Working on my submission for the Brisbane Prize, I found my self thinking a lot about my own relationship with Brisbane and how I miss it. At a time when many of us are separated from family and the places we come from, it seemed fitting to paint Wesley with his home in mind.
During our sitting, he talked about Stradbroke and how owning a little piece of that island keeps him connected to his past and grounded in a sense of belonging.
Painting Wesley’s portrait I was inspired by his optimism for the future. I hope to convey a moment of reflection of where we have come from, and a sense of hope and reassurance that we will return.