Self-portrait in Antarctica with penguin and

Mawsons huts



Self-portrait in Antarctica with
penguin and Mawsons huts is a self-portrait
painted by Wendy Sharpe. It shows Wendy
Sharpe herself in a special black and yellow
clothing carrying the Australian Antarctic
Division survival bag and an Adele penguin in
the foreground. In the background there are
the Mawsons huts and the southern aurora.
The brushstroke is the key element in this
painting as it shows the texture and creates
the shape of the objects. The main colour
used is white which creates a feeling vastness
and the big space of the ice.

Wendy Sharpe was invited to go on the
centenary voyage to Antarctica by the
Mawsons hut foundation. She spent six
weeks there with other scientists. During her
time there, she produced over 100 gouaches.
Using her experience and emotion, Wendy
Sharpe painted this self-portraits.



The style of the artwork employed in this self-portrait is expressive painting. Wendy
Sharpe used colour to create a feeling and brushstroke to create the texture.

Self-portrait in Antarctica with penguin and Mawsons hut must be a very special
memory for Wendy Sharpe. This painting makes me think of the time when I used to travel
around Cambodia and experience the wonder of nature.