This is a portrait of John Rocha, a Hong Kong-born fashion designer living in Ireland. Inspired to come to Ireland in the 1980s, having used Irish linen in his graduate collection, he has lived and worked in Dublin for the past 35 years.
Find out more about this portrait:
Who is the artist?
Geraldine O’Neill ARHA
Where is the artist from?
She was born in Ireland.
When was the artist born?
She was born in 1971.
When was the portrait made?
2015
What is the portrait made of?
Oil on linen
What size is the portrait?
220 x 200 cm
Why did the artist make this portrait?
The National Gallery of Ireland commissioned Geraldine O’Neill to make this portrait to celebrate John Rocha’s wonderful designs and contribution to Irish fashion.
How was it made?
This painting was made with oil paints on linen. These paints take a long time to dry so they are often mixed with other substances such as white spirits which thins the paint a little so the artist can work more quickly. Linen is a slightly softer material than canvas therefore the paint can go on more smoothly. It can be really fun to work on!
Look closely
Take a look at this list of words:
- red fabric
- paper
- shoes
- hair
- carpet
- scissors
- flowers
- butterfly
- blackboard
- black jacket
Now look at the portrait. Can you find these parts of the picture? Can you spot anything else?
Look again!
Take a look at these words:
- playful
- creative
- stylish
- calm
- productive
- happy
- busy
- unique
Now look at the picture again. Do any of these words describe the sitter? How would you describe him? Take out a notepad and jot down in your own words how you would make this portrait.
Get creative!
Now think of other ways the artist could have made this portrait.
- Could it be a sculpture? A video work? A photograph?
- Could he be sitting instead of standing? Could he be outdoors instead of indoors?
- What other objects could the artist have included in the portrait?
Try sketching another version of this portrait in a notebook or on a spare sheet of paper.
