Cherry Hood doesn't even usually paint portraits. She does, however, paint boys and adolescent males. At 20, acclaimed pianist Simon Tedeschi doesn't quite qualify, but when Hood saw him perform at an Art Gallery of New South Wales concert, she asked him to sit for her.

"Simon is only 20 and he has blue eyes and the look that suits the way I make images," explains Hood. "When I met him, it turned out that he is particularly empathetic, easy-going and very sensitive artistically. He saw my work and he understood what I was doing."

The Archibald Prize in portraiture, established in 1921, can never be without controversy. So far this year, the biggest buzz has been about Tedeschi's toplessness in the portrait, which makes him look more like a swimmer than a pianist. Hood made the decision to paint Tedeschi topless because, she says, "He is always portrayed in formal clothes and often with a piano as well. Images of him are usually more about his playing than about him as a person let alone as a sensual body." The watercolour portrait, says Hood, is a good likeness of the jet-setting pianist at his most harrowed. "He keeps up a rigorous schedule and lives between Sydney and London," Hood explains. "He was suffering jet lag or 'post concert letdown' when he sat for this painting. When he last saw the work he said, 'love the whiskers, remind me to stop over in Bangkok next time'."

With its $35,000 prize money, the Archibald is the biggest of a swag of awards handed out at this time of year. 2002's winner of the Wynne Prize for the best landscape painting of Australian scenery in oils or watercolours is Angus Nivision, whose Remembering the Rain has earned him $15,000. The $10,000 Sulman Prize for the best subject, genre painting or mural project was awarded to Guan Wei's Gazing into deep space no. 9, and Mary Tonkin's Rocky Outcrop has won the Dobell Drawing Prize for excellence in drawing and draughtsmanship.

All the winners and finalists are on view on the Art Gallery of New South Wales' Lower Level until 21 July, before a select number head off on a national tour. Related events at the Gallery include exhibition tours, a kid's holiday workshop and a recital series.

Further information:

Image Cherry Hood, Simon Tedeschi Unplugged.

Archibald Prize 2002
Until 21 July 2002
Art Gallery of New South Wales
Daily 10am-5pm
Tickets: $8 adult, $5 members/concession
Tel: (02) 9225 1790

Website: http://www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/