IF you ask Bowral artist Dave Thomas about his latest work, he will describe to you a beautiful and compelling image.
It is a painting of a woman.
Her extensive scarring is instantly recognisable - a lingering reminder of a domestic violence attack that saw her set on fire and nearly killed 16 years ago. This is a woman who glows out of the darkness.
A portrait of Wingham resident Donna Carson has been entered in the prestigious 2010 Archibald Prize portrait competition - Australia’s most controversial and widely known art prize. Dave hopes his entry will aid Donna’s campaign for domestic violence awareness.
Originally from Wales, Dave plied his trade across Europe before moving his work to Australia in 1988. He has been a finalist in both the Archibald and Doug Moran portrait competitions before.
“I’ve always been into painting people,” Dave said. “Every artwork is a new journey for me. It’s a chance to tell a story.”
This particular story begins with Donna and her long-time friend, Deborah Ritchie. Deborah, who also lives in Bowral, co-wrote Donna’s autobiography, Judas Kisses. Both women approached Dave with the idea of painting Donna to raise awareness and/or funds for her anti-domestic violence campaign. Dave accepted the job pro-bono.
“I took on the job partially because of my own personal intrigue to the story,” Dave said. “In fact, the project almost felt right for the Archibald Prize because of the story that comes with it.”
Donna’s de facto partner bashed her, doused her in petrol and set her alight on Good Friday 1994. The mother-of-two suffered full-thickness burns to 65 per cent of her body and spent the next two years recovering. She emerged from this horror committed to helping victims of domestic violence. She was recognised for her crusading work in 2004 when she was named the Australia Day Local Hero.
Donna and Dave became good friends during their sessions in his Burradoo studio. Donna travelled down to Bowral for three sittings. Dave also took photos of her to use as a reference point when she was absent.
“The question is, how do you paint someone’s spirit?” Dave said. “That’s what the goal is. To capture the subject’s essence.”
The portrait was completed in two months. It has been named: Donna Carson – Survivor.
“This painting pretty much sums up her journey,” Dave said. “I wanted to show her glowing out of the darkness that surrounds her, radiating an inner strength. Her pose is confronting, yet compelling.
“She’s looking directly at you,” Dave said. “Her eyes are saying: ‘You can pretty much say what you want, but I’ve been through it all. Cut the crap and get on with it’”.
The painting shows Donna in a traditional pose. She is barefoot and wearing dark clothes. Though the room around her is black, her skin glows off the canvas. Her gaze communicates a steely determination. She is holding a copy of Judas Kisses. Dave officially entered the portrait for judging last Wednesday.
The names of finalists selected for the Archibald Prize will be announced next Wednesday March 17 at 11am.
Both Donna and Dave hope to ultimately see the portrait hung in a permanent exhibition or bought by an institution, with any funds raised to go towards domestic violence awareness.
Donna loves the painting.
“It’s not so confronting as compelling,” she said. “The more you look at it, the more you see. To me it is very elegant and very beautiful.
“I think (Dave) has been inspired to create a great work.”
Email a friend