Artist Statement
It is said that a portrait is actually a painting of two people—the sitter and the artist. That’s because the style of a portrait is inextricably linked to the style of the artist.

Sometimes a subject ‘hijacks’ the look and style of the work. In this case, the painting had to evoke Judith’s strong, refined design sensibilities and her stylish, almost graphic dress sense, making her an ideal subject for a portrait artist.

The title, Pantone Black 7 is a reference to the black that permeates much of Judith’s wardrobe.

About the Subject
Judith Martinez Estrada is an artist, illustrator, and graphic designer living and working in the Blue Mountains, New South Wales. Her practice includes photographic-montage, analogue print, mixed media, and the occasional painting. In 2019, she was the featured artist at ALMA Gráfica in Spain, and is the current recipient of the State Library of Victoria’s Rick Amor, Baldessin Press Residency Fellowship.

Further Insight
Nick Stathopoulos, born 1959, is a self-taught artist known for his hyper-realistic style, particularly his large-scale portraits and paintings of his childhood toy collection. In the past, Stathopoulos worked in the publishing, animation, and computer game industries, but now focuses on his own fine art practice.

Stathopoulos is a multiple Archibald and Doug Moran Portrait Prize finalist, and a BP Portrait Prize finalist in London. In 2017, he was one of eight artists featured in the Foxtel Arts documentary The Archibald by Mint Pictures. He currently shares a studio space, “Project 504”, with three other artists in North Sydney.