Gone to Atlantis (RIP Raz)

Pastel on Mi Tientes Tex (Sold)

86 cm W x 67 cm H
On February 16, 2019, Lyn ‘Raz’ Burtonwood was rostered for morning surf patrol at Lighthouse Beach, Ballina. He was a fit 69-year-old man who regularly attended the beach for his daily ocean swim. Raz jumped into the water to test the conditions, but quickly drifted down the beach. Soon other members of the surf patrol lost sight of him and immediately launched an inflatable rescue boat but could not locate him. Until light fell the search expanded to include jet skis, drones, helicopters and the SES and resumed again the following morning. The search was extensive, unfortunately, Raz was not found during the search and has not been seen since.
Raz was a well-loved schoolteacher and local identity of the area. He was affectionately known as “Salty Dog” due to his love of the ocean. His disappearance created much speculation, and it was widely “believed” he had been whisked away to the fabled undersea city of Atlantis.
I painted this montage of him, showing some of the many things he was famous for… His terrible self-created hairstyle, his crappy blue car, (which he never locked), his famous one armed “salute”, his small white dog that went everywhere with him, and of course his black speedos and yellow fins that accompanied him on his daily ocean swims. I’m very pleased to say that this portrait was purchased by a benefactor who kindly hung it in the Lighthouse Beach Café and Surf Club near Raz’s beloved beach.