Studio A Takes On The Archies

Brought together by their shared love of all things romantic, Meagan Pelham painted Anna Plunkett, one half of Australian fashion house Romance Was Born whom Meagan has collaborated with for a number of years.

Titled ‘Romance is LOVE’, the watercolour, gouache and acrylic painting is a celebration of just that.

"I really love my portrait of Anna. She is amazing to me and part of my future. I will always be an artist. Anna is laying down on the couch in Romance was Born’s studio with her toes pointing out like a fashion mermaid." - Meagan Pelham

Returning Archibald finalist Emily Crockford painted Studio A’s CEO and Artistic Director, Gabrielle Mordy and Principal Artist, Emma Johnston.

Titled ‘The Pattern in the Mountains of Studio A, Best Friends Emma and Gabrielle’, Emily used her signature bold colour and intricate pattern to depict the colleagues and close friends.

"It looks so spunky and beautiful, colourful and bright... just like Emma and Gab! They both wore colourful clothing for me... they know how much I love painting colour and pattern." - Emily Crockford

For his Archibald submission Thom Roberts painted Shelley Simpson whom he calls ‘Rachey’. CEO, designer and founder of mud Australia, Simpson’s portrait is painted on a porcelain disc and is depicted with four eyes and fingers for a nose.

"I like to paint people’s nose as a foot or a finger to make people laugh. It makes me laugh."

"In my pictures I love to play with mirror images, they are the same but different. They are opposites, negative and positive. I am made of negative and positive. So is Rachey. Everyone is. I love this a lot." - Thom Roberts 

In ‘Rosary and the Seagull’ Catherine used her exuberant and bold style to paint artist and long time friend to Studio A, Rosie Deacon.

Catherine sketched Rosie at her Ultimo studio space which is packed full of playful neon sculptures of treasured native Australian animals. 

 “I visited Rosie at her art studio where she dressed up in costumes for me to draw and paint. I painted Rosary and the Seagull because she's gorgeous.” - Catherine McGuiness