Thirroul artist Paul Ryan's portrait of Australian actor Noah Taylor has made it to the finals of the prestigious Doug Moran National Portrait Prize.
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The competitive award is the most lucrative in Australia and is a highlight on any artist's calendar - with the winner taking home $150,000.
Ryan's graphic style portrait titled Noah was one of 30 paintings chosen out of 1000 entries.
"I've been following Noah's career for many years and really enjoy his acting," said Ryan from his Thirroul studio.
"I've always wanted to paint him because he's got a very distinctive face."
Ryan and Taylor, who is also an artist, are represented at the same gallery in Woollahra.
"Noah sat for me in September last year," said Ryan. "I took photos and sketches. It's been in the pipeline for a while. I had a rough idea of what I wanted to do, but like most of my portraits I don't know what it's going to look like until I do it. I had intended to put on a lot more paint on the canvas but then I got to a point where if I went any further I would have ruined it."
It is the third time Ryan has been a finalist in the Moran Art Prize.
"It's the richest pool in Australia," Ryan said of the prize.
"To win that kind of money for an artist is life sustaining for a couple of years."
Ryan said while he felt good about the standard of his own painting there was a very strong field of talented artists in the finals, including Louise Hearman and Jasper Knight.
Winners of the Moran Art Prize will be announced on October 28 in Sydney.
Ryan is also one of 20 artists selected as finalists for the annual Kilgour Prize at the Newcastle Art Gallery.
The winner will be announced on November 7 and will receive $50,000.
A People's Choice prize of $5000 is also awarded.
Comedian Anh Do, who is a student of Ryan's, is also a finalist in the Kilgour Prize.