The complexities of complex character

This is my entry into the Bald Archy Prize 2019. It is a complex piece, borne out of a necessity to see how many expressions and essence of character I could get in to one picture while still maintaining integrity with a holistic picture. A PM Pastiche. I wanted viewers to stop and look at this and use their hands to block out sections of the work to see who they can see.

I wanted it to look like one of the portraits in the Parliament House Gallery and added an extra element of a thin wooden frame stuck onto the canvas.

The result is intriguing and thankfully has received some press within the Capital’s writers. The Prize this year opens in the ACT on Feb 4 and travels around the eastern seaboard, with the winner announced in Sydney in March.

#bladarchyprize #caricaturepainting #parliamenthouse #artprize

Archibald Entry 2018

MY entry this year into the Archibald Prize is my first in four or five years. MY work is based on my admiration for OzHarvest’s CEO, Ronni Kahn, and the work her and her team do in providing food for Australia’s homeless and underprivileged. The work is called ‘The Powerhouse and the Passion’ which sums up the energy and self, belief and motivation of Ronni, both as a businessperson and entrepreneur in this much-needed space.

Photo below that is my meeting and being interviewed by Jessica Ridley from Seven News upon submitting my entry last week.

Expressionism 2018

I have an exhibition coming up in March at Gallery371, 371 Enmore Rd Marrickville (Sydney). The show dates are 12-16 March with an Open Night Wed 14 March 6-7.30pm (RSVP 6 March on 0423 130 959). The show will host up to 25 pop icon impasto paintings, each for sale.

A5 flier 2up v1

The Australian Voter

This effort didn’t make the grade to hang in this year’s Bald Archy, but with each passing day its message is no more truer – so many useless distractions within our present government there seems no way out. Enjoy my work ‘The Australian Voter’ and let’s hope for some policies to continue improving our way of life to pass rather than the soap opera on the Hill.

Bald Archy entries for 2017

 

Wizard of TAZ   (C) Mark Tippett 2017

 

The NSW Electoral Stakes (c) Mark Tippett 2016

Here are my two entries for this year’s lampooning Bald Archy Prize launching at the Watson Arts Centre on 12 Feb 2017. As usual there is plenty of fodder out there in the political and social media landscape and me thinks that Donald Trump doing what many pundits thought ‘against the odds’ a great leg up for Australian cartoonists and media types. In my two pieces I have once again chosen to focus on Tassie senator Jacqui Lambie and her merry band of newbies plus an old hand in ‘Independent Senator Nick X’ and Greens Leader, Robert D’N. To me it screamed ‘Wizard of Oz’ or as I’ve called it ‘Wizard of Taz’ (92 x 122 cm acrylic on canvas). Makes sense doesn’t it?

The second piece was a reaction to (ex)Premier of NSW Mike Baird and the knee jerk reaction to ban a 200-year-old industry – greyhound racing. The painting follows the story of Macquarie radio station’s ‘hounding’ of the Premier, the (then) Deputy Premier and the NSW govt. The work is called ‘The NSW Electoral Stakes’ (61 x 122cm oil on canvas). Footnote: but wouldn’t you know it, the week I was sending my works to Canberra for selection, Mike announces he is stepping aside and retiring from politics IMMEDIATELY. Politics is a fickle business; so too, lampooning!

Enjoy. The details for the upcoming Prize and tour is at www.baldarchy.com.au.

-Mark Tippett

 

 

 

Iggy Pop in progress

This is the start of a work on the infamous Iggy Pop. I started with a green wash background (using oxide of chromium). At this early stage I didn’t know the treatment of background and hair but this quickly followed after the facial work had been blocked in. Check out my Instagram for the final result http://www.instagram.com/mark_tippett

Akmal

This a new work on comedian, Akmal Saleh, (detail) oil on canvas 91 x 91 cm. Akmal is a funny man. I chose not to add a background and keep it clean as I wanted the focus to be drawn to the expression – a moment in time.