"JIMMY THE WHIP"

This is a life sized oil portrait of a fair dinkum Aussie character that I painted back in 1992.  Jimmy was well known to our family in the 1980s & 90s when we lived at MacMasters Beach NSW. 

My late husband John asked me one day "Of all  the portraits you've painted Julie, have youi ever chosen your own subject?"  I thought for
a moment ... then replied  "No I haven't actually, apart from family they have all been commissions.   John smiled and looked me in the eye, than said
"Do it now.  It's time you did!  Who would you like to paint?"
Immediately I answered "Jimmy the Whip - in all his outback country regalia"   Jim was a frequent visitor to our home and  a third generation skilled plaiter of whips for country folk right down the east coast of Australia.  He agreed to pose for the painting at our fireplace so I included the lamp and clock from my own childhood and John lit the fire for an old world atmosphere.  I worked from immediate sketches and photographs I took to  use in between sittings .  It took me three months to complete.
After being exhibited,  the painting went into care for the next 26 years due to necessary hanging space and just a few weeks ago, much to my surprise it has come home to me, in excellent condition! 
So that is my Blip today - a very nostalgic one - since both John and Jimmy have passed on during that time.   Soon I must choose a suitable  future home for this painting, but for now I'm just enjoying it  here with me again, since, looking back over my 80 years, it has been my most major work.
Vale:  John Duell 1996 and Jimmy Hill 2013