Dad working at kitchen table

My father’s hobby was his Rover car. Here he is working on a design to improve the engine with the car manual beside him. He was the chief engineer at the Central Power Station that provided power for the mines at Broken Hill, independently from the town supply. My father was proud of my art and submitted this portrait for the Archibald prize. It was rejected, as were the portraits I entered from time to time thereafter. My portraits did not conform to the restrictive entry conditions to paint: “a person distinguished in art, letters, science or politics (preferentially a prominent figure, often a well-known Australian).” I paint only portraits of people I know well such as family members and friends, where I can express their characteristics.