“My portrait of Elisabeth was made at her home in December 2018.
Elisabeth is one of our country’s most respected artists. I still recall her survey show at SH Ervin in 2017, titled Interior Landscape; the colour and the expressive mark making was exciting and beautiful. This was the catalyst for asking to make a portrait with Elisabeth. Elisabeth has received numerous awards including the Fleurieu Art Prize, the Portia Geach Memorial Award and the Mosman Art Prize. In more recent times there has been a survey, Radiance: The Art of Elisabeth Cummings, at the National Art School Gallery, and in 2022 Elisabeth was part of Know My Name at the National Gallery of Australia.
The sitting with Elisabeth was very quiet and calm. As with all subjects I photograph, I meet prior to the sitting to firstly observe the location and to simply try to know the person I am going to make a work with. Elisabeth mentioned that most of her family were architects; she was determined to be an artist. The delight of walking through the front door of Elisabeth’s home was the warmth and to be surrounded by art, works by so many exceptional artists. My approach was to have my subject as the hero: a direct gaze to the viewer, a simple red scarf, and her finger adorned with her jewellery.”
Gary Grealy