Armstrong Creek caricature artist Zane Canavan is “excited and a little bit anxious” about his debut exhibition.
Canavan was the winner of Newtown’s The Space gallery’s People’s Choice awards and will exhibit alongside Sis Gardner from January 18 to 28.
Canavan is self-confessed “footy head” and his caricatures are AFL-related.
A die-hard Sydney Swans fan, Canavan said it was tough to draw a 2022 Geelong premiership poster after the Cats thrashed the Swans on grand final day last year.
“It’s so hard to win one (premiership) and we were there but being in Geelong they are my second team,” he said.
“Geelong were the best team all year and absolutely the best team on the day.”
Canavan will exhibit drawings of AFL stars such as Joel Selwood, Gary Ablett Junior, Patrick Dangerfield, Eddie Betts, Lance Franklin and Dustin Martin.
He was halfway through a drawing of Martin when the Richmond star went and got another tattoo.
“I grew up drawing,” Canavan said.
“I was looking at getting into graphic design and life got in the way of that and went in a different path.”
He stopped when he was in his late teens, but then took it up again when his son was born.
He was a light sleeper so Zane decided to fill in the time between short sleeps by drawing again.
“I hope it installs memories or feelings that you have attached to these players,” he said.
“It’s just a bit of fun to be able to see the characters up on the wall but it’s also art at the same time.”
The People’s Choice exhibit is at The Space gallery in Newtown from January 18 to 28, with opening night on January 20 from 4pm to 6pm.
Details: mandydollery.com.au/the-space
Justin Flynn
