tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20645140.post4539906604210320337..comments2023-06-13T08:29:39.914+00:00Comments on MAKING A MARK: The Big Painting Challenge (2018) - The IssuesUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20645140.post-73430278636192532822018-04-24T11:25:08.756+00:002018-04-24T11:25:08.756+00:00i would suggest that the judges and tutors of this...i would suggest that the judges and tutors of this series be selected for their people skills, encouraging words rather than humiliation. If this is good entertainment then the jeering element is quite uncomfortable and also the presenters are patronising, the vicar is chummy but I felt he was condescending. <br /><br />Art should be a joy, i like the participants rebelling. Thankfully the public vote let a rebel in unconditionally last time. I was in tears for the traumatised expelled woman. She was happy with the comments but her face told a different story.<br /><br />Sky Portrait artist of the year manages to relate to the artists with unconditional respect. The producers of the BBC program could learn from this.Dionehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15269089238509891234noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20645140.post-20830244130033475632018-04-23T09:08:35.081+00:002018-04-23T09:08:35.081+00:00👍👍Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05095650919743219984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20645140.post-76525803457730621952018-04-19T14:49:14.012+00:002018-04-19T14:49:14.012+00:00Watched episode 3 - portraiture and haven't la...Watched episode 3 - portraiture and haven't laughed so much in ages, first rate telly amusement. This series is watchable and that's the only real test. There are plenty of excellent painters who could have produced first rate work for the show but would they be such good entertainment value? You simply can't judge a popular painting show put out by a ratings conscious channel by the accepted standards of representational fine art. <br />I listen up when we get to the "master class" bits because this is where there is some learning opportunity. Perhaps therein is the germ of a programme idea, but admittedly it would be much more niche. In the mean time we just have to enjoy BPC for what it is and if it encourages more people to pick up a brush, that's a bonus.Robert Stacehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05605208916061985464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20645140.post-24587951158060255872018-04-13T09:58:26.424+00:002018-04-13T09:58:26.424+00:00As an amateur aviation artist(mainly) I was ...As an amateur aviation artist(mainly) I was interested to see the next prog preview was set in an Air Museum only to get the impression that the subject would be "portraiture ". I hope that they will include some element of my aviation interest beyond that but I get a sinking feeling that this might not be the case. <br />I agree with Katherine's points . This programme is a great opportunity to make a superb series and it is being mangled in a mess of snatched shots , fleeting comments with no follow up , symptoms of TV today's view that Joe Public lacks the attention span of a mouse and must be constantly fed on sound and vision bites at a rate of knots. I feel for the early victims of elimination . It would be better if the aim was to show people growing their ability thanks to expert tuition rather than being thrown to the wolves at the first hurdle . Shades of the fall of the Roman Empire I fear.NeilF92https://www.blogger.com/profile/05735304404428008023noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20645140.post-14430038627761315872018-04-09T11:58:59.781+00:002018-04-09T11:58:59.781+00:00The Sky series is far better even though the 3 jud...The Sky series is far better even though the 3 judges obviously have to make sure different "types" of artists end up in the semi-finals. TAI S-S would clearly pick 3 painters trained in Florence classically if he had the casting vote. This last series calmed down a bit - less collagers, less encaustic wax, less weird teeny tiny postcard pics, and less printers... The BBC series is just comparatively rubbish. The mentors are obnoxious and Daphne seems to want to upset everybody. If they improve miraculously I will apologise but somehow I can't see it. Draw a dog. I can't : it kept moving !!!! What would have happened if someone pulled out a camera/phone/ipad ? Come on BBC treat Art seriously if you're gonna show it !Chris Everesthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16664851180441760738noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20645140.post-6466945308813635292018-04-04T06:49:54.782+00:002018-04-04T06:49:54.782+00:00I far prefer the Sky Artist series, one main reaso...I far prefer the Sky Artist series, one main reason is that they focus on the positive and they don't humiliate the people who haven't done so well. It's a much more positive programme and makes for happier watching. I teach an art class of pensioners and I would hate to see any of them go on this programme to be criticised instead of encouraged and guided. I agree with Katherine's idea of keeping them all and watching their improvements .C Evanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13615925294415921592noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20645140.post-7338160025766967692018-04-03T22:18:19.437+00:002018-04-03T22:18:19.437+00:00It is a badly thought out show and I agree it'...It is a badly thought out show and I agree it's not a talent show at all despite the weekly eliminations. The artists were given some awfully disheartening things for amateurs to paint! I would love to see all the participants taught properly and kept in to the final show to see how much they manage to improve with intensive tutition. Most people think being a competant artist, in terms of realism, is just some god given gift that you just have or you don't have, rather than the result of many, many hours of hard work and training we know it takes! The show could encourage other people to take up art lessons and persist with it if they see that huge progress is possible with a will to learn and proper training whether self taught or in classes.Mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02684471300795427371noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20645140.post-12906027629277933322018-04-03T19:43:46.744+00:002018-04-03T19:43:46.744+00:00My idea for a better approach which would both cut...My idea for a better approach which would both cut costs and deliver a better Edutainment programme <br /><br />They need to emulate a more 'normal' one week painting holiday - everybody stays in one location, which has a decent size location.<br /><br />This should then mimic a much more NORMAL painting holiday <br />* different learning exercises and challenges on different days<br />* trips out - and days in the studio (with scope to vary according to the weather)<br />* ALL participants stay all week<br />* identify an Artist of the day and Most Improved Student of the Day<br />* at the end of the week you have a Most Improved Student of the Week<br /><br />If the BBC is reading this - that idea is my idea!Making A Markhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13509483023337008890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20645140.post-39837984511110274122018-04-03T16:35:14.345+00:002018-04-03T16:35:14.345+00:00Agree with yours and Anne's points, and having...Agree with yours and Anne's points, and having also been in Series 1 and wishing the learning and mentoring format had been present in that series I can only say this Series contestants have got a good deal!<br />That aside the idea of all ten staying till the end could be easily managed by doing less challenges and filming in less flashy locations in a shorter period of time. We were shipped all over the place and the travel/food budget alone must have been immense!<br />I will be watching with one eye openBabs Goodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00032580486016496434noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20645140.post-90896776150597496432018-04-03T09:46:41.847+00:002018-04-03T09:46:41.847+00:00I agree Les.
The thing is I can't think of a...I agree Les. <br /><br />The thing is I can't think of a single art teacher who would take students to a distillery and ask them to paint it based on the level and quality of of tuition they got (ie the still life set ups were dire and the mentor exercises were good - but only sufficient that they could go back and have a second go at a "proper" still life set-up of a bit more complexity when compared to objects of different shapes, volumes and textures lined up next to one another<br /><br />The notion of moving from that to giant complex interiors which would overwhelm most painters is just crackers!<br /><br />I'm going to comment in my next post on a format which I think would work much better...Making A Markhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13509483023337008890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20645140.post-24924962739280258832018-04-03T08:20:45.646+00:002018-04-03T08:20:45.646+00:00Having just watched some of the SkyArts competitio...Having just watched some of the SkyArts competitions (using a NOW TV free trial!) I agree that it is a better show than the BBC offering but I wonder if this is because it is in a fixed genre. Most amateur contestants are probably working on subject matter that is in their comfort zone and therefore are starting at a higher level. The BBC show is like asking the participants to take part in a sort of artistic heptathlon rather than allowing them to shine in their own specialism. <br />This might be slightly off-topic but I feel that one of the major difficulties in being an amateur painter/drawer is the lack of opportunity to get a serious critique of your work and suggestions for going forward (wherever that may be). It is much easier to get this in amateur photography groups but in my (limited) experience art clubs do tend to shy away from judging & critiquing members work.<br />Katherine- I recall Anne Gregg as the arts presenter on Anglia TV during the 80's. Sadly no longer with us.xhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01308332621138899106noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20645140.post-46446800943339623552018-04-02T17:26:49.693+00:002018-04-02T17:26:49.693+00:00Re: 4 hours only.
The selection process this year...Re: 4 hours only.<br /><br />The selection process this year included attending a group audition. Out of the many thousands that applied for the show, I believe that over 200 artists were invited to these across the major cities of our country, approx 16-20 in each 'pool'. The audition was split between a 10 minute interview to camera, and a still life painting (no choice of topic or position).<br /><br />So, the selectors KNOW that they can perform under pressure, without drying out (verbally) and being able to explain what their thinking is. Janie Zebrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10348952191866814617noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20645140.post-11008558590059145842018-04-02T17:24:40.763+00:002018-04-02T17:24:40.763+00:00Re: 4 hours only.
The selection process this year...Re: 4 hours only.<br /><br />The selection process this year included attending a group audition. I believe that over 200 artists were invited to these across the major cities of our country, approx 16-20 in each 'pool'. The audition was split between a 10 minute interview to camera, and a still life painting (no choice of topic or position) to be completed within two hours... whilst having a camera and interviewer in your face. Janie Zebrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10348952191866814617noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20645140.post-64526374488972883182018-04-02T14:38:36.769+00:002018-04-02T14:38:36.769+00:00Your comments on "talent show" vs "...Your comments on "talent show" vs "Educational program" hit home with me. The BBC seems to making a educational program but can't quite commit to it. If cost is the issue about keeping all the contestants on, they could do a compromise - a more stepped winnowing process. Keep all the contestants for 2 weeks and then eliminate 2 or 3. Another winnowing after 2 more weeks. And base the elimination not just on best paintings but on improvement. this allows the participants to practice some of the advice they are being given. And they could eliminate both hosts without any impact as far as I'm concerned and save that money. use the mentors to provide more commentary. I've found their comments much more useful and to the point. <br /><br />My pet niggle with the program is that I feel the details are being decided by programming/production people not the artists involved. So the participants are asked to bring in an object used to create two very disjointed and ugly still lifes instead of someone creating a pleasing still life that one would actually want to paint. Then the next location, the distillery, had to be a producer's decision. Way too complex for the first week with all those reflections and the machinery. I want them to succeed and to show progress and think the locations and challenges actually impede the learning process because they're not teaching a skill and allowing them to practice and use them. <br /><br />okay now I can't stop - one more annoying bit. The participants are shown the subject and then told to select their canvas. No recommendation that they might want to consider their composition <i>before </i> choosing canvas size and orientation!<br /><br />But I still like watching. It just could be so much better.katybeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12442945754811084397noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20645140.post-47731364494684902792018-04-02T14:00:21.181+00:002018-04-02T14:00:21.181+00:00I agree totally with what you say, the BBC might t...I agree totally with what you say, the BBC might think watching people struggle makes good tv but I'm not sure it encourages others to have a go. I too found it strange that everyone was so obviously 'ticking a box' of some sort as if we couldn't see it for ourselves, it was thrust right at us. Much prefer the Sky programmes, although as a poor artist, I can't afford sky... i hope you make a pitch to BBC for a better programme in the future!Phttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07642966747502799293noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20645140.post-77026436336279882442018-04-02T11:53:23.487+00:002018-04-02T11:53:23.487+00:00Thank you for this blog Katherine. I felt after Sk...Thank you for this blog Katherine. I felt after Sky Portrait Artist this programme was very insubstantial. I agree that the BBC wants a "journey" from every one. To some extent it takes away from the art. theartistsdayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02226003809268986249noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20645140.post-40373189206644299782018-04-02T11:22:41.477+00:002018-04-02T11:22:41.477+00:00Thanks for your usual very well informed input on ...Thanks for your usual very well informed input on this programme. <br /><br />I'm sure they could lose a lot of the costs if they adopted the same strategy as for most of the other "talent" programmes on the BBC and stayed on one spot - preferably outside London. <br /><br />I'm guessing the BBC commissioners decide the scope and budget and then the team that makes the programme decide how many people they need.<br /><br />Interestingly I have also been "televised while painting" on the BBC (great fun!) - and have the video somewhere to prove it. <br />However our team (back in the late 80s) actually worked for the BBC and the entire team who filmed about us (about 10+ people on a painting holiday in Provence) included:<br />* one presenter (Ann Gregg)<br />* one producer<br />* one cameraman and his sidekick<br />* one sound man<br />* one continuity lady<br />I think I've got a photo somewhere of them all doing a shot<br /><br />Yup - take a look at this blog post which includes pics of the shoot http://paintingprovence.blogspot.co.uk/2011/06/first-time-i-went-painting-in-provence.htmlMaking A Markhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13509483023337008890noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20645140.post-30603314697632091652018-04-02T10:59:49.492+00:002018-04-02T10:59:49.492+00:00Thanks for this Katherine as usual and for all the...Thanks for this Katherine as usual and for all the effort you put into your blogs for our benefit. <br />You raise some interesting points/issues...<br />#1. Is interesting and I too would call this series 3. I wonder if the Beeb have an explanation. <br />#2 some great points there and I would agree with you in the main but regarding keeping all 10 to the end of the 6 week period would make it a big budget production which the Beeb I imagine would argue may not be the best use of tax payers money. Having been in the original series one, I was amazed at the size of the crew. There must have been well over 70 people and all the equipment that had to be hired. As the weeks passed the number of crew dwindled and so would costs, hotels, transport, catering etc. Plus I think the Beeb love the controversy of elimination... it keeps people watching. <br />#As the token ethnic in my series I am not sure what to say here other than sometimes you have to dig deep to find the right fit. For the Beeb, this is an argument they can’t win and my personal view, everyone has a back story. It’s a matter of getting the angle right. I have often wondered if I’d have made it in had it not been for my ethnicity. Maybe it does pay to be black sometimes eh? 😜<br />#4 the four hour rule is never 4 hours when you have major interruptions with film crew obscuring your view and presenters and judges chatting with you etc... during the auditions they will have been asked to paint within a similar time period. It’s all part of making a ‘good’ show with a bit of drama and a twist of controversy. <br />They might want to present a level playing field for all but the ones who come out tops are the ones that read the rules and put the practice in. I think Daphne mentioned it in the programme, to paraphrase she was looking out for those who are keen and passionate. <br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05901951350918360040noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20645140.post-76822080731166608182018-04-02T10:31:53.466+00:002018-04-02T10:31:53.466+00:00I So agree with you. It seems very little thought...I So agree with you. It seems very little thought goes into the planning of this programme. I would love to see the artists stay in the competition and have the chance to grow and improve their skills along the way. I’m sure the tutors are very talented and would love to see more tutoring from them, instead the BBC only shows a few tips shouted aggressively at the contestants. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08018159240273346851noreply@blogger.com