Martin Sharp Tiny Tim, eternal troubadour

Martin Sharp is one of Australia’s best-known painters, cartoonists and art directors. He has always been a great supporter of Tiny Tim, who died in early 1997.

Tiny Tim was an American troubadour and recording artist. According to Sharp, “he was the greatest scholar of the popular song”. He is also the unchallenged holder of the world professional non-stop singing record, something Sharp is quite impressed with.

Sharp first saw Tiny Tim perform in 1968 in a London performance at the Royal Concert Hall: “I thought he was great”. Sharp promoted Tiny Tim throughout his career in a professional and personal capacity, and produced concerts and recordings with him from 1979 to 1996, including the entertainer’s 1979 concert at Sydney’s Luna Park.

This portrait – “in the style of a circus poster,” according to Sharp – is a form of pop-art tribute to two icons: Tiny Tim and Luna Park. In Tiny Tim’s face there are references to the giant face that greets visitors to the amusement park.