War artist Peter Churcher and the subject of one of his works, F/A-18 pilot Flying Officer Jordan Sander, in front of a sample of his paintings at the Australian War Memorial. Churcher was appointed to paint Air Force personnel based in Diego Garcia and Navy members in the Persian Gulf. Photo by CPL Mark Eaton

Peter Churcher has been putting Australians in the picture for the past six months as Official War Artist for the Australian Defence Force.

While Defence members have flown aircraft, driven tanks and guided ships on overseas operations, Churcher's tool of the trade has been his brush and palette, which has helped immortalise his subjects in oils.

Churcher was appointed by the Australian War Memorial to paint personnel and activities of the Air Force based in Diego Garcia and the Navy operating in the Persian Gulf.

This was his first appointment as a War Artist and one which he was keen to be involved with.

"My appointment as Official War Artist came as a complete surprise but I thought this was a great opportunity to see what the ADF does on a different level to what you'd normally see on TV," Churcher said.

"I've had very little experience with the armed forces prior to doing this and I guess I didn't have much of a preconceived notion. It made me realise the ADF is a complex and diverse organisation, like a whole society within itself where all roles are equally important," he said.

"I got a really good sense of knowing people have very specific roles to play. Someone might be very skilled at reading radio messages or radar and this is their specialty and they have a great deal of responsibility. Then there's another person who knows how to fix an F/A-18."

One of Churcher's subjects, Flying Officer Jordan Sander, flew his F/A-18 to Canberra to appear at the Australian War Memorial signing autographs with the artist and to convey his thoughts on being part of the collection.

"It's a great honour to be one of Peter's subjects, considering his work is well known in the art world," FLGOFF Sander said.

"Friends and family are all impressed with my likeness, knowing the fact I have been immortalised as an Air Force pilot. I'll be able to look back at this painting in 40 to 50 years time and tell my children about the experiences from this time in my life."

The collection comprises 46 paintings and will be on display at the AWM until October 27.

by CPL Mark Eaton