Even though nine years have passed since Ralph Heimans was driven through the gates of Buckingham Palace for the most crucial 60 minutes of his career, the Australian artist is still bombarded with one big question: what's the Queen like?
"This pandemic has reminded me how much portraitists depend on human-to-human contact – the sitting, the initial exchange and spark that occurs between the subject and the artists is irreplaceable," he says."I think there's a narrative here and in Australia that the arts can take a hit because it is not essential, which is very distressing. The arts are what keep us afloat during these times of distress.
"Ralph is interested in beauty, a matter which has gone out of fashion. And of course I've been interested in beauty per se all my life so when you run into somewhat of a kindred spirit you do find something of a common cause."Buckingham Palace/AP "We really did click," Heimans says. "He admired my work, which was wonderful, and I admired what he stood for, his bravery and his judicial philosophy. We became friends."
When the doctor asked what was wrong, his exasperated parents blurted out in near-unison, 'He wants to be an artist!'. "It was the most unusual context in which to receive a rigorous European artistic education but I did, somehow, find this guy," Heimans says. The two ultimately fell out and Heimans remains guarded about the mentorship. "It was of its time. It helped me understand a logic about oil painting technique that I have developed since then but the whole thing does feel very distant even if it was foundational. It was very rigid and I had to break away from it to find my own path.
"It's easy to be dazzled by the astonishing accuracy and detail of Ralph's paintings and his great ability in creating a 'likeness'," she says. "But beneath the surface there is consummate draughtsmanship as well as a concept that often has multiple layers and has been very carefully planned, considered and researched."
BevanShields The Holiness of GOD is what separates HIM from sin and sinful man.
BevanShields Well done, Ralph!