Artist's dog steals Archibald limelight

AS artist Tim Storrier strode to the podium to accept the 2012 Archibald Prize, his closest companion made a dash for the stage.

Storrier

AS artist Tim Storrier strode to the podium to accept the 2012 Archibald Prize, his closest and most loyal companion made a dash for the stage.

Smudge, the artist's seven-year-old longnose fox terrier, joined the 52-year-old painter in accepting the $75,000 prize for self-portrait Histrionic Wayfarer (after Bosch) in which the dog features.

"I guess I ought to buy her a big steak," said the artist, from Bathurst in NSW’s central west.  "Never work children or animals. They steal the show...every time."

Storrier's work, based loosely on Hieronymus Bosch's small, octagonal painting The Wayfarer, features a faceless TinTin-like character carrying his worldly possessions, atop which sits Smudge. 

"For artists and writers, dogs are great companions. Smudge is ever loyal and never critical," Storrier said.

“Considering what happens to a lot of artists' work, that's very useful.''

Storrier’s stepdaughter Antonia Rosen said the dog was rescued four years ago from the pound, where it was due to be put down.

"Tim fell in love with it, and ever since it's been part of the family,'' she said.

Storrier, who has entered the award three times and been hung twice, said he was honoured and humbled by the award.

"Accolades from one's fellows in the arts community are always welcome,'' he said.

 The AGNSW board of trustees, which judges the award, this year increased the prize money from $50,000 to $75,000.

Board president Steven Lowy said Storrier was a worthy winner.  "It's a wonderful painting of him, by him and it captured the minds of the trustees,” he said. “Ultimately quality comes to the top. Tim is a very experienced artist.''

More than 835 works were submitted for the Archibald Prize in its 91st year. Those works were whittled down to a longlist of 41 finalists, of which just two were shortlisted. Storrier's work edged out Jenny Sages's highly fancied self-portrait, After Jack.

Artist Imants Tillers won the $35,000 Wynne prize for landscape painting for Waterfall (After Williams). The Sulman Prize was won by Nigel Milsom for his Judo House Part 4 (Golden Mud).

More than 830 entries from some of Australia’s best known painters were received for the 2012 Archibald Prize. This year the AGNSW, whose new director Michael Brand will take the reins in June, has increased the prize money by $25,000 from the $50,000 prize of previous years.

The Archibald is one of the oldest prizes in Australian art. First awarded in 1921, it has been won by some of Australia’s most revered artists including George Lambert (1927), William Dobell (1943, 48 and 59) and Brett Whiteley (1976 and 78).

The 2012 Archibald collection will be on display at AGNSW until June 3 before touring regional NSW.