March 2016 – John McRae Photography & Studio

I attended the opening of the National Portrait Prize, 2016 on Friday night (18 April). I made the trip to Canberra to see my portrait of a group of performers outside the Imperial Hotel in Erskineville, Sydney.

This is the 3rd time that I have been hung in the prize and it is always a buzz to rock up to the wonderful building that houses the NPG. As I walked in I was given a lanyard with my name and “finalist” status written on it…obviously to identify me as one of the finalists in the crowd. The finalist were given VIP access to the space before the public entered to view the works and to mingle and meet amongst themselves.

What a nice feeling to walk in and see your work on the walls…..always a great moment for an artist and worth every effort of getting the work and your body down to Canberra.

Congratulations to the winner, Elizabeth Looker who’s work you will see if you visit the website of the NPG….or better still, take a trip to Canberra and see the work in situ at the gallery.

The names of those performers whom I could identify are marked.

My friend, Michelle, in front of the work. She knows quite a few of the artists pictured.

Michelle confronts the camera as Kate reads on..... — Michelle confronts the camera as Kate reads on…..

My group of supporters on the night...Kate, Michelle, Ann Maree and Joseph — My group of supporters on the night…Kate, Michelle, Ann Maree and Joseph

Exhibition runs from 19 March, 2016 – 26 June, 2016 at the NPG, Canberra

Dont forget you can also vote for the “People’s Choice” at the following web address:

www.portrait.gov.au/peopleschoice/

I recently had the pleasure of working with the amazing team at “One Room”.

One Room (1/414 Bronte Road, Bronte NSW 2024) is a progressive and highly creative hair styling studio, located at Bronte in Sydney. I was approached by Daniel McLennan, the owner and chief stylist, to shoot hair for some up-coming competitions.

It was a more convenient time to shoot for the salon as they were going through their “once a year” re-furbishment of the space and had some down time to come to my studio in Lilyfield for the shoot. I was impressed with the idea that a business, on a yearly basis, would re-furbish their interiors…..their customers must be equally impressed with that kind of commitment.

So my studio was transformed for a day into a veritable hair salon. There was hair dryers, combs, brushes, extensions, colour, product, movement, panic….for days! I loved the energy that was created by all this activity.

It was a pleasure and a great buzz to work with talented, enthusiastic and creative geniuses in their fields.

Have a look at the guys at work in the following images:

Stylist Model

Daniel McLennan Hannah

Kate Lynch Alex Tinker

Laura Priori Terry Varvaressos

Lily Zak Jarday Tundrock