A Long Hard Look at Myself
Peter Hudson
- Sitter: Self portrait
- Medium: Mix media on paper
- Dimensions: 130 x 157 cm
- Representation: Mitchell Fine Art
About the artwork and sitter
This self portrait is called: A Long Hard Look at Myself. It is Hudson’s first self portrait, and depicts his 50 years of playing drums and painting pictures. It was made with a mirror in the studio, “and also a glance in the rear vision mirror.” He segments the canvas, providing four images of himself, one of the glasshouse mountains, and one of a drum.
“There’s no money in Music and Art. However, playing music and making art brings something more rewarding and way more important, and that is, the gift of an ‘Art Life’. I hope and pray my art life keeps rolling on.”
About the artist
Peter Hudson studied art at QCA in the early seventies. He worked as a jeweller, drummer, and part time artist and In 2000, started working full time on art. Based in Maleny, he developed a friendship with Lawrence Daws, who was also an influence. He concentrated on landscapes until 2003, when his focus turned to portraits of Australian singer/songwriters. Four are held in the National Portrait Gallery.
“Someone said, every artwork you make is a self portrait, I'm sure that's true. For artists, art and life become the same mystery, thank god for that.”
Behind the scenes
In 1998 I travelled to the Northern Territory to begin a series of paintings based on the Gurindji people and their historical ‘Wave Hill Walk Off’ story. Prior to this venture I have never been overly interested in painting the figure, I was, and still am, a landscape painter, if a figure turns up in my paintings and drawings it will more likely be an animal, not a human.
