Claire Cusack - Sharni Spencer

Oil on stretched canvas
101.5cm x 152cm

There’s a kind of magic in meeting a real-life ballerina. When I met Sharni Spencer, principal artist with The Australian Ballet, I was struck by the sheer dedication and years of discipline that had shaped her into the dancer she is today. In this painting, I wanted to move beyond the traditional, posed portrayal of ballerinas often defined by perfectionism. Instead, I sought to capture the warmth and joy that dance brings to Sharni—the relaxed posture, the ease in her expression, the quiet moment of connection as she spoke to me. By simplifying the background, I isolated her within the composition, drawing full attention to her presence and the emotion she embodies.