Shannon McCulloch Ben

Shannon McCulloch’s subject is Benjamin Aitken, who is also a finalist in this year’s Archibald Prize. The two artists met in Perth in 2014, when Aitken was a finalist in The Lester Prize for portraiture.

‘Since I moved to Melbourne in 2018, Ben and I have become like family. This portrait depicts Ben in his lounge room where he and I have sat countless times discussing everything from art, music, boxing and politics, to our personal histories, long through the night and into the morning,’ says McCulloch.

‘Ben is an amazing artist and a caring friend, who is generous with his time and always willing to give advice when asked.

‘In this portrait I have tried to capture a bit of the intimacy of our relationship by working on a small scale, which invites the viewer in but doesn’t impose itself on them. I worked in sessions, applying layers of oil over an acrylic underpainting. Some sections have been left with fewer layers purposely or painted in one go so that the already-small painting doesn’t feel overly laboured and become claustrophobic.’