Artist eyes prize for a sleeping Ben Cousins
Patrick McDonald | Herald-Sun | January 19, 2009
TROUBLED footballer Ben Cousins is shown contemplating his future during a sleepless night in a triple-portrait for this year's Archibald Prize.
Artist Megan Roodenrys also has completed a close-up painting of Cousins, titled Facing the Demons, to enter in the $150,000 Doug Moran National Portrait Prize.
Roodenrys, 40, decided she would like to paint Cousins early last year.
Her entry for the $50,000 Archibald is called Waiting for the Day, part of which has already been shown in Pivotal Galleries, Richmond.
"Particularly at that time in his career, his future was very uncertain," the artist said.
She met Cousins in Perth three times.
Cousins was interested in showing his inner turmoil and was making a documentary on his struggle to overcome drug addiction, she said.
Sittings took place at Eight Nicholson, a hotel in Subiaco, last August.
"The sense you get when you meet him personally is quite different to his public image," Roodenrys said.
"There's a sense of energy there -- in that he's a very strict, very determined, focused person - but also a respectful person."
If the paintings do not win the competitions, both of which are announced in March, Cousins' new club Richmond is negotiating to auction them in May.
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,24929627-661,00.html
