Hippy Don
Rod Bailey
- Sitter: Don Newman
- Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
- Dimensions: 80cm x 100cm
- Representation: This artist represents themselves
About the artwork
In this painting Hippy Don is working at his lathe, naked except for his beanie and apron. He turns towards the viewer with a wry smile, experienced, content and confident. The artist describes the work as an exploration of a man deeply connected to nature.
Don Newman is a fitter and turner, who has taught at TAFE and the Maleny Flexi School, helping women to enter the trades. Living on a boat off Victoria Point for many years, he now lives on Macleay Island, “…in a shed surrounded by bush. The light creates warm shadows, contrasting with the inorganic metal background. My aim is to convey the joy he finds in his craft.”
Don Newman is unflinching despite his exposure, with the defiance model of the lathe echoing the qualities of its owner. The muted colours, including the slightest hints of reds and blues, give the portrait a monumental calmness.
In this portrait, the artist is showing the slightly cheeky side of Don Newman, who loves nature, nudity and creating.
About the artist
Rod Bailey is based on Macleay Island and paints its characters, landscape and boats. He is largely self taught, although he studied art at Armidale College of Advanced Education. “I try to paint every day, with my motivation coming from the beautiful natural environment in which I live.” His work was selected in the Brisbane Portrait Prize’s Salon des Refusés in 2020 and 2023.
