Cat’s out of the Bag : John Smallwood QC
Joe Smallwood was a young guy who managed the bar at the Evelyn, and he noticed the gigantic portrait of Maria in the bottle shop. He asked about my Archibald entries, and suggested that I paint his dad, John Smallwood QC, a well-respected judge. Since my artistic philosophy is that it’s impossible to paint someone you don’t know, I had to meet him. I did some research, so I was impressed by his character and accomplishments before I finally met him. My first impression was that he looked like a guitarist from ZZtop, but that quickly dissipated as I found that he was easy going and down to earth. Most of all, I found his morals inspiring. He was always exploring multiple sides of topics, always hearing both sides of arguments, which of course he needed to do in court; he was moral and flexible. He’s a fan of cricket and collecting curios, like the stuffed lioness I painted with him, which he adamantly points out died of natural causes. He also has a motto that, under his judge’s wig and black frock, he has the freedom to wear anything he wants — “why shouldn’t I feel comfortable?”, he says. In 2012 he did an interview at the Wheeler Centre, and you can find the transcript online. I recommend it. I am grateful that I have not only met such a great human, but also had the challenge of capturing not just the man, but also what he does, and why he does it.