Canberra artist Jenny Blake painted Coralie, her long-time friend, for this year's Archibald Prize, with finalists due to be announced in early May.

The portrait, titled The Redhead, was also framed to appear to be a matchbox. It is now in storage at the Art Gallery of NSW awaiting its fate, along with hundreds of other entries.

Jenny met Coralie about 30 years ago when Jenny was the promotions manager at radio station 2CC. Coralie was doing what she does best - promoting theatrical shows and artists to Canberra audiences.

"Anything that moved, Coralie was involved with," she said.

"You couldn't go anywhere, be anywhere without running into Coralie."

Their paths continued to cross as Jenny went on to work at the ABC and at the Canberra Theatre.

"Coralie was a permanent fixture at the ABC, bringing in talent and people. I mean every star that came to town, Coralie would bring into the studio. So, yes, a walking living legend, really," Jenny said.

Coralie, 79, says they understand each other.

"We chat a lot," she said, with a laugh. "We both can talk."

The idea of painting Coralie, famous for her firey bouffant, as the Redheads matches glamour was suggested to Jenny by Angela Maher, the owner of the Splatter gallery in Belconnen.

"She said, 'Oh, my god! Coralie will be a brilliant subject. She's the original redhead, why don't you do it on a matchbox?'," Jenny said.

"It's a flat frame but it has the 3D-effect and it was made by Ian Croker, who's a well-known actor, and he did a wonderful job.

"It's called The Redhead because she's the original."

Jenny rang the now Swedish company that makes Redhead matches to check if there were any copyright concerns.

"I said, 'I'd like your blessing' and they said, 'Of course, we'd love you to do it'," she said.

Jenny, 59, started painting 10 years ago, eventually completing a diploma of visual arts in 2017.

"I just loved it, it was just the best experience," she said. "Being an adult student and to be indulged in everything you love and have these wonderful teachers who had so much to share."

After graduation, she set her mind to focusing on her art.

"I rolled my sleeves up and thought, 'Right, this is my time'," she said.

Jenny entered the Archibald Prize last year with a portrait of friend and Canberra identity Bree Element.

"I was determined I wanted to do strong women. Strong, loud women. Because I'm a strong, loud woman," she said, with a laugh.

"I love a strong, loud woman."

And what does Coralie make of the portrait?

"I love it," she said, with typical flourish.

"It's just so much fun. And I think that's why it might have a chance, because it's fun."