Katherine Tyrrell: Ten Artistic Tips Learnt From The Big Painting Challenge (11 years later!)

Some of those contemplating entering one of the Artist of the Year competitions might find the tips below to be useful.

This is a reproduction of an article I wrote for the WH Smith Blog eleven years ago following (a) the Final of the The Big Painting Challenge and (b) the publication of my book Sketching 365. 

I found it by accident while searching for something else and realised I had completely forgotten about it! It also seemed very timely for a repost!

So here is Katherine Tyrrell: Ten Artistic Tips Learnt From The Big Painting Challenge

________________________________

Last Sunday was the final episode of The Big Painting Challenge. The series has offered a lot to opportunities to learn over the last 6 weeks – from the amateur painters as well as from the Judges Daphne Todd and Lachlan Goudie.

I’ve been following the series on my blog Making A Mark and have been writing a series of posts – one for each episode. These comment on the challenges and highlight tips as the series has progressed.

Below I’ve summarised some important tips which I’ve derived from the programme content and the comments of both judges and the amateur artists.

TOP TEN TIPS

Check out these tips if you’re thinking of entering an art competition on television – or just improving how you paint.

TIP 1: Observation is key.

It’s really important to look carefully whether you are painting a person, a still life, a landscape – or things which move and dance about and change while you watch! You will reap the benefits if you spend as much time looking as you do drawing and painting. Find the big shapes, the verticals, horizontals and angles and don’t forget to measure and check the size and relative proportions of what you can see.

TIP 2: Good drawing underpins sound construction.

When a drawing or painting does not look quite right it’s often down to a problem with the drawing. Problems with drawing often lie either in:

• A failure to observe carefully (see Tip 1)
• A tendency to simplify so as to ignore the difficult bits
• Unfamiliarity with a range of normal drawing media and the scope for making different marks (see Tip 3)
• Difficulties in placing an object on a page – leading to bits missing which you intended to include (see Tip 6)
• Difficulties in handling and mixing colour when using dry media rather than paint (Tip 8)

Identifying the nature of the problem with your drawing is your first step to learning how to correct it. Example: My major problem is my verticals often lean if I draw without thinking. My solution is to check how a major vertical lines up with the edge of the page as I draw it.

My book "Sketching 365" published internationally in 2015

TIP 3: Practice drawing quickly using different types of dry media.

Dry media was usually used for the quick draw exercises in The Big Painting Challenge but was not limited to pencils or charcoal. There was also little time for slow careful drawings! Moving on from graphite to use different types of dry media – and colour – challenged a few of the artists! Dry media are great for drawing and sketching. Try becoming more familiar with the properties of different types of dry media and also how they can be used intelligently to produce quick drawings. Not everything is drawn using a tip – you can also use the side and cover more paper faster! Drawing quickly is something that can be learned – but it takes practice

TIP 4: Become comfortable in working from life – as part of your daily life.

What to do about artists who "rip off" or "pass off" your art?

Over the last 20 years of writing this blog I've seen very many examples of artists ripping off other artists (or art societies) - or "passing off" other artists' work as their own - and I've written about this, sometimes at length. (see the reference section at the end)

Yesterday another example was sent to me - which is now "done and dusted" but was drawn to my attention and I thought was worth highlighting to you all. However I thought it might be more useful to put some context around it.

This post is about

• WHAT IS "ripping off" or "passing off" in the context of art - examining definitions of:
• forgery
• imitation
• passing off
• WHAT HAPPENED in the latest example
• TOP TIPS for what to do should artwork being copied happen to you or your friends.

[NOTE: This post has been amended since first published]

Who are artists who "rip-off" or "pass off"?

VIDEO demonstrations by members of the American Watercolor Society

For those making lists of "things to watch" over the Seasonal Break, I have a list of videos for watercolour artists - and those interested in how watercolour paintings are created.

I've just discovered that the American Watercolor Society has some "free to air" hour long videos of AWS members giving a demonstration and talk on the AWS Watercolor Evenings which are "a highlight of each International Exhibition".  They're held in the room at the Salmagundi Club in New York where they hold their International Exhibition each year. (Note: The Salmagundi Club was created in 1871 and is one of the oldest arts organisations in the USA)

AWS Demonstrations on YouTube: Lots of useful tips

You can find links to all the demonstrations on the website under Demos. Whether or not you like the American style of watercolour, these are people who have been painting for a long time and have lots of useful tips!

Do also bear in mind these are paintings produced in an hour while delivering a talk!

I've included links to the artists' websites in their names - so you can go and take a look at more considered and finished paintings

• 2024:  “Painting Beyond Technique” with Antonio Masi, AWS, DF. 
• View here.
• you can find a summary of the talk in the newsletter
• Antonio Masi is a multi award winning artist who is the current President of the AWS and became President in 2017.
• 2023: “Reflections on Urban Landscapes” with John Salminen, AWS, DF. 
• View here.
• This one has had over 200k views so far
• He is a much exhibited artist who has many awards.
• 2022 “Watercolor from Within” with Barbara Nechis, AWS. 
• View here. It's had 89k views to date
• Past Faculty Member of the Pratt Institute who has taught all over the US.
• 2021 “Creating Drama” with Tim Saternow, AWS. 
• View here

He paints large architectural landscape watercolors with a thick use of watercolor paint, playing with the tension between the illusions of depth, carefully drawn linear perspective, and an obvious play on the surface of the paper through watermarks, paint runs, blooms and spatters. (From Tim's website)

• 2019 “Finding Beauty in Places Often Overlooked” with James Maria, AWS. 
• View here.
• He likes to paint all the various different textures in left behind half forgotten places.
• 2018 Evening I “In a Fog – Capturing the Elusive Feeling of Misty Weather” with Joel Popadics, AWS. 
• View here. (30 minutes video)
• Joel has received numerous national awards - and loves painting fog!
• 2018 Evening II “Loosen Up! – Breaking Away from Seeing and Painting Too Many Details” with Andy Evansen, AWS. 
• View here. (30 minutes video)
• Interesting to see who has inspired him....

Choosing a ‘style’ was not difficult, as Andy was always inspired by the watercolor paintings of British artists Trevor Chamberlain, David Curtis, Ed Seago and Edward Wesson, among others.

AWS International Exhibitions

Every year, the AWS holds a juried exhibition of watercolors from artists throughout the world and some UK watercolourists have done well there. Notably Angus McEwan.

View submission information on the upcoming 2025 Exhibition here.

Although please note the deadline has passed because....

The artists selected for the 158th International Exhibition in 2025 have been recently announced and you can find the list of names of those selected here

Call for Entries: Series 12 of Portrait Artist of the Year (2025)

The competition to enter Series 12 of Portrait Artist of the Year in 2025 is now open. 

This is my guidance for you on what to expect

• This is a prestigious art competition - televised by Sky Arts
• It has a £10,000 commission as first prize (no such thing as inflation in this competition! Strictly speaking, if they were keeping up with inflation, the prize should now be worth £15,000)  
• the careers of some of the winners have been very productive and fruitful as a result of winning - but it's entirely up to you what you make of it and how you benefit as a result, even if you just participate in a heat
• The deadline for entries is NOON on Friday 7th February 2025 (the deadline has been extended in the past - but best not to assume this will happen)

This is A VERY LONG POST about:

• The nature of this art competition
• WHO can enter
• HOW to enter
• What the day of filming is like - and how long it lasts!
• Plus TIPS about this art competition
• AND TIPS about juried art exhibitions and art competitions generally (at the end).

About the competition

Quotations below are from the Terms and Conditions of the competition or as indicated.

This is an art competition as a television show.

The winner is awarded a commission - worth a TAXABLE fee of £10,000 - to create a portrait of a notable person for a (usually) prestigious organisation.

If you want to know why the prize money is taxable (which I think is a new word in the T&Cs) see my page on my website Art Business Info for Artists 

• about Tax on art awards and prize money 
• and/or Do artists have to pay tax on art prizes?

How it works - a summary

• Filming of Series 12 of Portrait Artist of the Year is planned to take place at (very probably) the Battersea Arts Centre in April 2025.
• In effect this is a 'reality' (i.e. real people/real artists) knock-out competition for portrait artists over eight heats
• Nine artists compete in each heat
• there are three "celebrity" sitters (some you will know/ some you won't! There's a good mix of age, sex, gender, ethnicity and background)
• each sitter has three artists drawing / painting / printing their portrait - in various 2D media
• you have just four hours to complete a portrait - unless you work through lunch which some do.

The Shortlisted Artists will have a maximum of 4 hours over a 5-6 hour period (or such other period as the Producer at its discretion may determine) to complete their Heat Artwork.

• The Sitter gets to choose a portrait - and if it's your portrait this is gifted to the sitter.
• The Heat Winner - from a shortlist of three - goes through to the semi-finals
• Eight heat winners get to compete at the Semi-Final
• Three people from the semi-finals are selected for the Final which involves:
• a commission completed between semi final and final
• four hours to complete the portrait of the celebrity sitter in the final

The dates and times that the Finalists shall be given to complete the first of the Final Artworks shall be determined by the Producer, and may be within a set time period on a single day or over a number of days, and the Producer may film any or all of this process. A space of the contributor’s choice must be provided free of charge by the contributor to film any or all of this process.

Sadly, the days of the Final being at the National Portrait Gallery seem to be over!

TIP You need to know about the conditions you work under on location!

How to lose your website's domain name

There's a very easy way to lose your Website's presence on the internet AND all its followers.

Just FORGET TO RENEW YOUR DOMAIN NAME

Your website still exists - but nobody can see it. That's all. It's really very, very simple.

I've lost count of the number of artists and art societies / groups / organisations who have fallen foul of thinking somebody else would remember to remind them that the licence for the domain name needs renewal.

This morning I came across another to add to the list.

Things you must remember

1. You do NOT own your domain name
2. When you pay for a domain name, you license it for a specific period of time
3. If you do NOT renew the licence in time you risk losing your website's presence on the internet i.e. your website ceases to exist
4. If you are unable to re-register the domain name, all the effort you have made to get the domain name recognised is wasted

More VERY IMPORTANT TO BE AVOIDED AT ALL COSTS TIP at the end - and the last two are critical!

Why are domain names important

Domain names provide a unique way of referencing a single unique site on the internet.

Hence they are very precious. They are that important. 

Quite often people buy their domain names before they've even worked out how they are going to build their website.

Speaking personally, I own far more domain names than I do websites. That's because I've got a bunch of them which were bought for defensive reasons i.e. I didn't want anybody else having the name.

How domain names work

Making A Mark - the 20 most popular blog posts in 2023

I've done an audit of my statistics to see which were the most popular blog posts in 2023. These are listed below. It includes posts from previous years which became very popular again. I have written a few well referenced blog posts over the last 18 years....

TECHNICAL NOTE: Google Analytics changed the way it collected information halfway throughthe year and I've noticed while writing this blog post that the top blog posts are very biased towards the second half of the year. That said, hardy perennial posts from previous years "top posts" make an appearance in the top 20 - so the top 20 report is NOT just about the second half of the year. However the bias is very odd....

Portrait Artist of the Year (PAOTY)

In total, this very popular art programme series on Sky Arts generated 50 PER CENT of the top 20 posts - which is some achievement. However it was a very special year for them......

That said, my PAOTY Review posts are the longest and most time-consuming posts I write each year - which suggests to me detail, length and effort might count for something as well as the popularity of the series! They are also by far the most popular posts in terms of people writing to me complementing me on my blog! Apparently I have triggered people from countries taking holidays in the UK to watch the series! It may therefore come as no surprise that.....

The most popular post was Want to watch the Portrait Artist of the Year 2023 being filmed? This is not a surprise given the overall interest in Portrait Artist of the Year and the return, post pandemic, to the public being able to watch again. I've had people writing to me for a long time asking how they can watch. I think it's maybe a mix of wanting to be able to see how it all works in practice and the opportunity to be on the television yourself. In the background of course!

This post listed the dates of the heats and the changes being made for the 2023 filming.....

Interestingly, according to Google Analytics, it had a lot of repeat views per visitor. That didn't stop people still writing to me - but at least I had a blog post to refer them too!

#2 was Portrait Artist of the Year 2023 has a very different start this year! (September 18th 2023) This was of course the celebration of 2023 being the 10th year of the series.

This year Sky Arts is expanding the tenth series to include TWO extra special events

• a special episode - involving winners from the first nine series
• an attempt to set an official GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ title for the most people painting online and in a single venue simultaneously.

#4 was Review: Portrait Artist of the Decade (8th October 2023)

This was the programme when 8 of the first nine portrait artists of the year came back to participate in a challenge to paint Dame Judi Dench in 4 hours.

I also posted the follow up to this episode towards the end of the year Portrait Artist of the Decade Exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery - last few days 

This didn't make it to the top 20 but judging by the popularity of the Facebook post and album of my photographs of the portraits hanging in the National Portrait Gallery might very well have been the most popular post all year if it had been published earlier.

#5 was Wendy Barratt is Portrait Artist of the Year 2023 (Series 10). That's unsurprising to me given the overall popularity of this series and the quality of Wendy's portrait paintings. She would have been higher but for the Portrait Artist of the Decade celebrations.

I'd add it's the first time when the winner was almost universally celebrated by people commenting on my Facebook Page from her heat right through to the Final! Which is very unusual!

Wendy's PAOTY Portrait Paintings
(left to right: self portrait submission; heat (Nicky Spence);
Final (Dame Joan Bakewell); Semi Final (Emma Bunton);
Commission for Final (her husband Fred)

Interestingly - and I assume this is due to the repeat of the previous series before airing the latest episodes - #6 was Morag Caister wins Portrait Artist of the Year 2022 (Series 9) (2nd December 2022). 

I suspect the fact her commission painting of Sir Lenny Henry is now hanging in the National Portrait Gallery may also be something to do with its popularity.

Other popular posts from Series 10 included

• #7 Review: Episode 1 Portrait Artist of the Year (Series 10). It's always the case that the most viewed of all the Heat Reviews is the first one. I suspect the same applies to viewings of the individual episodes/heats on television. County yourself lucky if your heat gets the first epsiode slot.
• #9 Review: Episode 3 Portrait Artist of the Year (Series 10) (29th October 2023)
• #12 Review: Semi Finals of Portrait Artist of the Year 2023 (3rd December 2023) - nearly as popular as the final.
• #16 Review: Episode 2 Portrait Artist of the Year (Series 10) (20th October 2023)
• #17 PAOTY 2023: Commission Painting of Dr Jane Goodall (18th December 2023)

...and now for everything else which made the top 20 posts on Making A Mark in 2023!

Am I hacked or not? Or is it all Google's fault?

I feel like Google has got me running round and round in circles at the moment on my laptop. Plus I think Google may well be the maverick in the mix!

Google is telling me - via Search Console - that a website I own has been hacked i.e. 

• a new sub-domain URLs exists - whereas I never ever use sub-domains
• i.e. sub domain name prefixes exist (e.g. https://hacker.mywebsite.com - where I own mywebsite.com )
• this is identified by gmail headed Alert - Hacked content found on (your website domain name URL)
• they then identify new website owners - of the new sub-domain
• this is identified in a gmail headed New owner for (sub-domain website URL)

Identifying non-existent sub-domains

I need to get them deleted but first I have to find them - and that is proving very difficult

To date, I have been wholly unable to identify any sub-domains - which should be obvious given how my page listing works.

It could be a tiny bit of script somewhere - but I haven't been able to find it as there are no clues as to where it is located.

Removing sub-domains

So I've been looking for help from Google by stopping all the sub-domains from being shared via the Google Search Index instead!

• via the Removals Tool in Search Console (in the Indexing Section in the left hand column)
• BUT this is only a temporary measure

Where you find the Removals tool

Google has acted on all my requests except one - for some reason. Need to work that one out.
However the removal from the index is only temporary - and I still need to work out why they exist.

Non-existent owners with gmails

I've reported the gmail addresses used by new sub-domain owners to Google Gmail 

• despite the fact that Google Search Console say they do not exist!!
• you can check who owns your website / domain name via Search Console Settings and Ownership Verification.

Unhelpful websites

So far, both my domain name registrar (Namecheap) and my website host (Square/Weebly) have proved to be pretty useless at helping me out. 

Neither have explained how the particular hack affecting me happens - and yet I can't be the first.

Apparently it's all down to me!

A helpful site if you get hacked

I have found one helpful website while working my round what on earth is going on.

Take a look at https://hacked.com/been-hacked/ for a page of tips and recommendations.

They also provide remote help for a fee. I've not tried it - as yet.
I'm still working on the principle that Google is doing something wrong!

One more thing..... Country blocking

I've got a stats package which provides very detailed answers and at the moment I have worked out that it looks likely that all the hackers and the sub-domains come from either China or Malaysia

So my next task is to work out how to block China and Malaysia!

I've done this before - but can't remember how and I think it might have been on different webware. 

I think I've just found an inexpensive app which might do this. It's worth a go....

Golden Oldie #4: Van Gogh and Drawing - art media and techniques

Two posts this time - about Vincent Van Gogh and his drawing materials and techniques.  

Tree with Ivy in the Garden of the Asylum
Vincent van Gogh (1853 - 1890),
Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, May-June 1889
pencil, reed pen and brush and ink, on paper, 61.8 cm x 47.1 cm
Credits: Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam (Vincent van Gogh Foundation)

Golden Oldie #4: Van Gogh and Drawing - art media and techniques

The two posts are from 2007 and 2021. I've updated both where it was needed.

Van Gogh: Drawing media and techniques (2nd February 2007)

This has been one of my most popular posts - on a perennial basis - since I started this blog.

This post focuses on Van Gogh's drawing materials (pencil, pen and ink, prints, brush and colour) and how they influenced his techniques and style.

I've also 

• resized the images
• removed dead links
• included UPDATES about research about the media he used

More about Van Gogh and his drawings and drawing techniques (28th September 2021)

This provides a summary of the information about Van Gogh's drawing materials and techniques that was mainly published AFTER my blog post from 2007.

It's not comprehensive but provides a good overview of what's been added to resources in recent years - and that includes some of the Wikipedia information!

I've also only had to update two links (both incidentally to the same website - the Foundation Vincent Van Gogh Arles) - which indicates this is perennially sound information!

Preparing for Portrait Artist of the Year - Gail Reid shares her experience and tips

Gail Reid has sent me what I regard as one of the best ever blog posts I have ever read regarding how best to prepare for the Portrait Artist of the Year heats.

It contains absolutely no spoilers but does reveal in detail how somebody who is serious about doing well prepared for her heat. (It's also been cleared by the production team so she's not doing anything out of order or against the "keep quiet about everything until your episode has aired" contract that you have to sign when you participate).

I have to confess, in my very many reviews of heats of Portrait Artist of the Year I do get very frustrated every time I hear an artist say "this is the first time I've ever painted from life" and I  often wonder why people enter such competitions on television if they don't prepare properly so they give themselves the best chance possible. 

So it's lovely to be able to share this blog post - not least because she highly recommends my blog as part of the preparation!

Gail Read and her self portrait at Battersea Arts Centre - just before filming starts!

in the weeks running up to filming day, I practiced hard on unsuspecting friends and family and honed my process to a tee. So until it’s aired, I can share my practice runs, palette, brushes, and the process that I evolved to do my best on the day.

Her blog post Lights, Camera, Action covers (in order):

• What is PAOTY? - in which you do get to see her self portrait - which complies with all my recommendations! ;)
• Program researchers (Storyvault/Sky TV) - in which Gail highlights all the stuff which happens between application and arriving at Battersea - and highlights one really good option for those so inclined!
• My research - what she does prior initially to get herself ready to start practicing - which includes reading my past blog posts about the heats - in which I give tips serviced from what happens in each episode / stage of the competition.

I cannot recommend the Making A Mark blog enough. SO much information, I binge read lots of posts, hoovering up tips on everything from canvas size to how best to talk to the judges. Here is the post about entering this year’s competition.

• My starting point - she highlights why drawing people is something she is used to doing (which to my mind explains the quality of her practice portraits)
• Practice runs - her approach to practising painting 4 hour portraits - and what she learned
• Her Sitters and the portraits produced x ? - I'm amazed at the quality of her practice portraits. One the basis of which I'd say she's a dead cert to be shortlisted if not win her heat. For one thing she's not just doing heads and she is including hands - which I've been recommending for some time. When everybody else does heads, make sure you stand out and produce a good upper torso portrait! So her portraits are:
• Grace (whole figure) - which made me think how much nicer it would be for sitters if the production team gave them proper chairs!
• Izzi (profile figure sat at a table with lots of context) - an example of why it's always wise to remember you might get one of the slots which mean you get a side view!
• Ray (upper torso with hands and backdrop) - people need to test out whether they can manage the backdrop as well as a portrait. This one taught her about lighting.
• Cilla (upper torso with hands) - an interesting one re the need to raise the sitter up as close as possible to eye level. Excellent observation!
• Debbie (whole figure) - always good to practice painting the whole figure!
• Caroline (whole figure) - a really interesting one with an emphasis on posture and really excellent boots! I wonder how many people practice painting shoes?
• Angela (head only) - an experiment with a head only and tighter crop
• Other practice - there's more! Including during her holiday!
• Glen (upper torso with hands) - an interesting experiment in the use of a tablet and photo to refine details after blocking in and initial work in the first half of the time period - done two days before the date of the heat.

If anybody else has got approval from Storyvault/Sky to post blog posts before their episode airs do let me know. I'm happy to share! :)

A Final Tip

For those wanting to enter PAOTY next year, I'll probably be posting the Call for Entries for Series 11 - to be filmed in April 2024 - in early October 2023, round about the start of Series 10 being broadcast.

So if you want to get ahead of the rest who are not reading this blog post, I suggest you start practising now - and getting that self-portrait licked into shape!

For those wanting access to MY PAOTY TIPS - you can find them in my reviews of the various episodes which are listed below.

Reviews & Learning Points (PAOTY Series 5-9)

Series 9 of PORTRAIT ARTIST OF THE YEAR (Autumn 2022)

• Review: Episode 1 of Portrait Artist of the Year (Series 9)
• Review: Episode 2 of Portrait Artist of the Year (Series 9)
• Review: Episode 3 of Portrait Artist of the Year 2022 (Series 9)
• Review: Episode 4 of Portrait Artist of the Year 2022 (Series 9)
• Review: Episode 5 of Portrait Artist of the Year 2022 (Series 9)
• Review: Episode 6 of Portrait Artist of the Year 2022 (Series 9)
• Review: Episode 7 of Portrait Artist of the Year 2022 (Series 9)
• Portrait Artist of the Year - The Semi-Finalists - a summary of who made the semi finals
• Review: Semi Finals of Portrait Artist of the Year 2022 (Series 9)
• Morag Caister wins Portrait Artist of the Year 2022 (Series 9)
• PAOTY Commission - Painting Sir Lenny Henry (aka Len)

Series 8 of PORTRAIT ARTIST OF THE YEAR (Autumn 2021)

• Call for Entries: Portrait Artist of the Year 2021 (Season 8)
• Portrait Artist of the Year 2021 starts 13th October 2021
• How Portrait Artist of the Year actually works in practice
• Review: Episode 1 of Portrait Artist of the Year Series 8 (Autumn 2021)
• Review: Episode 2 of Portrait Artist of the Year Series 8 (Autumn 2021)
• Review: Episode 3 of Portrait Artist of the Year 2021 (Series 8)
• Review: Episode 4 of Portrait Artist of the Year 2021 (Series 8)
• Review: Episode 5 of Portrait Artist of the Year 2021 ( Series 8 )
• Review: Episode 6 of Portrait Artist of the Year 2021 (Series 8)
• Review: Series 8 Episode 7 of Portrait Artist of the Year 2021
• Review: Semi Finals of Portrait Artist of the Year (Series 8)
• Calum Stevenson wins Portrait Artist of the Year (Series 8 Autumn 2021)

Series 7 of PORTRAIT ARTIST OF THE YEAR (Autumn 2020)

• Review: Episode 1 of Portrait Artist of the Year Series 7
• Review: Episode 2 of Portrait Artist of the Year Series 7
• Review: Episode 3 of Portrait Artist of the Year Series 7
• Review: Episode 4 of Portrait Artist of the Year Series 7
• Review: Episode 5 of Portrait Artist of the Year Series 7
• Review: Episode 6 of Portrait Artist of the Year Series 7
• Review: Episode 7 of Portrait Artist of the Year Series 7
• Review: Episode 8 of Portrait Artist of the Year Series 7
• Review: Semi-Final of Portrait Artist of the Year - Autumn 2020
• Curtis Holder wins Portrait Artist of the Year (Series 7 Autumn 2020)
• PAOTY Commission: Curtis Holder draws Carlos Acosta

Series 6 of PORTRAIT ARTIST OF THE YEAR (Spring 2020)

• Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year 2020 starts on...
• Review: Episode 1 of Portrait Artist of the Year 2020
• Review: Episode 2 of Portrait Artist of the Year 2020
• Review: Episode 3 of Portrait Artist of the Year 2020
• Review: Episode 4 of Portrait Artist of the Year 2020
• Review: Episode 5 of Portrait Artist of the Year 2020
• Review: Episode 6 of Portrait Artist of the Year 2020
• Review: Episode 7 of Portrait Artist of the Year 2020
• Review: Episode 8 of Portrait Artist of the Year 2020
• Review: Semi-Final of Portrait Artist of the Year ...
• Not quite sure why the post about the final is missing....

Series 5 of PORTRAIT ARTIST OF THE YEAR (Winter/Spring 2019)

• Review: Episode 1 of Portrait Artist of the Year 2019
• Review: Episode 2 of Portrait Artist of the Year 2019
• Review: Episode 3 of Portrait Artist of the Year 2019
• Review: Episode 4 of Portrait Artist of the Year 2019
• Review: Episode 5 of Portrait Artist of the Year 2019
• Review: Episode 6 of Portrait Artist of the Year 2019
• Review: Episode 7 of Portrait Artist of the Year 2019
• Review: Episode 8 of Portrait Artist of the Year 2019
• Review: Semi-Final of Portrait Artist of the Year 2019
• Duncan Shoosmith is Portrait Artist of the Year 2019
• Portrait Artist of the Year: 2019 Exhibition Tour

Series 4 of PORTRAIT ARTIST OF THE YEAR (Winter / Spring 2018)

• 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: Semi Finals of Portrait Artist of the Year 2018
• Review: The Final of Portrait Artist of the Year 2018

Diebenkorn's "Notes to myself on beginning a painting"

The year 2022 marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of Richard Diebenkorn (1922–1993).

Diebenkorn was a distinguished American painter, draftsman, and printmaker

Still from the video Richard Diebenkorn on Beginning a Painting

"Notes to myself on beginning a painting" by Richard Diebenkorn

Richard Diebenkorn was an introspective man who remained skeptical of his success as an artist throughout his life. Over the years he spent countless hours sitting in a favorite chair in his studio, contemplating and looking. Perhaps it was there that he wrote thoughts that came to mind on nearby pieces of paper, some torn from other uses. The Diebenkorn Foundation

These notes were found on paper in his studio after his death.They're listed BELOW.
You can also see a digitised version of the handwritten notes in the link above.

1. Attempt what is not certain. Certainty may or may not come later. It may then be a valuable delusion.
2. The pretty, initial position which falls short of completeness is not to be valued – except as a stimulus for further moves.
3. DO search.
4. Use and respond to the initial fresh qualities but consider them absolutely expendable.
5. Don’t “discover” a subject – of any kind.
6. Somehow don’t be bored but if you must, use it in action. Use its destructive potential.
7. Mistakes can’t be erased but they move you from your present position.
8. Keep thinking about Pollyanna.
9. Tolerate chaos.
10. Be careful only in a perverse way.

I first came across them on the RA website in relation to their exhibition of his work in 2015.

They're not the conventional dictums which appear again and again in many instruction books about painting. Some are impenetrable to people who are not Americans or not of a certain age

For example "Keep thinking about Pollyanna" only becomes clear when you understand that Pollyanna is a character in a 1913 novel by Eleanor H. Porter AND that she is an orphan with an unjustifiably optimistic attitude.

To me they're indicative of the characteristics of right brain thinking and an aversion to the factual, structured, linear, systematic approach associated with left brain thinking.

In fact they're the complete antithesis of "step by step" instruction. It's about an attitude of mind which seeks to be open to possibilities rather than learning systems for creating a painting.

This is a video of Diebenkorn speaking about beginning a painting.

Art Talks Online & Webinars for Artists

I find I'm signing up for more and more ONLINE TALKS about art and artists. I've just signed up for two more! 

• Hokusai's late works: the block-ready drawings | British Museum (Friday 5th November 6pm) 
• Lucy Smith | Waterlilies, Waders and Watercolour: The Journey of a Botanical Artist | Kew Mutual Improvement Society (who use Eventbrite for ticket bookings) (Monday 8th November 6pm)

This post is about:

• What is a webinar
• Webinars for Artists
• Webinars by Art Societies - and Artists
• TIPS for signing up for an event - or hosting your own

What's in a Webinar?

Webinar is short for Web Seminar - and they started within the context of educational institutions and teaching / training / engaging with target audiences.

A webinar is

“a live online educational presentation during which participating viewers can submit questions and comments.”

It takes place at a set time on a specific date and they usually last an hour. Those speaking generally are experts in their field and/or the topic of the talk

Some are free and some require a small fee.

Some are recorded and those who have signed up for them - particularly if they have paid - can sometimes view online via another link for a short period of time. Which helps enormously if you want to hear the talk but have a commitment clash with the date and time.

Some pre-recorded webinars which are kept accessible can generate a lot of traffic for those host.
 

Webinars for Artists 

There are more and more webinars relevant to artists

• either in terms of art from a practical perspective
• or learning more about art history - popular with major art galleries and museums

The great thing is it really doesn't matter where you live - you can access from anywhere!

Here are some of the places which do live talks / webinars - typically via Zoom.

• Online Talks and Conversations | National Gallery
• Online Events | Tate - which include online courses
• Virtual Events | Metropolitan Museum of Art
• Online Events/Experiences | Art Fund
• Performing and Visual Arts Seminars Online | Eventbrite - Shame that they lump performing arts in with Visual Arts. However Eventbrite does have the advantage of also having location filters.
• Visual Artists Ireland - Online Events - used for professional development. They have a model "how Zoom works" page!

Interestingly there is no way of picking up on Online Events at the British Museum besides following via Facebook and keeping an eye out!

By and large, you can tell how much webinars have permeated the thinking of art galleries and museums by whether or their Events Menu has an "Online" option

• if you can filter events using "Online" they've been doing it for a while and probably have quite a good range of online events on offer
• If you search on their website for "online talks" and nothing comes up, then they are now switched on to the latest method of communicating with their target audiences - which means they have a learning curve to climb too....

They're also used for Virtual Open Days for various art educational courses

An upcoming example is the Courtauld's Graduate Diploma in the History of Art Virtual Open Day

Webinars by Art Societies - and Artists

Why don't more art societies do webinars?

Good question - why don't they? 

About Karin Jurick (d. 2021)

I'm so very, very sad to be writing this.

I woke up this morning thinking about death (my father died 23 years ago today).... and then the first post I read on Facebook this morning was by James Hollingworth telling me that Karin Jurick passed away recently - much too soon at the age of 59. 

 

Karin Jurick on Daily Paintworks

 

[UPDATE} This tweet came later

Friends and family regret to announce the death of
Karin Jurick. 02/09/1961 - 06/16/2021 pic.twitter.com/oZIjbaGqVl

— Karin J (@KarinJurick) June 25, 2021

This was James's heartfelt announcement on Facebook.

In the early 2000's my wife Karen and I were just beginning our art careers auctioning our paintings on eBay. Part of that experience was searching eBay for other artists. It was a productive exercise that turned us on to a wealth of new talent. One day I came across the painting below and asked (practically begged) Karen to split the cost of it if we were to have the winning bid. We won the auction and when we contacted the artist discovered she lived just across town. She said she was a huge fan of our work and would love to deliver the painting herself. A week or so later Karin Jurick showed up at our door and twenty years later was still one of our closest and dearest friends. Tragically, a few days ago she suddenly passed away.

Karin was a remarkable woman to say the least. She was tough but had a huge heart. She was funny, smart witty and a true genius at painting. Karin was a virtuoso with a paint brush. Karen and I would watch her paint on occasion and we would just sit there with our mouths open in awe. Karin was also one of Karen's most trusted advisors. If Karen had a question, about practically anything, Karin would always give her her honest opinion on that subject. Karin had a way of cutting through the BS, so you knew when she spoke it was the laser focused truth.

Karen and I shared numerous shows with her and took quite a few trips to the beach with her and Brett her partner of thirty years. Karen and I would frequently meet on their side of town for lunch at their (and our) favorite Mexican restaurant. I can't tell you how much I looked forward to those visits, or describe the size of the hole her passing has left in my heart. I love you Karin. James Hollingsworth

Karin has been one of the constants in my blogging life for very many years. 

We corresponded on a number of occasions. Often with me telling her she'd won yet another award in The Making A Mark Awards!

Click the pic to see it BIGGER
and read my nomination properly
- in which I try to explain what made Karin special for me

I treasured notes like this one - which I received after telling her she'd won yet again in the Person Category! She was a very kind person and always so very appreciative of those who supported her as I did - so very many times over the years.

What follows is a resume of Karin's life online - lest we forget all those wonderful paintings. Interspersed by videos of her paintings and a podcast in which you can hear her voice....

About Karin Jurick

This is Karin talking about her life and how she became a painter - followed by a summary of different aspects of her artistic life.

Reporting copyright infringement & impersonation to Google - MAJOR FAIL

For all those who wonder what happens when you report the infringement of copyright or impersonation of your website or blog to Google.....

• The good news - Google reviewed my report
• The bad news - Google has not done what it told me it had done

In short:

• Earlier this year I found a blog which had lifted my blog posts wholesale - and then changed some of the words - and decorated the blog with Google Adsense adverts
• I reported it to Google in April - but heard nothing
• I reported it again in September with a LOT more detail. To do a report you file a formal copyright infringement report - providing a lot of detail
• see https://support.google.com/legal/troubleshooter/1114905
• see https://support.google.com/legal/troubleshooter/1114905#ts=1115645 (re infringement via Blogger)
• you wait for a long time 
• My first report was ignored. 
• My second report was filed on 14 September; 
• I received an email from the Google Blogger Support Team today (9th November 2020)
• you get an email saying they agree with you - and the blog is now suspended and will no longer be viewable
• you check the URL of the offending blog - and FIND THE BLOG STILL EXISTS!!
• you email the Google Blogger Support Team saying you are very unimpressed and are now writing a blog post about it
• you email the Google Blogger Support Team saying you want to pursue the money paid to the blogger who impersonated by blog

GOOGLE FAIL

Bottom line what looks good on the surface does not deliver in reality

We take inappropriate content seriously
If you see content on a Google product that you believe violates the law or your rights, let us know. We’ll review the material and consider blocking, limiting or removing access to it. Behaviours like phishing, violence or explicit content may also violate our product policies and qualify for removal from Google products. Before creating a request, try to flag the content in the relevant product.

In visual terms this is what the process looks like.......

I'm building websites in August!

This August I'm building websites for artists and will be back blogging regularly again in September. Apart from the off post here and there to say "I've finished xyz!" 

I do need sometimes to block out time to do things which keep getting postponed or bumped by the here and now.

Two NEW Websites

My BIG AIM is to see whether I can get two new websites with enough content so I can at least publish them as they have languished in draft for too long. These are:

• Tips for Artists 
• Fine Art Materials Guide for Artists

TIPS FOR ARTISTS

TIPS FOR ARTISTS: Basics and Genres

FINE ART MATERIALS GUIDE FOR ARTISTS

Fine Art Materials Guide - for Artists: some of the sections

PLUS Updating Existing websites with new content

ART BUSINESS INFO FOR ARTISTS

I had a lovely day yesterday, getting the introduction to the Professional Practice Section of my Art Business Info for Artists website sorted.

Given the number of people currently being made redundant and hoping they can make a go of being a full-time artist I decided now is the time to get this section sorted!  I'm hoping to start a series of posts in September about things new full-time professional artists need to know about - or anybody aspiring to be one ASAP.

As a result of which content is better organised and the content also flows better on the page

So we have:

• Professional Practice - This has content organised into three sections as follows:
  
• Business HABITS for Organised and Effective Artists
• Real Life as an Artist: Business PRACTICES
• DEVELOPMENT: as an Artist and Manager of an Art Business
• Please tell me what I've left out!
• STARTING OUT: TIPS ​for an Emerging Artist
• What you "need to know"
• PLUS practical advice ​for working as a visual / fine artist

READ ON If you want.....

• to be a success as an artist
• to avoid failing as an artist
• to be successful selling 'daily paintings'
• to sell your art online
• to exhibit your work
• to be more productive
• to be an artist as well as a parent
• to develop your career
• to get representation by a gallery
• talk about the art business online

• TIPS: Being a Professional Artist
• What is a professional artist?
• ​Building a Portfolio Career
• Learn about the business of being an artist
• The Working Lives of Professional Artists
• All about Artists' Residencies

This section covers: various aspects of making a career as a professional artist - including

• being a professional artist - definitions
• the reality of earnings by artists
• building a portfolio career
• professional standards and contractual relationships
• how to avoid legal problems & cons
• reality checks
• ​useful websites for learning more about the business of being an artist

PLUS on separate pages

• The Working Lives of Professional Artists - artists talking about being artists + research into the lives of artists
• Paying Artists: Good Practice & Rates of Pay (Money & Tax)
• Retirement & Pensions - planning for old age and retirement? (Money & Tax)

The working lives of professional artists

 

At the end of the Professional Practice page there is a form in which YOU are invited to tell me about the things which you need to know more about or things you find challenging.

• If I've got content covering your knowledge gaps on the website I'll point you towards it
• Your comments will also influence the order in which I address topics.