Portraits: people and paint

I have strong memories of drawing as a child, and a lot of the things that appealed to me were faces: generally copied from album covers or the covers of books.  I wouldn't dream of asking someone to sit for me.  From life, I did countless drawings of our family's cat,  though, who did sit, lie, sleep, etc., all quite obliviously.  Three vivid memories of copied sketches are a portrait of Meril Streep in The French Lieutenant's Woman, Oliver asking for more from the film version of the musical and David Bowie from the album Changes.  When I started painting I always said I'd never 'do' portraits, but kind of slid into it via camel portraits.  Eyes and noses I love doing, mouths sometimes give me trouble.  Given that I'm not terribly sociable in real life, I'm surprised how fascinated I am by people:  makes me think of the DH Lawrence quote: 'I like people quite well, / At a little distance'.  Maybe the painting creates the necessary distance for me, or maybe it closes it.
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Official Portait of NT Chief Minister Adam Giles: oil on linen: 122x92cm
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Hands - Mrs Wallace and Mr Stuart: oil on linen: 51x41cm
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Hills - Kathleen Wallace and the Dancers: oil on linen: 51 x 51cm
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From a Family of Horsemen (Raymond): oil on linen: 76x46cm
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Small Nurse: Oil on Linen: 28x36cm
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Fairy in the Classroom II: oil on linen: 76 x 38cm
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Timeless (Mia): oil on linen: 46x46cm
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Finlay and Martin: oil on linen: 61x40cm
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It's Been and is a Long Journey: oil on linen: 61x61cm
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... and the grapefruit tree: oil on linen: 82x47cm
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Sorelle and Ruby II: Oil o Linen: 76x62cm
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Study for Long Journey: oil on linen: 35x46cm
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Paul Henderson, NT Chief Minister 2007-2013: Oil on Linen: 122x92cm
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Sorelle and Ruby: Oil on Linen: 50x76cm
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Delyna, Betty and Betty's Painting: Oil on Linen: 46x61cm
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Rolf's Paper: oil on linen: 60x90cm
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Father and Son: oil on linen: 90x60cm
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Juanita's Yes: oil on linen: 41x61cm
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Helpers: oil on linen: 41x61cm
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Akeila's Numbers: oil on linen: 61x76cm
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Geofrey: oil on linen: 50x70cm
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Recess: oil on linen: 45x45cm
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At the Hill: oil on linen: 25x20cm
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Miriam and the Fence: oil on linen: 22x32cm
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Sophie's Shapes: oil on linen: 61x41cm
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Dracula and the Clown: oil on linen: 61x36cm
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Mia with Cassara: oil on linen: 81x61cm
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Bush Trip: oil on linen: 51x51cm
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Back the Next Day with the Big Smiles: oil on linen: 35x35cm
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Antoine's Lunch: oil on linen: 35x35cm
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Win: oil on linen: 61x41cm
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Sunshine, Family and Horses: oil on linen: 91x61cm
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Gordi and the Biggest Bush Tomatoes: oil on linen: 30x40cm
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Jamie and the Whole Page: oil on linen: 41x61cm
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Latham's Goggles: oil on linen: 30x40cm
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Fairy in the Classroom: oil on linen: 60x31cm
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The Fairy and her mum: oil on linen: 91x46cm
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Joel's Drawing: oil on linen: 50x35cm
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Gordi: oil on linen: 25x25cm
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Elijah: oil on linen: 25x25cm
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Casey: oil on linen: 25x25cm
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Henry: oil on linen: 50x35cm
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RPs Duty: oil on linen: 61x30cm
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Renee, Karina and Kirsten: oil on linen: 51x40cm
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Anna and the Bush Medicine (Aherne Intenke): oil on linen76x51cm
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Lacota's No: oil on linen: 40x30cm
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Lacota in the Morning: oil on linen: 50x35cm
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Breakfast at the Window: oil on linen: 45x61cm
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Kuman and the Window: Oil on Linen 51x76cm
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Taleisha: oil on linen 60x90cm
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Dallas in the Morning: oil on linen: 45x61cm
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The Cross on the Hill: oil on linen: 61x91cm
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Breakfast Boys: oil on linen: 61x91cm
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Jai: oil on linen: 51x76cm
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The Conversation: oil on linen: 51x91cm
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Calvina's Class: oil on linen: 51x76cm
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Jessie: Oil on Linen: 51x76cm
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Canasia's Picture: Oil on Linen: 90x60cm
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The Hon. Sally Thomas, NT Administrator: Oil on Linen : 121x88cm
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Syd: Oil on Linen: 60x90cm
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Syd II: Oil on Linen: 90x60cm
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Ian: oil on canvas: 90x90cm
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Lesley with Stella (darling): oil on linen: 90x60cm
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Jim: Oil on Linen: 90x60cm
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Bean (Stay Gold): Oil on Linen: 75x60cm
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Fire Dancer: Oil on Linen: 46x46cm
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Self-Portrait-Watching the Slow Dissolve: Oil on Linen: 75x60cm
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In the Red House - Darcy: Oil on Linen: 75x60cm
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Renaissance Man: Dr Peter Tait: Oil on Linen: 3 of 60x45cm
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In the Morning Sun II - Justina: Oil on Hemp: 50x39.5cm
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In the Morning Sun I - Alicia: Oil on Hemp: 50x39.5cm
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The Sun in her Face: Oil on Canvas: 77x60cm
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Unfinished People I (Bevan): Oil on Canvas: 61x40cm
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On the Bench - Justina and Silke: Oil on Linen: 2 of 120x40cm
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Recess II: Oil on Hemp: 102x40cm
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Mona: Oil on Linen: 60x90cm
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Ron's Landscape: Oil on Linen: 60x90cm
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John Flynn: Oil on Linen: 90x60cm
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Recess: Oil on Linen: 61x46cm
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Dugald: Oil on Linen: 60x90cm
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In the Winter Sunshine - Wirrunngga: Oil on Canvas: 101×76cm
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21st Century Pre-Raphaelite: Oil on Board: 37.5x30cm
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Unfinished People II: May: Oil on Linen
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Girl with a Mandala Earring: Oil on Linen: 60x75cm
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Campbell the Swagman I: Pastel on Paper: 50×40cm
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Campbell the Swagman II: Oil on Canvas: 81×68cm
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Self-Portrait: Oil on Linen:
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Girl in Cap II: Pastel on Paper: 46×65cm
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Hannah at Seventeen: Oil on Linen: 46 × 61cm
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Study in Blue: Pastel on Paper: 23×35cm
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Bluebird: Pastel on Paper: 35×23cm
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Bean: Pastel on Paper: 35×23cm