly 100 years old and is awarded annually to the best portrait of any man or woman who is especially distinguished in their line of work.
