One of Rubert Betheras' Untitled artworks inspired by central Australian landscapes and the Alice.   

Former AFL star Rupert Betheras’ recent exhibition of works inspired by his new Central Australian surroundings was one more accomplishment in a list of many.

Running out onto the field in front of 80 000 people at the beginning of 2002’s AFL grand final, Collingwood Magpies player Rupert Betheras was about to play the single biggest game of his career.

What many fans of the crowd favourite didn’t know was that Betheras had recently completed another important milestone and career first.

Just before that grand final game, Betheras had held his first professional, solo art exhibition.

Five years later, the now-retired athlete is living in Alice Springs and working towards forging a viable, professional career as an artist.

“I have been a professional athlete before and I feel the next phase for me is to be a professional again, in art,” says the unassuming painter.

Betheras has crammed a lot into his 31 years. Like his art, he defies categorisation, moving seamlessly from teenaged graffiti artist to professional AFL player and painter. He’s traveled extensively and is currently working as part of a special football program for disadvantaged Central Australian kids.

Whilst he hasn’t been a constantly active art producer, art has always been a part of his life in one way or another. The Betheras clan is, on the whole, an artistic one. Rupert’s grandfather was a painter; his mother painted as a young woman and recently completed a ceramics course at Monash University. All three Betheras brothers have been, and still are, involved in art at varying levels. His eldest brother, Richard, a member of a group called DMA (Da Mad Artists), was one of the pioneers of the Melbourne graffiti art movement, and was a huge influence on a young Rupert.

Betheras studied what he describes as “a little bit” of art whilst completing an arts degree at Deakin University. He also studied art at high school, but it is his inherent skill and an understanding and interpretation of his environments that most strongly informs his works. Rather than subscribe to one style or form, he prefers to base his works on whatever is at the forefront of his mind at the time of painting.

He moved to Alice Springs early this year to work at Clontarf, the AFL program designed to encourage kids to stay at school. His time in Alice has been creatively productive; encouraged by the desert and the people he is in constant contact with.

A quick perusal of Betheras’ back catalogue proves that he is heavily influenced by his surroundings. Detailed aerial interpretations of Melbourne are followed by bold anonymous portraits and most recently, raw responses to the desert culture and environment he is currently ensconced in.

“It’s obvious how amazing the landscape is, and the culture is very strong here too, so I’m sure that’s had a strong impact on me. I’m immersed in it day to day,” he says.

In May, Betheras held an exhibition of recent works at the Aboriginal Australia Art Centre in Alice Springs. The works were chiefly inspired by ‘marks and images left on discarded boards and wood’ collected from the high school where he has been working with Clontarf. Canvasses covered with thick, earthy colours were hung on the corrugated iron walls of the gallery space on one of Alice’s major roads.

His pieces are bold paintings on canvass, and that is about as detailed a description as you can apply to his extensive body of work. He doesn’t conform to any specific style, instead choosing to adapt his technique and approach to his artworks according to his environment. And that’s just how he likes it.

“I’m still developing, so I’m comfortable with the way things are going. If you’re young and developing it can be stifling to focus on one aspect or approach. At the moment it is as simple as: Go somewhere. Live, breathe to the day to day, and just put time and effort in. This has been getting me some interesting results.”

The one thing his works do have in common is a sense of honesty.

“Someone recently said he thought my works were sincere. If there is an intensity and they are sincere, I think that’s ok!” he says.

The intrepid traveler is always open to new adventures and opportunities, and is currently focusing on his portfolio and creating an online presence. His wants to stay in central Australia until the end of the year, then travel once again.

“It has been a good little period in Alice. I will do another series of work here, and see what happens. I’d like to show again in Alice, and I have some things happening in Melbourne. Then next year I will spend some time overseas, in Italy, and have some shows over there too.”

Wherever he is, at any moment in time you can be sure Betheras will be honing his art and keeping his eye on the bigger picture.

“I crave this [a professional art career], and I’m getting close to the point where I am ready for this. The next six months will be huge for me.”

No doubt they will.