Just goes to show how important portraits are for recording moments in time....
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| Jodie Comer sits for Portrait Artist of the Year 2019 |
The Artists, Self-portraits and Sitters
I'm pleased to say that you can see the names and profiles of all the artists in every episode of Series 5 on one page on the Sky Arts website. Just the credits at the end of the programme to get fixed now.....
Professional Artists
There were four professional artists - with a variety of backgrounds and experience.
- Olga Godovaniuc - video - From Moldova where she went to the Children's School of Art. Now based in London. She handpaints luxury fashion accessories. Likes unusual colours for skin tones. Describes her painting style as "fantastic reality".
- Martin Ireland - video - taught life drawing classes for over 20 years. Worth watching for the faces he pulled when he saw his sitter.
"We have a fabric situation here"
- Colin Pethick - video - a fine art painter and freelance art tutor, based in the Tamar Valley. Became a professional artist after a back injury as a bricklayer. Born in Devon, he studied Fine Art at BA Honours degree level at Plymouth college of art and the University of Plymouth Grinds chicken bones into his paint. His wife loved the programme - but passed way the previous October and had entered the programme to honour her.
- Duncan Shoosmith (Facebook/ Twitter / Instagram) - video - based in Wiltshire; combines painting at home in his garage with looking after his three young children. He does great portraits of kids if you take a look at his website!
Amateur Artists
- Tasha Davey (Facebook | Instagram) - video - an 18 year old studying for her A-levels. Worked almost flat from her iPad and I think didn't see the problem she made for herself re. perspective
- Tom Mead (Facebook / Instagram) - video - Always nice to see a website which includes evidence that the artist goes to life class and can draw from life! Currently doing a BA degree in Painting at the University of Arts (Wimbledon). He creates paintings with a multifaceted perspective on individuals which suggest movement. Loves to paint in acrylic.
The face is the most important thing
- Toby Michael (Instagram) - video - In his final year at Winchester School of Art at the time of filing. Gridded up to start with.
- Rebecca Train (Instagram) - video - Becca is an Office Manager from Kent. She gave up painting for over a decade until she returned to a life drawing class recently.
- Emily Wolff (Facebook/ Instagram) - video - competed in PAOTY 2014 and has sold her artwork internationally since. This is her self-portrait
Start with a mistake and keep correcting it. It's sort of a life philosophy
The Self Portraits
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| Starting the review of the self-portraits - with the one by Tom Mead |
"we want something that surprises us"I did think one self-portrait gave the editors of the programme some amusement given the cut between the self-portrait and the artist!
The Sitters
Amazing what a difference a year makes - hence the voiceover for Jodie Comer.
- Jodie Comer - an English actress, known for her roles as the assassin Villanelle in Killing Eve (for which she has received numerous nominations for awards), Chloe Gemell in the comedy-drama series My Mad Fat Diary, Ivy Moxam in the BBC3 miniseries Thirteen and Kate Parks in Doctor Foster. She has a wonderful unaffected Scouse accent - which must have come as a surprise to some viewers of Killing Eve.
Her bone structure is beautiful Tai
- Nick Moran - A British actor who has featured in a number of films over three decades and gained fame from the Guy Ritchie movie, Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels. He portrayed Scabior in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2.
- Daniel Lismore is a London based artist, designer, creative consultant, celebrity stylist, writer and campaigner. Described as England's most eccentric dresser by Vogue.
Discussions and Observations
I heard three key themes in terms of comments from the artists - and I assume that they may well be asked the same question - and then include those which worked best and/or got the best answers.
(I remember being filmed once and giving the BBC producer an answer I KNEW they would not include in the programme because it was too trite for words!)
Interestingly, when you watch the programmes through three times as I do before writing these reviews, I often pick up on things I don't spot the first or second time watching. Like how often certain artists speak - and say something really insightful - or something really stupid. It's a great indicator for who's going to be in the shortlist!
(Bear in mind thought that they're editing AFTER the event - and they have every reason to make their Heat Winner look/sound good. Other artists may also have said great things on the day - but not come up with a good portrait. )
How to maintain your focus under pressure
The artists were obviously asked something along the lines of what did they find to be pressure and how did they cope with it.
What follows are some of their random comments
- the journey is full of anxiety
- the main problem is not being overawed
- it's difficult working in what feels like an exhibition of your own work
- it's hard work baring your soul to the public. This is the equivalent of writing the first draft of a novel and you're publishing it before it's had a good edit and you've removed all the rubbish
- it's a bit like the Apollo 13 syndrome. You need to find your way home with a toilet roll and a bit of sticky backed plastic (For those too young to know about the homemade repair to Appollo 13 - see What went wrong with Apollo 13)
Bottom line this is NOT a process for the overly sensitive or the faint-hearted. You need to believe you can cope.
Those with routines and experience probably find it easier in some respects and more difficult in others - as in they know what they're doing or have done wrong! As opposed to those who can't see their basic errors of draughtsmanship.
I find a walk around is always good when you need to stop and have a think. Walking believe it or not actually helps you think. a break and coming back afresh also helps you see more clearly what's working and what's not working.
Every face has its own challenging characteristics.
Perhaps the most critical thing is planning enough time for getting:
It reminded me of my most valuable life class ever - which was on a day of dreadful weather when the model and most of the class didn't turn up. So the tutor taught us all the basics of how the head works and where certain features are and how they line up with one another.
TIP: If you want to get a likeness start by making sure you have studied the anatomy of a head!
One of the major problems for painters who paint fast is continuing to work when they can easily ruin their paintings by layering on more paint.
One might think this is a problem that is not not experienced by those who need more time. However they often need more time because they have overworked and overpainted one part of the painting too much - and not left enough time for the rest of the painting!
There was an interesting comment by Duncan to the effect that there comes a point when you know you've done enough for a study. In effect the portrait can be improved but it will take days in the next stage not hours.
One of the common tactics is to tighten a painting up as you get towards the end and then leave the detail to the end. That assumes that you have judged correctly just how much time you need for detail. Those who are less experienced try to put in all the detail - and of course always fail. Others are more selective and only tackle some of the detail, knowing that the eye can fill in the rest. This is an approach which works only if your draughtsmanship and construction of the underpainting and tonal values and choice of colours has worked well in terms of developing the structure and overall shapes of the head.
It's not detail which creates a likeness, it's fundamentals.
It was interesting this week. Two of the painters did not go got the painting I thought they'd choose.
What follows are things I heard the Judges say about various portraits or work by artists at different times
The Judges chose:
Personally I think I'd have had Emily Wolff in my shortlist - her self-portrait was very good and while I think her heat portrait could be improved, to my mind she actually got a better likeness than Duncan - who I think paints faces a little bit bigger than they actually are. I'd still have had Duncan though - and Tom. Emily would have been my third place.
I always think one of the most interesting sections of the programme is the assessment of the double portrait line-up re the shortlisted artists.
Comments below come that section of comments by the Judges
The Judges thought it was a powerful portrait of Jodie. They really liked the way Duncan constructs his paintings and how he puts on paint in broad brush marks. Jodie loved the hair!
The Judges concluded that Duncan knows exactly who he is as a painter and knows how to manipulate paint. They enjoyed watching him paint over the course of the day - and if anybody wants an objective for making a good impression on Judges that's a jolly good one to have!
The Judges really liked his self-portrait a lot. They thought it was very mature and that Toby was full of potential. I think his SP was one of the main influences on him being shortlisted - emphasising yet again how important the self-portrait is.
They felt there was a melancholy narrative behind the heat portrait. They liked the harmonious links between the background and Nick's jacket.
They felt that Tom was authentic who produces arresting paintings which are rooted in his observation and vision of his sitters. They didn't see his fractured approach as a trick. Tai felt that he got better today and that he moved up a gear.
The Judges found it difficult to make one selection - and consequently put two artists through to the semi-final.
The heat Winners were Duncan Shoosmith and Tom Mead.
The Judges really rated both painters for different reasons - one for his self-knowledge and experience and the other for his progression during the course of the heat. These are perennial themes associated with other heat winners
....is the Semi-Final and Courtney Pine - the British Jazz musician - with his sax(!) is the sitter. There's going to be nine painters from 8 heats (see below) fighting for three places in the final at Hackney's Round Chapel.
Those with routines and experience probably find it easier in some respects and more difficult in others - as in they know what they're doing or have done wrong! As opposed to those who can't see their basic errors of draughtsmanship.
I find a walk around is always good when you need to stop and have a think. Walking believe it or not actually helps you think. a break and coming back afresh also helps you see more clearly what's working and what's not working.
How to find your way to a likeness
Every face has its own challenging characteristics.
- Many would think the very fine bone structure and good skin exhibited by Jodie Comer was a doddle to paint. It's actually the reverse because it actually makes it more difficult to make it interesting.
- There again Daniel Lismore would be some people's idea of a nightmare. How do you handle so much information about the sitter? However Tom didn't have a problem with it.
- professional painter Martin - who saw his sitter as being all about the clothes and the fabric and left the painting of the face until towards the end
- student Tom who was wholly focused on getting the face right - and added in elements of the garments and adornments around the head as he could once he'd got most of the head right.
Perhaps the most critical thing is planning enough time for getting:
- the basic structure of the head right
- a likeness
- the eyes right
- the mouth right.
It reminded me of my most valuable life class ever - which was on a day of dreadful weather when the model and most of the class didn't turn up. So the tutor taught us all the basics of how the head works and where certain features are and how they line up with one another.
TIP: If you want to get a likeness start by making sure you have studied the anatomy of a head!
How to avoid over painting it
One of the major problems for painters who paint fast is continuing to work when they can easily ruin their paintings by layering on more paint.
One might think this is a problem that is not not experienced by those who need more time. However they often need more time because they have overworked and overpainted one part of the painting too much - and not left enough time for the rest of the painting!
There was an interesting comment by Duncan to the effect that there comes a point when you know you've done enough for a study. In effect the portrait can be improved but it will take days in the next stage not hours.
One of the common tactics is to tighten a painting up as you get towards the end and then leave the detail to the end. That assumes that you have judged correctly just how much time you need for detail. Those who are less experienced try to put in all the detail - and of course always fail. Others are more selective and only tackle some of the detail, knowing that the eye can fill in the rest. This is an approach which works only if your draughtsmanship and construction of the underpainting and tonal values and choice of colours has worked well in terms of developing the structure and overall shapes of the head.
It's not detail which creates a likeness, it's fundamentals.
Decision Time
Sitters choose a portrait to take home
It was interesting this week. Two of the painters did not go got the painting I thought they'd choose.
- Nick Moran chose the portrait by Colin Pethick - because he liked the brushwork a lot
- Jodie Comer loved Duncan's portrait but chose the egg tempera painting by Emily Wolff. It has that cool stare she does so well!
- Daniel Lismore loved them all but chose the one by Becca - because it looked like his Aunty and he deemed it to be a nightmare version of himself. Which seemed like a weird reason to me - but whatever rocks your boat!
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| Emily Wolff and Jodie Comer - and Emily's portrait in egg tempera (with thanks to Emily) |
What follows are things I heard the Judges say about various portraits or work by artists at different times
Things the Judges liked
- well observed features
- a fabulous likeness
- really captured the lighting on the face
- fabulous colours in the shadows
Judges were less impressed with
- a lack of invention
- wild colours
- portraits which lost their vitality over the course of the day
- artists who spent a lot of time on other aspects of their painting - and painted the face too late
- painting a head which was too big - when a smaller head would have given them more time to complete the painting.
The Shortlist and Heat Winner
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| The artists waiting to hear who has been shortlisted |
- Duncan Shoosmith - who painted Jodie Comer
- Tom Mead - who painted Daniel Lismore
- Toby Michael - who painted Nick Moran
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| Left to right - Toby Michael, Tom Mead, Duncan Shoosmith |
Personally I think I'd have had Emily Wolff in my shortlist - her self-portrait was very good and while I think her heat portrait could be improved, to my mind she actually got a better likeness than Duncan - who I think paints faces a little bit bigger than they actually are. I'd still have had Duncan though - and Tom. Emily would have been my third place.
The Shortlist
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| The double portrait lineup |
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| Self portrait and portrait of Jodie Comer by Duncan Shoosmith |
The Judges thought it was a powerful portrait of Jodie. They really liked the way Duncan constructs his paintings and how he puts on paint in broad brush marks. Jodie loved the hair!
The Judges concluded that Duncan knows exactly who he is as a painter and knows how to manipulate paint. They enjoyed watching him paint over the course of the day - and if anybody wants an objective for making a good impression on Judges that's a jolly good one to have!
It was a good painting all day
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| Self portrait and heat portrait of Nick Moran by Toby Michael |
They felt there was a melancholy narrative behind the heat portrait. They liked the harmonious links between the background and Nick's jacket.
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| Self portrait and portrait of Daniel Lismore by Tom Mead |
The Final Decision
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| Waiting to hear the result - and who has got through to the semi-final |
Episode 8 Winners
The heat Winners were Duncan Shoosmith and Tom Mead.
The Judges really rated both painters for different reasons - one for his self-knowledge and experience and the other for his progression during the course of the heat. These are perennial themes associated with other heat winners
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| Two very pleased winners |
and next week.....
More Learning Points re. Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year
PLUS below are my blog posts from last year which contains lots of learning points about painting in this competition for those aspiring to compete this year.
Learning Points re the 2019 competition
- Review: Episode 7 of Portrait Artist of the Year 2019
- Review: Episode 6 of Portrait Artist of the Year 2019
- Review: Episode 5 of Portrait Artist of the Year 2019
- Review: Episode 4 of Portrait Artist of the Year 2019
- Review: Episode 3 of Portrait Artist of the Year 2019
- Review: Episode 2 of Portrait Artist of the Year 2019
- Review: Episode 1 of Portrait Artist of the Year 2019
- Call for Entries - Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year 2019
Learning Points re the 2018 Competition
Below are my PREVIOUS blog posts about the 2018 competition and my reviews of the heats, semi-finals and final - in which I comment on specific aspects for aspiring future contestants!
- Call for Entries - Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year 2019
- Review: Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year 2018 - Episode 1
- Review: Episode 2 of Portrait Artist of the Year 2018
- Review: Episode 3 of Portrait Artist of the Year 2018 (now updated with the interview with the winner)
- Review: Episode 4 of Portrait Artist of the Year 2018
- Review: Episode 5 of Portrait Artist of the Year 2018
- Review: Episode 6 of Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year 2018
- Review: Episode 7 of Portrait Artist of the Year 2018
- Review: Episode 8 of Portrait Artist of the Year 2018
- Review: Semi Finals of Portrait Artist of the Year 2018
- Review: The Final of Portrait Artist of the Year 2018
How to watch if you don't have Sky
How to watch PAOTY 2020 LIVE!
- Call for Entries: Portrait Artist of the Year 2020 (entries have now closed)
- The PAOTY Trek to Battersea Arts Centre
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