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Megan and Margaret McMurdo AC, the former President of the Supreme Court of Appeal Queensland, next to "On Balance", the portrait in oils Megan entered in the Archibald Prize 2016 and Moran Prize 2016.
Young lawyer captures hero Justice Margaret McMurdofor Archibald Prize entry
By Damien Larkins and NicoleDyer
Updated 5 Apr2016, 12:19pm
A younglawyer has her sights set on an Archibald Prize with an intimate portrait ofQueensland's top female justice, Margaret McMurdo.
As well as being acommercial litigation lawyer, Megan Shine, 24, is also an accomplished artist,with a talent for portraiture.
When she needed asubject for an Archibald Prize entry, she turned to her own greatestinspiration the Honourable Justice Margaret McMurdo AC.
Justice McMurdo isPresident of Queensland Court of Appeal: the first female president of anappellate court in the country.
Shine said thejudge inspired her to enter the legal profession.
"When I was searchingfor an Archibald Prize subject she just instantly came to mind," she said.
"I emailed herand she kindly agreed to sit for me, which is great."
Shine studied artthrough school and continued while studying law, finding she had an immensepassion for both subjects.
The pair met atJustice McMurdo's Byron Bay home, spending several hours threshing out thedetails of the portrait.
"I think shewas flattered to be asked," Shine said.
"Then it wasjust a matter of convincing her that my standard of work was up to par."
The 24 year oldsaid she discovered a lot about the judge's career, her struggles and who shewas as a person.
"I can usethat information when I'm standing at the canvas ... to really capture who sheis," she said.
"I think Ihave to do that justice.
"I walked awayfrom that first sitting thinking, 'I have a big job cut out for me'."
At the secondsitting they tried numerous poses before settling on something more natural.
"I said let'sstop posing, just go into something that's your natural pose when you'rethinking about something important," Shine said.
Her layered styleof painting takes up to two weeks to dry.
While it is still awork in progress, she hopes to be finished in time for the four-day ArchibaldPrize submission window.
She said she wouldknow when it was ready.
"I don't knowhow to say how I'll know," she said.
"I know onceI've captured the essence of her, I think it will be quite clear to me."
Delivery of 2016Archibald Prize entries is due between June 20 and 24.
(<http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-04-05/lawyer-paints-hero-justine-margaret-mcmurdo-for-archibald-prize/7299814>)
