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“Salt Water Man”

Andrew McLeod portrait by Megan Roodenrys
Medium: Oil on Linen
167 x 137 cm

Artists’ Statement

July 2008

“This portrait is of a man who is proud of his heritage and his achievements. Andrew grew up in Darwin and it is a place that is special to him. I will place him in a landscape being East Point Reserve, a place of significance for Andrew, where he grew up and now a place he shares with his own family.

Andrew is proud of, and identifies strongly with, his indigenous heritage. It was important to Andrew that he be pictured holding his spear, one of many in his own personal collection.

For me, this portrait gives more of a sense of the role that our contemporary athletes have, a modern equivalent of the gladiator from classical times.

I am attempting to portray Andrew’s innate sense of his own body which is more than just a vehicle. The execution of his sport is his identity, his mind and his body are totally at one.

The tattoos write his life on this body.
There is also physical excellence and beauty and my challenge is to portray all of this in the two dimensional media.”