Caroline Hammat
An unusual portrait exhibition by Harrow artist Ron Penrose opened last Sunday at Karatta Wines and Art Gallery with over 40 people attending the family friendly event.
Less than four months ago Mr Penrose met with 15 people at the gallery, taking photos and chatting to the potential artist’s subjects to get to know them a little better.
Most of the subjects came from across the Limestone Coast and included residents from Mount Gambier, Port MacDonnell and Millicent.
Heading back to his Victorian studio Mr Penrose undertook an intense period of painting to ensure the portraits, painted in oils, were completed for Sunday’s launch.
Mr Penrose briefly touched on his journey to portrait painting during the launch by saying he painted his first portrait in 1976 and at the same time painted a fire truck using a palette knife.
It wasn’t until 2010 that he painted another portrait and a year later began using palette knives to paint them.
The restoration of an old house helped his direction as learning to plaster the walls led the artist to pick up a small builders trowel to use on one of his first large portrait paintings.
“When I put the paint on it just felt natural, it felt like I had come home to something I should do.
“I was inspired by Ben Quilty who had just won the Archibald (Prize) with his Margaret Olley portrait.
“He is a total inspiration as are a lot of other artists as well.
“Up until Covid things were going really well, until no more portraits.
“This has been a great opportunity to have sitters again, so many different faces” Mr Penrose said.
Many of the portrait subjects attended the opening with Mount Gambier resident Andrea Braun explaining how she became involved.
“About three years ago I went to the nurses ball in Harrow and Ron was donating a landscape that evening as an auction item.
“I got to meet him there and we did a tour of the gallery the next day.
“Three years later I saw an article in The Border Watch for an invitation to be painted by Ron Penrose.
“I thought that’s the fellow that did the awesome landscape, yep I’m in.”
Greenways resident Mel Beggs said it had always been a dream of hers to have her portrait painted.
“I love art, and we have a few artists in our family and my husbands side of the family to.
“I thought it would be something fun to do and I kept it a secret from the family.
“I didn’t tell my husband or kids until I dragged them down here today because i wanted to surprise them even my mum I only told this morning.
