Local artist’s brush with storytelling

Published on 20 May 2024

How much does a portrait tell us of a person?

For local artist Jaq Grantford, who specialises in fine art and portraiture, the lines, expressions and tiny nuances all gather to create an impression from which we unravel a story.

“With each portrait, there is a story — some beautiful, some that make a statement, or some that are just about living life,” she said.

“The details and tiny flaws are the most exciting parts of any subject. It’s what makes us different but also united in our imperfection.”

Jaq’s new exhibition titled ‘The Human Spirit’ explores portraiture and shows the faces of some well known people and some not so well-known.

Jaq has participated in numerous exhibitions, winning many awards, most recently winning the Archibald People’s Choice with her portrait of Noni Hazlehurst.

Her work is held in the European Museum of Modern Art, the National Portrait Gallery of Australia, the National Gallery of Victoria and many other collections.

Since she was a child, Jaq has been passionate about portraying the human form and that love has persisted throughout her life.

To capture the essence of a person is one of her greatest joys. She loves to tell the stories through visual imagery: the influences, the environment, the cultural background, the joys and heartbreaks and much more.

See ‘The Human Spirit’ exhibition at Frankston Arts Centre’s Curved Wall Gallery until 22 June.