Painted on cardboard, Andrew Weil's portrait of one of Brisbane's most-loved radio personalities has won the inaugural The Bradley art competition.
Brisbane hears Bradley Hunter's warm, reassuring tones on the airwaves every day but some of ABC Radio's most creative listeners rose to the challenge to take the city's affection for the Australian Traffic Network reporter to another level.
Dozens of portraits of the knockabout Aussie radio reader, famous for his Brad Jokes — a play on dad jokes — were submitted as part of The Bradley, Brisbane's newest portrait competition.
ABC Radio Brisbane Mornings host Rebecca Levingston launched the idea and was impressed with the calibre of entries.
"Discovering the creative, mindful and talented people of our city has been so soothing for me among the challenging news of the world," Ms Levingston said.
"I love the time and care our listeners have taken to enter The Bradley.
"It's been such good fun. I'm already thinking about who might be the subject for next year."
'Kitsch' portrait by novice
Mr Weil was thrilled to be named the winner after judging by Brisbane Portrait Prize founder and chairwoman Anna Reynolds, ABC Radio Breakfast host Loretta Ryan and ABC Radio Drive host Steve Austin.
Created using acrylic paint, with newspaper and cardboard, the piece shows a "smiling and happy Brad — illuminated by a traffic light — in front of traffic".
Mr Weil, who was a finalist in this year's Brisbane Portrait Prize Salon des Refusés, described his work as a "little bit kitsch".
"But who cares, we are allowed not to get too serious! This is not The Archibald!" he said.
"I'm born and bred in Brisbane and have only been painting for just over two years — mainly portraits as I am fascinated by faces and what I see in them.
"I'd heard Brad for years and when I went on the radio, he looked completely different.
"But what I heard is what you see in this picture, his happiness, his vibrance."
Mr Hunter said the collection of artwork depicting him was "absolutely amazing".
"The entries overall were incredible, it's amazing how they portrayed me," he said.
"I give Andrew a 10/10. I've got a bit of a funny smile and the way he drew my mouth is spot on. The lines around my eyes, it seems like I'm looking in a mirror."
Depth of affection
Sketches, traditional paintings and even cartoon renders were submitted as part of the competition.
Most entries evoked Mr Hunter's happy and humorous on-air, and real-life, persona with one work picturing him wearing sunglasses and holding a Chiko roll and a Coke, with his hair cut into a mullet.
Another has Mr Hunter in a cowboy hat in front of a road train, depicting the announcer's love of Brisbane's Ekka.
Some conveyed the responsibility and sometimes frustration of the job — one sketch has Mr Hunter screaming and holding his head, another piece is in black and white with his daily traffic updates inscribed behind him.
Ms Reynolds said the competition was a "great way to get people engaged in the arts and to get people thinking and talking about portraiture".
"People really did take on the challenge to think innovatively of how they were going to portray Brad," she said.
"There are some traditional portraits and some really good artwork and then there are a number of really interesting approaches too.
"I think people feel they know him really well, even if they haven't actually met him or spent time with him, because of his constant presence on the radio and in people's lives.
"It's a really intimate thing the radio, people feel a lot of closeness with people on the radio and when you [see the artwork] there is a lot of love and affection for Brad."
Mr Weil's portrait of Mr Hunter can be viewed at the Brisbane Powerhouse until the end of the month.
Each entry is on display in the foyer of ABC Brisbane, Russell Street, South Bank.
