Jordan Richardson of Killcare has had his portrait of actor and director Mr John Bell hung in the 2017 Archibald Prize.
Now 25, Jordan met Mr Bell in 2012 when he received a grant from the Bouddi Foundation for the Arts, of which Mr Bell is chair.
Born in Sydney in 1993, Jordan has a Bachelor of Fine Art (Honours) from the National Art School. He has been both a fi nalist and highly commended in the Brett Whiteley Travelling Art Scholarship. This year he is a fi nalist in the Arthur Guy Memorial Painting Prize and the Kilgour Prize. The John Bell portrait was his fi rst time in the Archibald Prize. “John and the foundation have continued to be supportive so it felt natural to ask to paint him,” he said. “I wanted to paint John lost in thought, something honest that was more than just John Bell the actor. “I initially gave him a Rubik’s cube but ended up settling for these little fi gures that his wife Anna Volska dug up from somewhere.
“I was amazed at the way a man of such accomplishment took direction from a 24-year-old kid. “He was incredibly generous and patient. “I hope the portrait captures a glimmer of something beyond the curtain,” he said. A Bouddi Foundation member, artist Mr Peter Godwin, said he had been mentoring Jordan since he came to the attention of the Bouddi Foundation. “He has been recognised by the Bouddi Foundation on two occasions and has received two grants totalling $5000,” Mr Godwin said. “Jordan is working at the moment in a fairly traditional, figurative manner, mainly working with oils on canvas,” he said. The John Bell portrait for the Archibald was oil on linen.
“Of course, the whole Foundation is very proud of Jordan and very happy for his recognition,” Mr Godwin said. “He has been listed as a fi nalist in a very competitive prize with over 800 entries and only 30 selected so it is a pretty impressive achievement, especially in Jordan’s case for someone so young and his fi rst attempt,” he said. “This will be a major stepping stone for his work in fi ne arts here and overseas but especially in Australia because of the notoriety of the Archibald.” Jordan Richardson’s work is available through the Michael Reid Gallery in Sydney, Berlin and online. Mr Godwin said: “He is a hard worker, dedicated and disciplined, and if you don’t have that in the fine arts you’re a goner.”
SOURCES: Interview, 21 Jul 2017 Peter Godwin, Killcare Email, 21 Jul 2017 Joy Park, Bouddi Foundation for the Arts Reporter: Jackie Pearson