tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20645140.post945272927605262929..comments2023-06-13T08:29:39.914+00:00Comments on MAKING A MARK: HRH The Duchess of Cambridge official portrait - my verdictUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20645140.post-73923129866439320592013-01-23T17:58:59.015+00:002013-01-23T17:58:59.015+00:00That's a very thoughtful and perceptive review...That's a very thoughtful and perceptive review, for which thanks. However, re your "Things I've Learned About the Public," I personally just think the portrait is hideous, and I believe my response has nothing to do with what I think the Duchess "should" look like. I've reflected on it, and I honestly think my reaction would be the same if it were a painting of a total stranger about whom I had absolutely no preconceptions. <br /><br />Never mind that I dislike the copied-from-a-photo style generally; this just doesn't look human to me. I really very much dislike it.Mike Johnstonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00236411343612881152noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20645140.post-12928816646875504532013-01-22T19:27:06.949+00:002013-01-22T19:27:06.949+00:00I will reserve any judgement till I see the real t...I will reserve any judgement till I see the real thing. Whether you like it or not it's beautifully painted. It's so easy to criticise, as painters we are up against this all the time. I have grown a thick skin over the years, most people haven't a clue what they are talking about when it comes to art anyway. The phrase 'I know nothing about art but I know what I like' is a sure sign it will be followed by a derogatory comment. If anyone is brave enough to make an assinine comment to my face the usual reply is "Well, where's yours then?", it usually does the trick and will either shut them up or they walk away. I only listen to criticism from other painters I respect.Viviennehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09469285436378751205noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20645140.post-90842548398659279522013-01-19T17:29:52.336+00:002013-01-19T17:29:52.336+00:00Thank you Katherine for giving a very informed and...Thank you Katherine for giving a very informed and interesting review of the portrait. I am often called Kate, was once referred to as Your Highness, regularly emailed as Kate, and recieve post, contracts and commissions as Kate, so I have a unusual view of the real lady herself.<br /><br />I am so grateful for our post, and to have the chance to view and learn how to read, and look at a portrait painting ~ thank you, Karen Middleton.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20645140.post-84620287748317711652013-01-18T17:02:58.959+00:002013-01-18T17:02:58.959+00:00In the same way as this image has been defaced and...In the same way as this image has been defaced and distorted by people all over the Internet - without permission? By people who take images without asking? <br /><br />Making A Markhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13509483023337008890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20645140.post-29583154716090152462013-01-18T16:30:11.889+00:002013-01-18T16:30:11.889+00:00I came over to your blog to read the post about Pi...I came over to your blog to read the post about Pinterest and copyright, so I can't help but ask, in a tongue in cheek manner, if you had Paul Emsley's permission to alter his photograph and repost it in its altered form?Totty Teabaghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01303238370591634781noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20645140.post-79150658208404865742013-01-17T03:54:15.045+00:002013-01-17T03:54:15.045+00:00Hello, Katherine, I completely agree with you that...Hello, Katherine, I completely agree with you that images of paintings (whether online or elsewhere) are often very misleading. You've provided a real service by opening this discussion and providing images to illustrate the problem. <br /><br />Thanks so much for your kind words and link to my blog post about whether portrait subjects should ever be painted smiling (http://annebobroffhajal.com/2009/06/to-paint-smiles-or-not-to-paint-smiles-where-do-you-stand/). Many people are reading it through your link. <br /><br />I suspect that much of the negative reaction to the Kate Middleton's portrait is that the painter has (either accidentally or intentionally) over-emphasized the facial muscle contractions around the mouth and nose, creating a subtle sneer. In the reference photo, Kate had a subtle smile. The two expressions have some similarities in muscle shape, but the effect of each on the beholder is very different!<br /><br />I feel that when painting fleeting human expressions in portraits, the artist needs to know in detail which facial movements and muscles create various expressions. Otherwise it's very easy to accidentally paint the wrong expression and wind up in trouble! There are two wonderful books about painting (or simply understanding) the bases of human expression, by Faigin and by Ekman and Friesen. More information about these two indispensable books is here: http://annebobroffhajal.com/2008/08/the-engaged-portrait-subject-part-1-expression-of-emotions/<br />Thanks again,<br />Anne Bobroff-HajalUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16338591855150435852noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20645140.post-82807210034084938282013-01-16T17:41:07.841+00:002013-01-16T17:41:07.841+00:00Thank you for putting us in the picture, Katherine...Thank you for putting us in the picture, Katherine! This is a really informative and educational review that I really appreciated.Gatepost productionshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18061920423331681586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20645140.post-11614861082988123012013-01-16T10:57:38.784+00:002013-01-16T10:57:38.784+00:00Now that I see a larger version and you have worke...Now that I see a larger version and you have worked some magic to try to show it as it appears, I find that I really like the portrait. I like the way he painted her, including the navy blouse. There is a subdued elegance that befits your description of her as a natural person. She also has that most perfect ovoid face shape. I cannot comment on the artist's technique so much as I really don't have the knowledge base. I like that the lines and shadows I saw beneath her eyes in the first post on this painting aren't as heavy as they appeared. I think she and Wills make a gorgeous couple.Autumn Leaveshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04010044052621228719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20645140.post-21457241144952081182013-01-16T09:21:59.202+00:002013-01-16T09:21:59.202+00:00Brilliant review and I read your links about smili...Brilliant review and I read your links about smiling portraiture with interest. I've been looking up smiles as well and always wondered about artists that insist on the not-smiling but instead blank, bored and tired face of a 40-hour sitting. I suppose the trick with teethy smiles is to not make them look cramped, make it look happy and relaxed; something that is a lot more difficult than painting a still blank face. Expressions are always more difficult than blank faces.<br />Although I can say about any painting that I would have done it differently or something might not be my taste, I find that Emsley's portrait is wonderful and indeed shows a real person, a real woman and it has been very surprising how much negativity has surrounded such a wonderful thing. I am very pleased that a well established skilled realist artist got the job, instead of a Turner Prize contender. I suppose the 'realness' of the painting illustrates how unreal all these press photos are.Sophiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10305269093118541197noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20645140.post-88077654230527689572013-01-16T08:51:54.014+00:002013-01-16T08:51:54.014+00:00Katherine, I have found your comments about the po...Katherine, I have found your comments about the portrait of the Duchess of Cambridge very helpful indeed. One of the problems with the being able to send images so easily and so quickly by electronic means is the changes that occur in the quality of the image – it's a bit like visual Chinese whispers! Every time a jpeg (which is a 'lossy' form of digital image) is passed on and saved by yet another person, the quality tends to decrease. That you took the time and effort to show those of us who don't live near the National Portrait Gallery a closer representation of the painting is much appreciated. Your comments also prompted me to look at the other work by Paul Emsley, not only his human portraits but also those of animals and flowers. His work in chalk is absolutely stunning. As a botanical artist, I was particularly impressed by his accurate, yet delicate portrayal of flowers that captures something quite ethereal in each bloom. I would love to know more about the technique he uses . . . any chance you can find out. How I would love to attend a master class with him!<br />Thank you again for a very interesting and useful post.Janehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08819525856210795616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20645140.post-17019503690247390112013-01-16T08:07:18.508+00:002013-01-16T08:07:18.508+00:00i'm with you - i found the hair to be totally ...i'm with you - i found the hair to be totally unrealistic, almost cartoony!<br />your 'lightened' pic looks much better than what i'd seen in the papers - the head floating in the dark...<br />i am disappointed by the painting though, it doesn't engage me and it's rather boring with no personality shining through, which is not how kate herself appears to be at all!Clairehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11236906641354002595noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20645140.post-21808124107573407572013-01-16T05:45:03.448+00:002013-01-16T05:45:03.448+00:00Thank you Katherine for this informed review.
I wi...Thank you Katherine for this informed review.<br />I will be in London in April and hope to see it in person. I still love the portrait and look forward to seeing more of Paul Emsley's work.<br />The only small query is re her eyes - in the photo there appears more depth however the painting appears (in a photo) to have more light reflection - the eyes are the window to the soul and perhaps for me that is the only question as to why we don't get brought deeper into the eyes.<br />Thank you for speaking up about the way people critique artwork. I do think that the public are far more harsh with portraits of women than men - a little like appearance in real life ....Vicki Lee Johnstonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10409588969370991946noreply@blogger.com