Alexander was born December 30th 1989 - a memorable year as that was the year of the Newcastle earthquake and I was in the Mater Hospital at the time.
I was 10 days overdue (Alexander was due on Christmas Day).
He was my first child and I was quite nervous.
I remember part of the hospital falling down and all the women who had given birth were put out on the grass at the front of the hospital.
What a sight...Mums and babies (in humidicribs) everywhere.
I was sent home as they were bringing injured people into the hospital
all day and it didn't look as if Alexander was going to show...not even an earthquake had made any difference with my situation!!!!
The following night I was rushed back to the hospital...fairly quick labour and presto Alexander was born (weighing 8lb 8oz)...I went out for New Years Eve the next night!!!
Seventeen years later and Alexander has just got his provisional driver's licence.
Alexander is in his final year at school (year 12) and works at a big computer store every weekend.
He was a champion swimmer and has won more art awards than me...including the Fisher Ghost Art Award - Secondary section years 7 to 12 (he was 13 yrs old) in 2003.
I do not help him much (seriously)...I am an ex art teacher.... he paints landscapes...which are not up my alley. He would like to work in IT or Photography when he leaves school.

This portrait will be his 18th birthday present but I will also enter it in the 2008 Doug Moran National Portrait Prize
($100.000.00 first prize)

At this stage I am debating colour choices for the background, suit, shirt and tie. I still have more work on the face, hair and hands as well.

Posted by Kim at 6:51 pm