What did we think of 'Watercolour Challenge' 2022?

After four weeks of daily episodes on weekdays, the new version of Watercolour Challenge on Channel 5 came to an end last Friday.

• I started off hopeful, 
• was disappointed at the beginning by the technical cock-up, and 
• then it started to irritate me as the series went on.

I decided to do a review, however I decided it might be wise to see if others were feeling in the same way. 

So I asked this question on my Facebook - and received LOTS of very detailed responses!  Extracts are provided below.

I'm writing a review of the Channel 5 Watercolour Challenge Series. What did you think of it?
* What did they do well?
* What could be improved?

I've also been keeping an eye on the responses online to the programme - and people have been quite outspoken on the topic of the mentor/Judges.  Digital Spy | Watercolour Challenge Channel 5 started with lots looking forward to the return and quickly began to spot deficits and problems. For example - most wanted to see much more of the artists painting - and explaining what they were doing and why.

This post summarises both my thoughts and those of others - with quotes!

Note the series is available - on demand and online on Channel 5  

PLUS The series of 20 episodes is also available on Sky TV!

The real Watercolour Challenge contest 

Channel 5 (2022) versus Channel 4 (1998-2001)

Of course you have to be old enough to be able to compare the two! However for those of us who do remember both, the overwhelming consensus is that the new version is a pale imitation of the original - and needs to get its act together.

• The positives of the programme reduced for me as the series went on.
• Aspects which I put down to just being "different" began to grate as the series progressed
• Many people commented that they didn't watch all the programmes despite having intended to do so.

Here are some summary views

Glad to have an art programme to watch, but felt it could have been so much better! (VG)

A poor copy of the original series, sadly. (SG)

5/10. Could do better! (PF)

Very disappointing, to put it mildly. (NS)

Too much repetition , out of sync editing , poor standard of judges except Peter, everyone gets a win. The good artists on here and there were a few had their efforts demeaned being beaten by someone with no ability whatsoever. (DP)

I used to love this show but for me the presenter was a major let down and some of the professional artists, lacked how can i put it "professionalism". I stopped watching. (KH)

Despite numerous aspects that people felt were unsatisfactory, it was interesting to see it prompted people to get their paints out! I guess it was a case of "I can do better than that!"

Still enjoyed watching though - I was inspired to get my watercolours out after a few months of not using them.

How do the the different series compare on different aspects?

I'm going to review different aspects of the Channel 5 programmes below - sometimes with reference to the Channel 4 series - and with suggestions for how any future series could be improved.

Review comments cover:

• the artists
• the mentor/Judges
• the presenter
• the programme format
• technical aspects

The artists from Devon

What's different about Watercolour Challenge - on Channel 5?

I've just watched the first episode of the new Watercolour Challenge (Season 1 on Channel 5) and I'm going to note below what I noticed was different about this version.

Plus a "booboo" which they need to fix to avoid running foul of the competition regulators.

This is the link to the catch up of yesterday's programme on My5 (on demand) - it looks like it's Scarborough but it's actually Plymouth - see below!

DEVON WEEK: The artists in Episode 1

What I noticed

• The location was NOT as advised. 
• so it was NOT on the front at Scarborough - during YORKSHIRE week - as advertised. Unfortunately the official link to the programme on the Channel 5 website still shows some nice chap in Yorkshire with his painting of Scarborough!
• Instead the programme started with DEVON week and we were at The Royal William Yard in Plymouth - which I'd never heard of before. I kept thinking "that doesn't look like Scarborough!"
• Even Lisa Takahashi, the professional artist mentor/judge in the programme thought the Devon week was next week!
• However, as always with this programme, there was a decent profile of the place itself and its history and what's interesting about it. In this case it is an award-winning Grade I listed ex-naval victualling yard which provides the greatest amount of Grade 1 listed military buildings in Europe.

The Royal William Yard - with one of the watercolour painters bottom left

• The artists are
• 50% retired and 50% employed 
• 75% of the four artists are 55+ - which is not dissimilar to many watercolour societies / groups and those who regularly watch this programme - and those participating in the previous programme on Channel 4
• The artists' standard / experience is 
• what I'd call "decent amateur standard" i.e. reasonably competent without any being professional - although one is a part-time illustrator/part-time Mum. 
• not all the artists are people who regularly paint landscapes - or even plein air. It's a common feature which occurs elsewhere e.g. Landscape Artist of the Year. It does make me wonder how plain it was made to the artists that ALL painting would be landscapes and all set-ups would be taking place outside, whatever the weather. However they all arrived with decent anoraks so I guess they knew!
• The artists are NOT identified by their full names. What's the problem Channel 5? If others can do this so can you!
• Fern Britton makes a very good replacement for Hannah Gordon

It's definitely a competition which decent amateur artists should apply for if there's going to be another series.

What's different in this series of Watercolour Challenge?

Fern Britton and Lisa Takahashi

• The whole process (minus the bit where say who's won) reminded me a LOT of the what it's like when you're on a week's painting holiday with a decent art teacher
• The mentor artist/judge seems to be much more involved in providing guidelines at the beginning and assessments during the process - both in terms of dialogue with the contestant artists and the commentary with Fern Britton
• Lisa is very articulate, very smily, identifies aspects people do well - but does not shy away from the issues they are not tackling.
• There are useful and educational tips throughout - in terms of:
• aids which help composition e.g. Ken brought his viewfinder and Lisa provided some guidelines
• drawing versus painting - and the challenge of having enough time
• monochrome versus colour for capturing the nature of a place
• things to think about the beginning
• challenges which this particular place throws up and how they might be overcome
• The dialogue between mentor artist and participating artists was respectful but constructive - with Lisa adopting very much the Socratic approach to highlighting potential issues (i.e. asking a question about "how" rather than highlighting a problem)
• Lisa provided an excellent and articulate critique of the strengths of each artist and painting and ways a painting could be improved.
• It was really, really nice to see the artists using LARGE brushes - and not assuming they can get everything done using a size 6!
• It's the same artists all week - which makes for an added dimension which was missing from the Channel 4 show. 
• The winner of the first episode was Ken 
• It'll be very interesting to see how the artists compare notes on what Ken did and what they did - and how they up their game tomorrow!

Ken learning he has won.

• In addition, there was a profile of an artist associated with the place - which was interesting as the artist was Joshua Reynolds and I certainly learned some facts I didn't;t know before. However it might have been better if the artist had been a watercolour artist - rather than one renowned for painting in oils. So far as I''m aware he only used watercolour for sketches.  His career was also very much founded on his talents as a portrait painter and he didn't paint many landscapes. So interesting diversion - but it would be great to see a programme about watercolour painting which also  highlighted watercolour masters from the past or present?

I'm going to be tuning in again to more episodes - but won't be reviewing them all. Maybe a review at the end of each week?

Do let me know what you think about the programme - and whether it's matching the standard of the previous programme - or maybe improving on it.

The Two Three Booboos 

This is Booboo #1 - which could get somebody into trouble if they don't fix it PDQ.

'Watercolour Challenge' returns - on Channel 5

The much loved Watercolour Challenge - a daytime 'feelgood' cult classic - returns to our screens in the UK at 4pm next Monday, 17th January 2022 - and will run for 20 episodes.  

It'll probably run for a lot long longer on the 'on demand' channels if the Channel 4 version which ran for four series between 1998 and 2001 is anything to go by. I was a big fan - but often disagreed with the Judges!

Watercolour Challenge's first episode - on the front at Scarborough

The Changes 

The major changes are that 

• There are four amateur painters EACH WEEK - all painting the same view at five different locations (so NOT new painters for each episode - with a paint off on Fridays!). I guess this will make it much fairer given that sometimes good painters didn't win their episode because they got a subject they didn't like
• it's going to be on Channel 5 - instead of Channel 4 
• Fern Britton is the host - in the role long vacated by the much loved Hannah Gordon. There's a nice article with her about the new programme Fern Britton returns to TV to present Watercolour Challenge
• the programme is being made by TwoFour - which is part of ITV Studios.

Key Features

The aim is to

blend the artists’ skills with tips for the amateur art lover, glorious views and a daily dose of competition.

• There are 20 episodes spread over 4 weeks - 5 episodes each week 
• Broadcast at 4pm each day - making it an ideal programme for this very dim time of year either - to watch either live or on demand.
• Episodes are filmed at scenic locations around the country - and the views are often very challenging.The locations are:
• Yorkshire
• South Wales
• Devon
• Cornwall
• The four painters compete against the clock to capture some of Britain's finest views. They are allowed just three hours for each painting. 

"On some days," she said, "they spend three hours in the rain, cold and wind but we do give them 15-minute breaks every now and then." In the first episode looking over the seafront of Scarborough in North Yorkshire, several of the artists simply ripped up their first efforts.

"That takes courage I think. Everything is going on around them. Some didn't do that in the first episode but by the second location they gained confidence and they would just start all over again immediately." Fern Britton

• There's a new professional artist each week - who provides mentor support and then judges the paintings at the end of each episode. Army veteran and professional painter Ady Wright acts as mentor and Judge for the Yorkshire week. I found out about the new programme from Lisa Takahashi (Facebook) who was the mentor and judge for the Devon based locations.

You can see Fern below in a short video about the new programme - plus learn about the first three locations