Archibald and Wynne prize art pieces finished and shipped

Finally with the work on my Archibald entry completed within half an hour of the courier arriving, I can tidy up a few things and head of for surgery on my ankle tomorrow. It’s been a busy few weeks getting the two entries done form photo shoots to separations to screens. Infact my I did two pieces for the Archibald enty as the first one I was happy with, but I needed to be really happy with it, so I did a second version which I was indeed really happy with.

Here is the press release.

‘Aisle 3’, in which an Australian celebrity icon, Sally Williams, an Australian icon brand, Rosella, and Australian artist Nick Morris, create, a piece that truly  “speaks for it’s self”.

Doug Moran, collaborative finalist and Torquay artist Nick Morris has created a modern day pop art painting for submission in this year’s Archibald Prize.

Inspired by the famous pop artist Mel Ramos and paying homage to the likes of Andy Warhol, the inspiration came to Morris whilst meditating on the concept of six degrees of separation between two iconic Australian subjects.

The sitter had to work in within Morris’s dominantly pop art style.  The subject must be the right choice as the winner of this prize takes home the “prestige of the highest recognition in Australian art”.

Whilst Morris has considered different subjects for the Archibald it was hard to find relevance between the sitter and his art. ” I cannot think of a better subject in both relevance and personality for my art than Sally. Sally Williams is pop art. She has been adorning our TV screens for many years and has become part of the lounge room supermarket shopping experience.” Sally was “honoured to be asked” and the true essence of the alignment was evident in the effortless process from the outset in which Sally said, “Who else could it be?” when the concept was put forth.

The concept of bringing two Australian icons together.

The product choice for the portrait also required an Australian icon to have true authenticity.  After much consideration Rosella was the brand of choice.  It had to be a real brand or it would, as pop art, hold no substance.

Morris says he “is really excited about the art and that one can only hope for a favourable outcome. It has been such an enjoyable seamless project as though the stars aligned to help make it happen. Sally has been amazing to work with, she is an incredibly friendly, professional and positive person.”

Archibald entries must be submitted between the 5th and 10th of March and short listed finalists will be announced on the 15th of March. The winning artist will be announced on the 30th of March who takes home $75,000 and “the prestige of the highest recognition in Australian art.”

The painting is now complete with  mis-registration which to me, previously being a graphic designer speaks to me of catalogue supermarket consumerism. Those catalogues where the printing has gone a little haywire and mis-registered due to the volume of printing. The subtle targets speak to me in terms of Jasper Johns, and Mel Ramos’s influence is obvious. The multiple image has it’s ties back to Warhol but once again speaks volumes of the packed supermarket shelf with the same products stacked in lines and not always in perfect order as shoppers leave the shelves in disarray. A simple light back ground seemed appropriate as this is portrait with product, not to be muddled amongst supermarket product in the background.