What should the BBC do about the Eric Gill statue on Broadcasting House?

Yesterday I highlighted the BBC report below about how the statue by Eric Gill on the front of BBC headquarters has been attacked yet again - on my Facebook Page

Man arrested after damage done to Eric Gill statue at BBC headquarters

I asked 

I thought this might happen as soon as I saw the news that they were going to repair the damage from the last time somebody bludgeoned Eric Gill’s statue on Broadcasting House.
Despicable man!
Let’s just look at it from the perspective of “Would the BBC commission the work now if they knew the crimes he committed?”

I got a lot of comments - some of which reference other artists who had done awful things. 

To which my response is doing awful things to adults is one thing, doing awful things to children is quite another - and I repeat

The reality is now people are going to keep coming back to destroy this statue as it's symbolic of "the establishment" turning the other cheek. If the BBC has any sense they will have it removed PDQ. What happens to it can then be discussed - preferably at some considerable length.

and

"Would the BBC commission the work now if they knew the crimes he committed?”

I received one comment (from Sarah Wimperis) - which I loved and wish I'd written and which I want to highlight here - and in particular one sentence

Take it down, stop using Gill Sans font too. Make space for some work by a kinder, less cruel and perverted artist. If it was a monument to Savill or Rolf Harris it would have been carted off in shame. How about choosing a woman artist to make work to fill the space, at least they seem to have a bit more humanity plus they are monumentally underrepresented (pun intended) I really don’t get why we hang onto stuff made by beasts. History, in a way, is only a small view of our past, it is one perspective, literally his-story, I don’t often say what I think, and it is just my opinion, but Eric Gill was a monster, why not take the thing away and commission something better.

My feelings entirely. I think the BBC should address the Eric Gill issue properly and

• remove that statue so it cannot be a repeated target for those insulted by its presence on the front of "the establishment" 
• go away and have a very long discussion about what to do with it. Years would be good.
• ideally find something much more suitable, much less offensive and more related to the BBC's role in NOT looking away when difficult issues relating to abuse are raised (ref. their past track record re. Jimmy Saville / Rolf Harris / Tim Westwood etc)

Being involved in creative industries does not give you a licence to abuse or allow others to do the same - or to promote others who have abused.

Saville has been removed from all the repeats of Top of the Pops etc. 

What's the difference?

I think the Tate gets it just right

Prospero and Ariel on Tate website

REFERENCE

More on this topic for those who want to know more about the contentious topic of Eric Gill, what he did to his daughters and why it's important not to turn the other cheek and to think long and hard about why context is important when looking at art.

'Extraordinary Portraits' of everyday heroes

ANOTHER new programme about making art - starts next month!

• Title: Extraordinary Portraits
• Focus: Portraiture - with a twist! Members of the public with “extraordinary stories” are matched with a selection of celebrated portrait artists who will then capture their likeness.
• Channel: BBC1
• Number of episodes: a six-part series (see below for details)
• Start Date: Monday 14 February 2022
• Host: Tinie Tempah

When a portrait of mine went into the National Portrait Gallery I remember the immense pride, inclusion and acknowledgement I felt. It was unquantifiable - it made me feel like I was part of a change in the narrative, and so I hope the extraordinary people I have met making Extraordinary Portraits feel the same way.”— Tinie 

Extraordinary Portraits Episodes

I think one of the things I'm going to like most about this programme is it's a wonderful platform for those artists who have emerged into the limelight - but are still very much developing their careers. I'm impressed by the range, depth and quality in the artists they've selected. Check out the links below to see what I mean.

The other aspect which struck me as I was reading the stories and exploring the links to both artists and their sitters is that this series is going to be inspirational for others. It's great to have something on television about the good news and outcomes that can emerge from difficult or challenging circumstances. It's an excellent way to think about how portraiture can be used for public good. 

“Portraiture has traditionally been a way of commemorating the figures we think of as significant or powerful. What makes Extraordinary Portraits different is that we shift the focus to everyday heroes - shining a light on incredible people whose bravery, courage and good deeds make them truly special, and who we feel deserve to be celebrated." Suzy Klein, Head of BBC Arts

Each episode follows the process of working in collaboration with an artist to create a portrait which captures and celebrates these extraordinary individuals, using different media. They culminate in Tinie and the artist unveiling the final piece to the sitter and their family and friends.

Needless to say I'll be watching - and reviewing the series overall.

• What follows is the information provided by BBC Media about the different episodes.  
• I've added in links to the websites of the artist and info about the sitters

 

Episode 1

artist: Roxana Halls (Instagram)

Plus Ça Change - Art on Mondays on BBC4

Be forewarned - this is a bit of a rant - PLUS Quite a lot of information about "Art on Monday Nights" on BBC Four

At a time when art programmes seem to be burgeoning and successful (or soon to be) on Sky Arts, Channel 4 and Channel 5, we are faced with a BBC which is producing archive only programmes on BBC4 which has, traditionally, been the art channel. (Of which more below - including 'Art on Monday Nights on BBC Four)

I wrote about the planned demise of BBC4 as an originator of art programmes back in March 2021 - as did others - see 

• What happens to art after the demise of BBC Four?
• Don’t let BBC4 become yet another dusty attic full of old shows | The Times
• BBC4’s commissioning remit slashed | Televisual

It's maybe even more pertinent now that Nadine Dorries (who I want to be very rude about but will instead ignore her) has "got her teeth" into The BBC Licence Fee. This is the woman who announces this will be the last licence fee settlement and then announces there will be a discussion and no decisions have been made as yet. Yet more political lies and dissembling??

A statement has been made by the Director General and the Chair of The BBC about the proposal for the Licence Fee Settlement - which has for of code for "more cuts to come' 

As a result recent news coverage includes some significant criticism - and I want to add to it!

• Art critics hit back at UK government plans to reform the BBC | The Art Newspaper (today)

As a film maker who does lots of work abroad I cannot stress enough how much admiration and warmth there is out there for the BBC. All round the world it's revered and envied. Except, it seems, by the yobs and vandals of our government. Is there anything they won't destroy?

— WALDEMAR JANUSZCZAK (@JANUSZCZAK) January 17, 2022

Art on Monday Nights on BBC4

What we're getting on BBC4 at the moment is what I'm calling "Art on Monday Nights" - which is basically a lot of REPEATS or compilations of REPEATS

So this was yesterday evening

The title of the first episode of Art of France "Plus Ça Change" was, in the circumstances, very pertinent!

Yesterday evening we had 

• The Impressionists - Painting and Revolution - a first rate series by critic Waldemar Januszczak first shown in 2011 (I could tell it was some time ago because he looked so young and thin!) - which I reviewed back in 2011 - see The Impressionists: Painting and Revolution - Gang of Four | Making A Mark (July 16th 2011)
• Art on The BBC - Episode 3 on Monet - a new compilation programme of excerpts from past programmes. 
• Art of France (Series 1) with Andrew Graham Dixon - first shown in 2017 and well worth watching again. READ my review BBCFour Art of France - with Andrew Graham-Dixon

• What do Artists do all day - Frank Bowling's Abstract World (2019)
• Whoever heard of a Black Artist? Britain's Hidden Art (first shown in July 2018)

Links you may need to be aware of (if not already) are

• Art on BBC Four (1966 - 2020) - a listing of all the programmes which were made by BBC4 in the past - to give you some sense of what has been lost due to the cuts already - NOT ALL OF WHICH ARE AVAILBLE VIA IPLAYER! So basically just a tease.
• BBC Four - Art on The BBC - the current offering which recaps past programmes referencing great artists and includes:
• The Great Salvador Dali
• Van Gogh - Life and Art
• Monet - The French Revolutionary
• Turner - Light and Landscape

The main problem with the BBC website is it doesn't have a way looking up ART programmes - as opposed to "Arts" - and this is what The BBC means by Arts, Culture and Media

The main issue is NOT that it's not worth looking again at programmes in the Archive - If they were good programmes the first time then they're definitely worth another look. 

BUT but access and choice both need to be improved

• they need to be available ALL THE TIME via iPlayer (i.e. we've already paid for these!)
• they need to contained in a list so that people can identify what's worth watching
• and the BBC STILL NEEDS TO MAKE NEW PROGRAMMES!!

The only bright spot on the horizon is that there seemed to be a significant lobby of MPs in the debate yesterday who recognised that certain aspects of The BBC should not be externalised - and the arts was one of them.

The Big Painting Challenge - a memory jogger for those watching the reruns

I noticed that the BBC is rerunning The Big Painting Challenge on BBC2 at 2.15pm on weekday afternoons. Episodes are all also available via the BBC iPlayer

I thought I'd resurface my blog posts about the three series.

In every series I comment on what seem to be me to be the key themes and the lessons to be learned from what happens in the programme. Plus just a few thoughts about the delivery of the programmes by those involved! ;)

The Big Painting Challenge - a Memory Jogger!

Series 1 (2015)

• So what did you think of The Big Painting Challenge?
• The Big Painting Challenge - Episode 2
• Review: The Big Painting Challenge - Episode 3
• Review: The Big Painting Challenge - Episode 4
• Review: The Big Painting Challenge - Episode 5
• The Final of The Big Painting Challenge
• The Bigger Picture - the Big Painting Challenge Artists have an Exhibition
• The Big Painting Challenge - the artists' blog posts

The artists at their exhibition in Highgate after the series was finished

Series 2 (2017) 

Although they try to reinvent it as Series 1!

• BBC's NEW Big Painting Challenge
• Review: The Big Painting Challenge - Episode 1 (Still Life)
• Review: The Big Painting Challenge - Episode 2 (Landscapes)
• Review: The Big Painting Challenge - Episode 3 (Animals)
• Review: The Big Painting Challenge - Episode 4 (Portraits)
• Review: The Big Painting Challenge - Episode 5 (Movement)
• Review: The Big Painting Challenge FINAL 2017

The story so far for Series 3 (2018)

• The Big Painting Challenge (2018) - The Issues which highlights my niggles about this BBC programme
• Review: Still Life - Big Painting Challenge 2018 - which highlighted the contestants and the scope of the challenge in the context of car crash set-ups and an enormous complex interior - which was not a still life!
• Review: Nature - Big Painting Challenge 2018 - which saw them in two teams painting dogs and trees.
• Review: Portraiture - Big Painting Challenge 2018 - and lots more about issues with this series
• Review: Waterscape - The Big Painting Challenge 2018 - with lots of rain and lots of tears
• Review: Movement - Big Painting Challenge 2018 - Semi Final week and two people are leaving
• The Painting Show which should replace The Big Painting Challenge - my commentary on the format for the series and the sort of programme which would make for a more positive and educational series
• Review: The FINAL of The Big Painting Challenge 2018

PS Sorting things out for life after surgery has taken a lot longer than I expected. I'm about 85% of the way there - and pretty knackered at the moment. Although I've had my second pre-surgery assessment appointment and everything seems to be OK....

Just need a date now....

7 reasons to find out what the Great British Photography Challenge can teach artists

I've been watching The Great British Photography Challenge since it started on BBC4 three weeks ago - and warmed to it straight away. In this post I'm going to set out what I think are the reasons why a lot of artists might get value from watching it too.

Good photographers take good pictures

Great photographers take great pictures again and again and again and again

Rankin

 

Programme website

Participants - three women and three men

 Reasons to watch the Great Photography Challenge 

I'm not interested in seding anyone home. We want to see what they can all bring in the coming weeks...
This process is also about how you take feedback and getting multiple viewpoints on your work. Rankin

1. There's a great professional practitioner in charge - Rankin has worked professionally for over 30 years and is uncompromising about his own standards. What that means is.....
2. This is NOT any sort of "knockout" talent show. It's a masterclass
• He makes a point at the beginning that he's NOT about sending anybody home or making it some sort of knockout competition. I get the sneaky feeling he made it a condition of doing the show. (Other professionals should do likewise!)
  
• He's very much about nurturing talent with constructive feedback and NOT about creating "a talent show".
• They really need to drop the "Challenge" bit of the title and insert "Masterclass" instead - for what will (hopefully) arrive as a repeat next year!
3. Rankin acts as a Mentor as well as a Judge - and when he makes judgements he does it a part of a team of experts
• The feedback is both positive and negative - and it's about what makes great images
• It's always about trying to make them better creatives, technicians and photographers.
• There's also much MORE constructive content given direct to the participants than there is in any other similar programme for artists
4. The series of four programmes pack in 12 assignments - 3 in each programme covering a wide range of subjects in the widely contrasting briefs - many of which are not unlike the subjects tackled by artists
5. The programmes bring in expert professional coaches for different topics and subjects -
• a huge variety of different people who each have something unique and different to say - and different approaches to their work
• His young creative team also provide extra lessons and tips and techniques and seem to me to be very competent at their jobs.
• I'm impressed with everyone he has used to date (and those who know my reviews in the past of other 'challenge' will know I'm NOT averse to saying when I find the hired help fall way short of what we should expect from a professional programme. There are people reading this who will know who I'm talking about!)
6. It involves six contestants of different ages, backgrounds and interest.  
• NONE of whom get knocked out 
• ALL of whom start out as competent photographers who have demonstrable ability to go further - which is a very refreshing change..... 
• ALL of whom grow and change with the process of tackling a wide variety of briefs.
  
• I get the feeling they took some care in the photographers they selected because there were only ever going to be six participants!
  
7. It treats them - and us - as adults! So much more impressive as an approach - to create an informative and entertaining programme which is also very educational.

The search is on for an exciting new name in British photography. Six talented photographers from across the UK embark on the photographic masterclass of a lifetime with Rankin.
BBC website

 I do hope we see the programme repeated with more series.

Reasons for artists to take photography seriously

I've often noticed that the composition, design, colour variation and patterns and tonal variations of good photos often seem (to me) to be a lot better than the artwork produced by people of similar levels of ability and standing.

Good photographers think about impact and how to create an image which captures the eye.

It's a bit the same as noticing the attributes of great illustrators who do pretty much the same thing.

They all work hard at the structure and picture quality of the image they want to create. How it tells the story and how it works with "what works" and their own values and qualities that they hold dear.

In addition, photographers often routinely work in series. Even if they are jobbing on commissions, there's very often a series of their own work going on in the background.

 

Could it be that photographers, designers and illustrators work much harder on what makes a great image - rather than about how to prefect their equivalent of how to lay down paint?

 

I know that in my own world of self-imposed art education, I regard instruction by those who know about photography and design at least as important as looking back at the lessons we can all take from art history - or tuition from contemporary artists.

 

It's emphatically not about taking better photographs to work from!

It's much more about learning how to see great images - and understanding why they work - and creating a perspective all your own.

I RECOMMEND THE PROGRAMME. I think it's got a lot of useful lessons for artists as well as aspiring photographers.

There's on episode left - broadcast next Monday on BBC at 9pm. Or you watch the entire series via BBC iPlayer

Episodes to date

 

The King's Painter: The Life and Times of Hans Holbein by Franny Moyle

Hans Holbein the Younger - a self portrait

 

Yesterday I started listening to podcast The King's Painter: The Life and Times of Hans Holbein on BBC Sounds on my iPhone. 

It's Book of the Week this week - and there's an episode being broadcast every day. Each is available on BBC Sounds for 30 days from the date of the first broadcast. 

The thing I love about BBC Sounds is you can save them up and (my personal favourite) download them and then splurge on listening to a number of episodes while taking a walk - or chopping the vegetables....

The book by Franny Moyle isn't published until later this month (see below). She's apparently got a good track record of analysing painter's methods (having also written about Turner) - but I've not got to that bit yet

The reader is the theatre and television actor Sir Simon Russell Beale. I was left wondering if he was chosen for a certain likeness to Holbein himself - or maybe Henry VIII - whose portrait Holbein famously painted.....

That's because, to be honest, Beale reads rather too fast for my liking and without enough change of pace or intonation. See what you think.

However, when it comes to the book, I'm getting a very good impression. Content wise, the book is fascinating about his background and family and the ways of the world for artists and artisans in 16th century Europe. I'm looking forward to Episodes 2-5 of this story of the extraordinary life of this outstanding artist of the 16th century.

This is the synopsis.

Hans Holbein the Younger became court painter to Henry VIII and was regarded as a phenomenon in his day for his ability to bring the characters he painted to life.

His famous portrait of the Tudor King was so life like spectators fully expected arms and legs to move. One of his paintings of the dead Christ was so alarming that, when the Russian novelist Fyodor Dostoevsky saw it in 1867, he was so troubled by it that his wife had to drag him away fearing he might have an epileptic fit.

Holbein observed the extraordinary events of his century up close and painted the movers and shakers of the age including Desiderius Erasmus, Thomas More, Thomas Cromwell, Henry VIII, as well as the various women lined up to become the wives of the king, such as Anne of Cleves.

He was a contributor to the history of book design as well as designing jewellery, and elaborate weaponry. With a family in Basel and another in London, his life was as colourful as the times he lived through.

 

Hans Holbein the Younger

Hans Holbein the Younger (1497 - 1543) was an extraordinarily talented draftsman and painter from a very young age. He went on to become one of the most important painters in 16th century Europe.

He has long been a favourite painter of mine - but I don't know a lot about him other than the research I did for a couple of previous posts (below) - which includes references to more information about him

• Holbein in England - and at Tate Britain - about an exhibition I can vividly remember even now - right down to where specific paintings were in the galleries - despite the fact it happened in 2007! 
• "Holbein: Eye of the Tudors" - Waldemar Januszczak's Culture Show Special tonight (January 2015) - about a programme on BBC2  
• The Encounter: Drawings from Leonardo to Rembrandt - review (2017) - which included a wonderful wall of Holbein drawings
  

 

Lady with a Squirrel
- one of my favourite Holbein portraits

 

I also produced a website About Hans Holbein - Famous Portrait Painter which I must transfer at some point to a better platform 

My sketch from
the Holbein Exhibition at the Tate (2007)
from the days when I routinely took
sketchbook, pen and coloured pencils
to all exhibitions

 

The King's Painter: The Life and Times of Hans Holbein by Franny Moyle

What happens to art after the demise of BBC Four?

Yesterday we had the very sad news that BBC4 is to become an "archive only" channel.

BBC4 will no longer commission new documentary series as the arts and culture channel is downgraded to a repeats-led network.... 

Executives have decided that its relatively small audience, older than the national average at 62, does not justify continued investment in commissions." (The Times | Repeats rule roost after BBC4 funding cut)

It's interesting that the BBCMedia Centre's page of news highlights makes not one mention of the demise of BBC4. 

These are the relevant BBC documents

• BBC publishes blueprint for the biggest transformation in decades - NO MENTION of the demise of BBC Four as anything other than an archive!
• The BBC Annual Plan
• Record year helps shape bold future for the BBC

Below I discuss what they mean and what might be an alternative. 

Let's bear in mind that this is a BBC which is well aware that it is within the targets of the current government because of its perceived antagonism towards Brexit - and various other issues over the years.

Ageism alive and well at the BBC

Apart from what appears to be an extremely ageist approach to audiences - this also suggests we have seen the end of proper / serious / educated programmes about art.

Instead, the BBC is resurrecting BBC3 for an audience which does not watch television anyway. Plus an interrogation of the current programmes highlighted on the BBC Arts platform indicates art has become very low in the hierarchy of what gets counted as culture.  Instead Books, Film, Theatre and "BBC New Creatives" (Film / Dance / Animation) get the bulk of the platform.

It looks to me as if the BBC has abandoned 

• Art History 
• All those that have enjoyed watching programmes about art on BBC4
• The audience in general aged 64+ (BIG mistake!  These are the people who vote!)

My other half refers to BBC4 has what BBC2 used to be before the BBC decided it wanted to become "popular". It's the only BBC channel he watches.

The alternative to mothballing BBC4

Here are a few suggestions for the BBC in relation to its recent budget decision

• remember that the BBC mission is to "Inform, Educate and Entertain" - which is demonstrated more clearly by BBC Four than any other BBC channel. 
• stop paying presenters absolutely ridiculous salaries
• start setting an example - rather than continuously inflating costs
• stop employing people to present who will not take the equivalent of a pro-rata fee to the salary of a BBC employee
• if you want to cut costs there is no better way to start
• stop paying ANYBODY more than the Prime Minister - period.
• create a better balance of arts programmes - recognising that each appeals to different age groups in different ways
• stop being ageist i.e. 
• reintroduction of priced television licences for the 75+ audience
• elimination of a channel which caters to the interests of those who are:
• not part of the "yoof" culture
• more likely to be unable to travel for events and visits to cultural centres
• create better equality between the age groups
• create a channel specifically for the 22% of the population aged 60 and over 
• in the same way as it has a channel for kids
• recognising that more older people spend more time at home 
• recognising that more older people spend more of their time watching television or listening to the radio

I rather suspect that the 60+ population will not take this lying down and I look forward to signing the petitions which will doubtless emerge and get the necessary number of signatures which means they must be debated in Parliament.

Indeed I've just signed LAST YEAR'S petition Save BBC Four from closuree started last May after the rumour that the BBC wanted to chop BBC Four.

If you appreciate BBC Four and its arts programming I recommend you sign it - and share it with likeminded others!

Other articles about the demise of BBC4 and the BBC's ageist approach to programming

Below are articles which focused on the decision to "archive" BBC4

• Repeats rule roost after BBC4 funding cut | The Times

Increasing repeats requires an amendment to the BBC’s operating licence, which is overseen by Ofcom.

There is likely, however, to be a clamour from older BBC4 loyalists who feel that the corporation is prioritising younger audiences. Earlier this month it was announced that the youth-focused BBC3 was being revived six years after it was scrapped, at a cost of tens of millions of pounds.

• BBC Four budget slashed – will focus on archive programming | NME
• BBC Four: Mark Kermode and Simon Blackwell react to ‘sad’ news channel is to become archive focused | The Independent

and this one - 

• BBC Four—UK's specialist arts TV channel—saved from the chop | The Art Newspaper

The BBC has headed off mounting criticism by announcing that BBC Four—the specialist arts and science channel known for programmes such as Life Drawing Live!—will not be closed. Instead it “will continue to have originations [commissions], with a focus on the arts”, says a BBC spokesperson.

Why this announcement merits celebration is completely beyond me! 

THEN I REALISED - this was from May 2020!!!

When I was filmed landscape painting by the BBC

On the topic of being filmed painting landscapes for television programmes....

I found some photos recently of when I was on a landscape painting holiday in Provence at the end of the 1980s - and was filmed by the BBC! I've still got the video of the BBC Holiday Programme featuring Anne Gregg trying a painting holiday in Provence - and all of us developing our paintings.

By way of contrast to the set-ups I've seen more recently, the BBC team who filmed us (about 10+ people on a painting holiday in Provence plus tutor) back in the late 80s included:

• one presenter (Anne Gregg)
• one director/producer
• one cameraman and his sidekick
• one sound man
• one continuity ladyBelow are a couple of photos of our trip to Sault - a town close to where we were staying in Provence.

First my photo of the view from Sault and the BBC film crew filming a "set up" shot. Martin, the chap in the striped T Shirt, was the Director and I think we managed to get him painting by the end!

The BBC film crew - on the left - film the tutor and student discussing composition on the right!

I was trying to get to grip with painting in watercolours and wasn't that keen on being filmed painting - except at a distance. This was also before I realised I actually much preferred dry media - below is a drawing that resulted from a subsequent trip to Provence.

Rousillon and the Ochre Cliffs, Provence
Coloured Pencil 8.27" x 11.75"
copyright Katherine Tyrrell

One trick was to make a point of staying away from Anne Gregg and/or trying to sit in a really shady spot!

Below is Anne Gregg - sat centre in a pink T shirt in the heat of midday painting produce on a market stall. It was taken by me sat in the shade and painting Anne Gregg painting the market stall!

However little did I know that the BBC was off to the left of this view filming me painting Anne!

Ann Gregg painting in Sault, Provence

I gradually worked out that I could deter them from filming or recording me by saying really stupid things to camera or for the soundman....

I think the photo below came after I told them very seriously that I chose the views I wanted to paint based on the palette of colours I used to decorate my home.... ;)

Me in Gordes about 30 years ago - after finishing avoiding cameramen for the day

Why I'm not blogging so much

I should explain about my absences online

I'm having a major declutter and reorganisation of my home at the moment as I'm seeing my consultant again next week to find out the likely timetable for my ankle fusion operation.

Otherwise known as "how to be non-weight bearing on one ankle / live on just one leg for at least three months / while not looking like Long John Silver" which is realistically what I'm faced with.

This is complicated by the fact I also need a shoulder replacement operation (don't get severe osteoarthritis like me!) for my left should - so crutches are not really an option.

Hence I'm having both a major declutter and major reorganisation of furniture "just in case" I need to end up using a wheelchair for 3 months while the new bone grows and "fuses" so I can walk without pain - and my current set-up has to be made wheelchair accessible!

I've just had my invite for a vaccination so that's one hurdle cleared (i.e. I wasn't going into hospital without my vaccinations being done first).

However this might all be very academic given the very long waiting list for non-emergency operations......

The Big Painting Challenge (series 1) revisited

The Big Painting Challenge - first broadcast on BBC1in 2015 - is being repeated on BBC2 every day this week at 3.15pm with the Final at 4.15pm on Friday.  

I reviewed every episode the first time it was broadcast and for those who'd like to revisit what I had to say these are the links to:

• every episode on iPlayer
• my blog posts - which include the exhibition they organised after the programme had been broadcast and the blog posts they wrote about the challenge.

The Episodes

Episode 1: Landscapes

Episode 1: Landscapes
(Guess what's the biggest castle the BBC could find?)

• iPlayer - Episode 1: Landscapes
• Making A Mark - So what did you think of The Big Painting Challenge?

Interestingly the narrative for each episode has become more more expanded.  This is what they NOW have to say about Episode 1 and the Final (see below)

This series presented by Una Stubbs and Richard Bacon takes ten amateur artists to stunning locations across the country to battle it out in a tough series of painting and drawing challenges for the title of Britain's best amateur artist. 

The competition starts in Alnwick Castle in Northumberland - known to many as Hogwarts - where expert judges Lachlan Goudie and Daphne Todd OBE set their first challenge to see each artist's unique painting style for the first time. 

Eyebrows are raised as one artist starts by painting her whole canvas bright red whilst another paints what looks like a lion straddling a cannon. As paint is put to canvas Una and Richard learn what drives each artist's passion for painting - and what it would mean for them to win. 

The second challenge each week is a quick-draw challenge. In this episode the artists must sketch, at speed, a delphinium flower. Expert judge Lachlan Goudie shows us his tips on how to capture the beauty and complexity of a flower. 

Their final challenge is to paint the formidable castle from across the banks of the River Aln. Getting a sense of depth into their paintings proves more difficult than many think. While some thrive painting outdoors, others who've only ever painted in the comfort of their spare bedrooms have to adapt quickly to the challenges of the changing light. 

Una travels to the V&A museum in London to view one of the most famous landscapes - John Constable's The Hay Wain - and artist Fraser Scarfe tries to convince her that there's more to it than its chocolate-box reputation. 

Back in the castle, the judges take on the role of executioner as they have the difficult job of deciding which amateur artist won't see it through to the next week

Episode 2: Portraiture

• iPlayer Episode 2: Portraiture
• The Big Painting Challenge - Episode 2

Episode 3:  Still Life

• iPlayer Episode 3: Still Life
• Review: The Big Painting Challenge - Episode 3

Episode 4: Human Form and Movement

• iPlayer Episode 4: Human Form and Movement
• Review: The Big Painting Challenge - Episode 4

Episode 5: Cityscapes

• iPlayer Episode 5: Cityscapes
• Review: The Big Painting Challenge - Episode 5

Episode 6: Seascapes

• iPlayer Episode 5: Seascapes
• The Final of The Big Painting Challenge

The grand final sees presenters Una Stubbs and Richard Bacon travel to Devon's picturesque south coast as the final four amateur artists battle it out to be crowned the winner. With just three challenges left to impress the judges, Lachlan Goudie and Daphne Todd OBE, the amateur artists get to grips with their first challenge - capturing a sense of Britain's seafaring heritage at Dartmouth's Royal Naval College. With the prize in sight, one artist goes all out to impress the judges, risking everything. The finalists have already sketched the human body in motion - but never on this scale. For their last quick-draw challenge they assemble on the parade ground to capture at speed a whole platoon of naval cadets marching in formation as they perform a sword drill. Ahead of the final ever challenge, Una travels to the Kent coast to learn what attracted JMW Turner to the seaside town of Margate and led to a lifelong fascination with the sea, while in his last how-to guide Lachlan gives tips on how to capture constantly moving crowds of people. With everything resting on the last challenge, the stakes are high and the sense of excitement even higher as the finalists create one last painting - capturing the light and atmosphere of an idyllic but visually complex scene - Dartmouth harbour. At the end of a gruelling and emotional six weeks, Daphne and Lachlan decide who should take the title and announce their first Big Painting Challenge winner.

After the Filming

My final two posts related to what happened afterwards 

• an exhibition: The Bigger Picture - the Big Painting Challenge Artists have an Exhibition - The The Bigger Picture Show was held at Lauderdale House, Highgate Hill in April 2015.
• blog posts by the artists: The Big Painting Challenge - the artists' blog posts

The Artists

The BBC has NOT remedied the fault with the original series i.e. that the artists got not recognition in the credits.

So here is who they all are.....

The 10 artists who participated in the The Big Painting Challenge were the "last painters standing" from the 6,000 who applied to be part of this televised art competition

These are the websites of the artists involved in the series. The first link is to their page on the Bigger Picture website and then their website and social media links after that.

I look at hundreds if thousands of artists website each year and found it very interesting to look at the artwork on their websites and Facebook Pages. I suggest you take a look.

Interestingly they've changed / refined sites and accumulated a few more links since 2015!!

8 of the 10 artists exhibiting - in April 2015

(Left to right) Paul Bell, Alison Stafford, Anthea Lay, Jan Szymczuk, Anne Blankson-Hemans,

Claire Parker, Heather Harding and Richard Salter

Bios below are based on their websites!

The women

• Alison Stafford: website | Facebook Page | LinkedIN - studied Fashion and Textiles at Manchester and after obtaining a BA Hons in that field, pursued a career in Fashion design for the next 25 years. She loves to paint portraits of animals and people that capture a character. I am fascinated with the relationship between humans and their animals and am currently exploring this in a series of paintings. She specialises in equine and canine portraits and am an active member of the Association of Animal Artists, and the ​Society of Equestrian Artists. Her equestrian work can be found on www.equestrian-art.co.uk
• Anne Blankson-Hemans website | Facebook Page | | Instagram | blog | twitter - Anne studied Fine Art at the College of Art, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Ghana and came to live in the UK in 1984. She is a multi-award winning artist who has been exhibiting since 2007 and is a full member of the Society of Women Artists. She was also a finalist for the BBC Two programme #ShowMeTheMonet. More recently he painted Portraits of NHS Heroes. Reached a major birthday in September and has recently retired and moved to the Lake District to become a full time painter - with lots of plein air painting!

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Anne Blankson-Hemans (@annebh_art)

• Amy Goldring: Website | Facebook  | Blog - a contemporary painter currently based in Swansea. Studied for and achieved a BA Honours, Fine Art (1st class) in 2008. Her blog has some fascinating insights into art and autism which are well worth a read.
• Anthea Lay: Facebook - a fan of plein air painting
• Claire Parker: website | Facebook | Instagram | | Twitter | - a largely self-taught artist with a degree in Modern Languages from Cambridge and a Masters Degree in Art History. She works in Essex and London. She has been featured in several national art magazines, and has exhibited in Essex, London, and Cambridgeshire.
• Heather Harding: website | Facebook | Twitter - a figurative artist living in East Sussex who loves to paint and takes commissions.

Taking part in BBC One's The Big Painting Challenge was a blast. A fabulous adventure which helped me gain more confidence in my painting and 9 new artist friends. It was the key that unlocked the door and gave me permission to go through. Heather Harding

The men

• Jan Szymczuk: website | Facebook - born in Stannington, in Northumberland in 1958 of Polish Parents. Joined the Metropolitan Police in London, and after 30 years, ended his service at New Scotland Yard, and retired in 2009 as the senior Detective Police Artist. Currently an Ambassador for SAA Artists Acrylics and sponsored by the SAA (The society for all artists).
• Melvyn Flint: website - a representational painter living and working in Kent. My work covers landscape, portrait, still life and animal subject matter.
• Paul Bell: website | blog | Facebook | Twitter - a contemporay artist born in 1964 in Scotland. He is currently  living and working in Beaconsfield, England. His style seems to have changed quite dramatically since the programme.
• Richard Salter: website | Twitter - studied Fine Art with Buckinghamshire University. Served 21 years in the British Army and was medically discharged in 2017 - having painted throughout his military career - and since.

Commission an artist: 'Home is where the Art Is' (Series 2: Episodes 5-10)

I've now watched the entire second series of Home is where the Art is on BBC1 - and I have to say I'm impressed - and will comment further in a future post (see below)

part of the mosaic mural created and customised by Jim Anderson for the clients in Episode 10

The episodes in Series 2 are 

• all available to view for a year on BBC iPlayer and 
• can be seen on BBC iPlayer's "Home is where the art is" website page. Just click the link to view the programme (if you can view the BBC).

Today's post:

• covers the second week and the artists in Episodes 5-10 (following on from last post Home Is Where The Art Is (Series 2)  
• identifies both the commission brief and budget
• lists where you can see their artwork and contact them:
• Links to the artist's website is embedded in their name 
• Links to a max of three social media sites are then listed below the name (Note: I only ever list Facebook Pages as accounts are personal sites - not for business)
• those with asterisks were commissioned to make an artwork
• plus images from their social media which 
• indicates something of the programme, 
• enables you to see the artwork 
• and a lot more of their work
• read what people thought of their time in the show and what they produced - if they were selected for the final two asked to produce a commissioned artwork.
• and THE AFTERMATH of appearing on the programme! ;) 

Tomorrow's post will do the same thing and cover the third week and Episodes 6-15. 

It will be followed by a further post this week in which I'll

• highlight my conclusions about the series as a whole
• identify some TIPS for those wanting to apply for the next series (which I'm absolutely 100% sure will be commissioned)

Episode 5 (Budget £250 - £1,000)

Commission: a buyer who was born on the weekend of the moon landings wants to mark her 50th year with something out of this world.

The artists are:

• Jason Heppenstall * (scrap metal artist)
• https://www.facebook.com/HeppoArt
• https://www.instagram.com/heppoart/
• Cathy Needham * (Textile artist)
• https://www.facebook.com/cathyneedhamtextileartist/
• https://www.instagram.com/cathyneedhamtextileartist/
• Paresh Nrshinga (abstract artist)

One of the most interesting pieces of artwork I've ever seen!



....and another great end for a piece of very interesting textile artwork!

Episode 6 (Budget: upto £1,000)

Commission Brief: The buyers want to celebrate the day their lives changed forever, ten years ago, when they won the National Lottery (£12.4 million!)

The artists are:

• Anna Dora (Icelandic abstract artist)
• https://www.facebook.com/Artbyannadora/
• https://twitter.com/annadoraart
• Otis Griffith * (self-taught metal sculptor)
• Allister Malcolm * (contemporary glass artist - molten glass specialist)
• https://www.facebook.com/allistermalcolmglass/
• https://twitter.com/allistermalcolm

Oddly nobody highlighted the artwork made - although both were impressive in different ways!

Otis Griffith with his metal sculpture

Episode 7 (Budget upto £1,500)

Commission Brief: the buyers want something uplifting for their home after a recent cancer diagnosis.

The artists are:

• Annette Jackson * (stained-glass designer - using handblown glass)
• https://www.facebook.com/enchantedlightstainedglass/
• https://www.instagram.com/enchantedlightuk/
• Mary Price * (intuitive painter)
• blog https://artistintheshed.com/blog/
• https://www.facebook.com/artistintheshed/
• Ed Swarez (abstract artist) - appeared in Series 1 but did not make it to the final two - which happened again this time.

Stained glass for a clerestory light above a door by Annette Jackson

This was one programme where I came away thinking the winner is going to be getting a lot of commissions. Turns out I was right!

Episode 8 (Budget: upto £800)

Commission Brief: something to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary

The artists are:

• Rob Edmondson * (painter)
• https://www.facebook.com/RobEdmondsonArt/
• blog https://lancashirelandscapeart.co.uk/exhibitions/tv-debut/ - about his experience on the programme (note he was approached to be on the programme)
• Pratima Kramer (ceramicist)
• https://www.facebook.com/pratimakramerart/
• https://www.craftscouncil.org.uk/directory/pratima-kramer
• James Sutton * (sculptor)
• https://www.facebook.com/James.Sutton.Sculpture/
• https://www.instagram.com/suttonsculpture/

Not an untypical response from artists who made great and unusual work



Even the artist who didn't make the final cut has had lots of interest in her artwork and sales!

Episode 9 (Budget £1,000)

Commission Brief:  a young couple from Derby would like something to celebrate their upcoming wedding.

The artists are:

• Ollie Holman (sculptor - specialising in metal fabrication) 
• https://www.facebook.com/OllieHolmanDesign/
• https://www.instagram.com/ollieholmandesign/
• Louise O’Hara  (Mixed media painter) 
• Samantha Yates  (stained-glass designer) 
• https://www.facebook.com/lilrabbitfoot/
• https://www.instagram.com/samanthalisayates/

Ollie Hollins talking about how he created his sculpture for a couple who are about to be married

Episode 10 (Budget £700)

Commission Brief: The buyer is looking for a gift for her husband as a thank you for all he does for the family and to mark his long service to charity work.

The artists are:

• Jim Anderson * (mosaic maker)
• Lucy Cortese * (stone carver / sculptor)
• https://www.facebook.com/LucyCorteseArtistandStoneCarver/
• https://www.instagram.com/lucycorteseartandstone/
• Jasmin Issaka (psychedelic Illustrator)
• https://www.facebook.com/JasminIssaka/

This mosaic mural - created by Jim Anderson - was quite possibly one of the most customised pieces in the series to this point. I suspect if he'd' been on social media we'd have seen much evidence of people wanting one just like it for their family. Do take a look at his website!

Jim Anderson with part of the circular mosaic created for his clients

More posts about "Home Is Where The Art Is"

Series 2

• Home Is Where The Art Is (Series 2) - commentary on how it has changed and the first four episodes
• Home is Where the Art is: Series 2 - Call for Artists

Series 1

Some of you may recall my previous posts on the first series including

• Home Is Where the Art Is - needs a makeover! (9th April 2019) in which I highlighted
• my concern about the absence of any name credit in text in the programme
• explain why it should be mandatory that all participants who are professional artists get a named credit.
• Commission an artist: 'Home is where the Art Is' (Episodes 1-5) (14th April 2019) - my attempt to redress the balance on credits
• Commission an artist: 'Home is where the Art Is' (Episodes 6-10) (as above) (22nd April 2019)
• Commission an artist: 'Home is where the Art Is' (Episodes 11-15) (29th April 2019) - this includes my overall conclusions about the show