By Parker McKenzie
People in Monbulk may know Ken Hunt as the local jeweller, but for two decades he has been pursuing another passion.
“Most people will know me as the local jeweller in Monbulk because I’ve been there for 30 years,” Mr Hunt said.
“Very few know that I’m actually an artist. I’ve had 15 paintings over the last 20 years entered into the Archibald and nine of those have been chosen for the Hidden Faces of the Archibald.”
This year for the 2022 Archibald Prize, Mr Hunt has created an oil painting of his 90-year-old father —also named Kenneth Hunt —and his daughter’s 18-year-old cat titled So Happy.
“I thought he’d be a great subject, the image was at my house with my little cat and it was a cold winter’s day and he was all rugged up,” Mr Hunt said.
“Outside it was sunny, hence the sun coming through the window. I thought the painting captured I’m and the cat very well on a really happy day.”
The Archibald Prize is Australia’s most prestigious portrait art competition, with a selection of portraits being hung in galleries around Australia. The best of the Victorian paintings which aren’t selected for the main prize form another art exhibition called the Hidden Faces of the Archibald.
Mr Hunt said when you know the person you are painting on canvas you can be critical of yourself.
“It’s kind of a strange journey, in some ways it’s like painting yourself,” he said.
“It’s lovely to see a finished product and know the person you are looking at is exactly like that.”
Mr Hunt said his father was both a former plumber and an artist himself, fields he followed his footsteps into before becoming a jeweller.
“I started an apprenticeship with him when I was 18-years-old,” he said.
“I did 20 years with him in plumbing, when he retired I basically retired from plumbing too and bought the jewellery shop.”
The Archibald Prize finalists will be announced on 5 May, with winners being awarded between 13 May and 27 July.
