The Big Painting Challenge

[LIZS]

Anyone watching?

Everyone but Jennifer is now showing evidence of learning and improving. DH and I groaned when she got the hair out again.

She was rude about Jennifer's flamingos, The colours were beautiful in her picture.
and also loved the elephant picture winner.
surprised that Camilla went, particularly when Jimmy isnt good imo

None of them are any good really though are they? There's a massive gulf in quality between the artists on this and the one on Landscape/Portrait Artist of the Year.

And Mariella and the Vicar guy are pointless.

Jjou I agree with everything you say. I have such a morbid fascination for this programme. I dont think the format is right, it is too rigid. No true artist can paint just anything. They all have a few things they do really well.

The critics are so varied in their assessments, goes to show that people's tastes are so different too and they know what they are talking about!
I loved Suman's elephant, she has really improved over the weeks.
I was upset for Camilla , I liked her little spats with the mentor.
I like this programme, but it is very rigid in the approach.
(mind you, my ds2 did A level art and they could only choose from a few subjects for final piece, so maybe this is why they are being like this? )

I loved Jennifer's flamingos. The colors were amazing.
Her elephants would have been great if she had defined them just a little bit more.
I agree she should ditch the hair. It's a novelty that isn't working any more.

The Great Painting Challenge is a bit amateurish compared with Portrait artist of the Year, but that's part of their charm - That sense of anybody could do it if they put their mind to it.
But the thing I dislike about PAOTY (I watch both) is that they allow the contestants to use cameras.
They should ditch the cameras. It would soon sort out the real talent.
(in my very humble, can't paint for shit opinion)

I would always pick an abstract painting to hang on my wall if the alternative was a "real life" painting that's not very good.

Me too.
I would even pick one over one that was too realistic.
If it's too realistic, perfect and boring I think
Why not just take a really good photograph, frame that and be done with it?
Give me the wonky, interesting one any day.

Isn't the whole point of art that you can't get it right or wrong or have I missed something? I find the whole premise of this show infuriating. But I still keep watching it

its not about art being right or wrong but if something's badly executed it's badly executed.
I hate the criticism of contemporary art, when people say: "I could do that" - most can't clearly.

I think the problem is that Jennifer ignores the brief. They specifically say it's a test of close observation and then she just paints whatever's in her head.

Meanwhile Camilla is kicked out for wonky legs! It's not very fair.

Pascal is a legend though - he needs a spin off.

I agree with you flashman if they are applying brief that closely then can't just ignore Jennifer altogether. I wasn't enjoying tutors at first but actual they do push them a lot more. Feel quite sorry for two elephant guy, he's always in his back and pushing him and lets others just plod on.

Pascal has an unusual taste in clothes i must say! must be art tutors, my sons art teacher was quite eccentric at college - think flowery type waistcoats, bright lime coloured shirts, but they really suited him!
i like arty types, maybe because i cant do anything creative that well!

2 Elephant guy is so stressy and tortured though! Does my nut. I did feel a bit sorry for him when they panned Elephant #1 though.

Ruadhri seems to be actually getting worse? That elephant was atrocious.

David, who drew the two elephants, is a nuclear physicist.
you would think he would be so calm, but he just seems really stressed.
i liked his painting.

Ruadhri seems to be actually getting worse? That elephant was atrocious.

You're right. He was one of the best when they started.
I've often thought it's better to start off crap, because there's only one way to go. Up.

I feel he's losing his confidence.

Jennifer needs to be banned from using hair ever again so that she's forced to do something non-gimmicky.

I loved her painting of the sea at Hull.
I don't get the hair.

Some of the artists on the Sky painting shows are professionals though. The guy who won the portrait show last year (l think he was from Malta) was just amazing.

Oh yeah he was fantastic. Easy on the eyes too.

Ah yes Christian Hook - from Gibraltar. Great painter but I found his time with Alan Cumming a bit OTT.
I love Sky Arts Portrait/Landscape artist of the year
In the Big Painting Challenge, the female judge is HORRID!!!
But I agree - they are very different programs.

Jennifer must be in trouble with celebrity portraits

Crying at the awfulness of Jennifer's self portrait. Looked like something out of a horror movie!

Unless it is in the editing but the three under threat all had criticism from their mentors so had to restart or change

The right people went though - they weren't improving, really.

So difficult to draw faces - although i wasnt keen on Jennifer;s self portrait, i did like her celebrity effort and it proved she can draw. I know i;m in the minority but i like her work.