Black Swan.

My very talented daughter Jessica McCallum is busy working on her entry into the Black Swan Portraiture Prize.

Held every year, I’ve been nagging her to enter for years, ever since she was commissioned to provide Black Swan masks for the big event; the ball where winners are announced.

She’s busy working on the portrait of her Dad, a man of the land both privately and professionally.  He worked for the Agricultural Department as a Farm Advisor since earning his degree at Curtin University after doing National Service.

As a now retired but always committed environmentalist, it’s fitting Jess is using his landscape – his Brookton farm to frame his face.  (Photos show close ups of the work in progress.)

Using mostly wood stains on ply instead of the usual acrylic or oils on canvas, her approach is different.  The technique also enables her to use the traditional craft of wood burning for striking shadow effects.

So, so proud.  Can’t wait to see the final product because I know it will be amazing.

 

#FrancesMacaulayForde  #ARTIST:JessicaMcCallum  #BlackSwanPortraitPrize  #ART:Sand&Sandles