Proud republican Paul Ryan enters portrait of the Queen in the Mosman Art Prize
ARTIST Paul Ryan isn’t expecting a commission from Buckingham Palace even though his portrait of the Queen is a finalist in a major art prize - and he’s blaming disgraced entertainer Rolf Harris.
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MOSMAN has been graced by the Queen, pretty in pink. But is that a grimace or a grin? And where are the corgis?
A portrait of Her Majesty painted by artist Paul Ryan has been named this week as a finalist in the Mosman Art Prize.
But Ryan isn’t expecting a commission from Buckingham Palace any time soon.
“After Rolf Harris, I don’t think they will be asking any more Australians to paint the Queen,’’ he laughed.
Although a republican, Ryan said he was attracted to painting the Queen because she “tickled his fancy” particularly because of her colourful outfits.
“She is perfect for my great wads of paint — it was a bit like cake decorating,’’ he said.
“But I wasn’t trying to take the mickey out of her. The Queen is showing signs of being elderly but she still has that embodiment of integrity and strength.”
The Pink Queen portrait has been hung high on the wall at the Mosman Art Gallery.
Five other portraits of the Queen painted by Ryan, who lives at Thirroul, have gone on exhibition this week at the Olsen Irwin Gallery in Woollahra.
“One of my Queens has caught the ferry to Mosman to wave the flag. I suspect there are some monarchists in Mosman,” Ryan said.
Among the other finalists for the Mosman Art Prize is a portrait of Bob Hawke by Sean Hutton but that’s been hung some distance from the Queen.
Comedian Anh Do’s portrait of artist and activist George Gittoes has been hung next to the Queen.
The winner will be announced on August 23.
For the full list of finalists visit the Mosman Art Gallery online.
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