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Portrait of an Artist.

14 replies

HappydaysArehere · 26/02/2018 21:24

This is on Sky Arts. Well known faces are painted by professional and amateur artists. A winner is picked each week and the finalist gets to paint a well known celebrity as a £10,000 commission. This programme is all about the paintings and not individuals so is not reality tv as we know it. It is fascinating. Wonder if anyone else is enjoying it.

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Idratherhaveacupoftea · 26/02/2018 21:25

Love it, the Landscape Artist one is brilliant as well.

QuiQuaiQuod · 27/02/2018 12:54

Love it too, especially the comments by the brilliant Frank Skinner.

Although its annoying when the artists paint off a photo theyve taken and not look at the actual person sitting there.

and the 'proffessional' artists usually tend to win over the amateurs who IMO are usually better than the 'proffs' .

andyy love landscape artist as well.

IMO best winner of portrait was Christian Hook a couple of years ago.

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HappydaysArehere · 28/02/2018 09:42

Last year was the first I was able to see both the Portrait and the landscape artists of the year as at last I have Sky Arts. I enjoyed the Landscape one as well but really love the Portrait one as I paint Portraits as a hobby and fun. I have always loved Tai Shan Sharenberg (hope I spelt that correctly). His work is in the National Portrait Gallery. The reason they paint from a photo surprised me too but I can understand it as to get the amount of detail they need to get that essential likeness is difficult unless really up close. Given a lot of time I believe most artists sketch the subject, take photos and paint as much as they can while they have the sitter in front of them. However, it is very difficult to get a sitter that can give sufficient time to the artist. The artists in the competition had the benefit of being able gain an idea of their sitter’s personality, skin tones etc. All helpful as having this in their head really helps everything to come together. Also, some sitters are really good but others have real difficulty keeping still enough for the artist who is wrestling with so much in a really short period. The photos are a kind of insurance and I was amazed at the grid which must be an art app of some kind and allowed them to position features correctly and quickly. Portraits are difficult which makes them so much of a challenge to do. As well as a likeness the whole portrait needs to be successful as a picture. It’s a tall order in four hours with interruptions and knowing you are being watched over by cameras and presenters. Landscapes are also challenging but no one is going to quibble about a misplaced tree etc. Anyway, I am greatful to Sky for this excellent attempt at showing artists at work without resorting to personalities but the actual work.

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QuiQuaiQuod · 28/02/2018 13:13

They chose the right artist last night. very good painting.

Anita Rani found it hard to sit still! Mind you, I cant sit still for long.

If I ever get time to paint I paint from photos TBH as I cant do a whole block of work, and have to stop, do other things then come back to it if I have time.

and I agree, I am greatful to Sky for this excellent attempt at showing artists at work without resorting to personalities but the actual work.

and they dont pause for half an hour to announce the winners.

user764329056 · 28/02/2018 21:34

Love this programme

Samcro · 28/02/2018 21:45

We love this, watch it on catch up at the weekend.
Did we miss the landscape one?

IAmBreakmasterCylinder · 28/02/2018 21:55

DH and I love this too. We are thinking about going to watch them taping an episode, keep forgetting to look it up.

I am not so keen on landscapes.

Floralnomad · 28/02/2018 22:00

I think all the series are on catch up if you are interested OP . The first Portrait Artist series was won by Christian Hook , who is absolutely brilliant . Sky have made some follow up programmes with him that are also worth watching .

pinkpeter · 28/02/2018 22:34

I've been to watch it being filmed at the Wallace collection. Is really interesting! I love watching it too.

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HappydaysArehere · 01/03/2018 09:58

Cass Art in Islington are exhibiting all the paintings from the present programme plus other work that the artist’s have done. This runs from the 15th March to the 1st April. We hope to get there, look at the work and see what offers there are on their art supplies. It is their flag ship store. Have been there before but find Charing Cross easier for us to get to. I love Cass Art and pleased they are sponsoring the programme.

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Pinkkahori · 01/03/2018 10:04

I really love this programme too. I watched the landscape one last year and really enjoyed it.
I never studied art in any form and feel like I really missed out.
I'm Irish and was really impressed with the standard of the Irish artists in the early rounds of this series.

Floralnomad · 01/03/2018 15:51

pink , did you see last years Portrait artist , it was won by an Irish artist and his commission was to paint Graham Norton and at the first sitting they discovered they were related , it was really funny .

user764329056 · 01/03/2018 19:06

The landscape series was lovely

IAmBreakmasterCylinder · 01/03/2018 20:50

If anyone’s interested, you can sign up for a newsletter on the sky arts website and be notified when tickets are being released.

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