Feedback from Battersea Arts Centre PAOTY 2020 Heats

Next week there are FIVE more Heats of Portrait Artist of the Year 2020 at the Battersea Arts Centre for:

• Heats 5-8 of Portrait Artist of the Year 2020 - on Monday 8th - Thursday 11th April (10am - 4pm)
• Celebrity Portrait Artist of the Year 2019 - on Friday 12th April - when celebrities paint celebrities. I'm thinking of going back for that one! (see my review of last year's programme Celebrity Portrait Artist of the Year)

I went on Friday and I recommend you go if you get the chance. I'd very definitely recommend that all those who hope to participate in future go along and see what's like for real.

How to get there 

The Heats are being filmed in the Grand Hall at the Battersea Arts Centre - see The PAOTY Trek to Battersea Arts Centre.

For those coming from other parts of London, the easiest way there is to make your way to Victoria Station and then catch a train to Clapham Junction. The walk to the centre is then uphill - up Lavender Hill - and takes about 10-15 minutes.

There are lots of vegan / organic / coffee / smoothie etc temptations along the way!!!  I highly recommend the Whole Foods Market!

For those coming by car, you need to be aware that the area has controlled parking. There is a car park at Asda - with free parking for customers for 2 hours only. For those wanting to use it all day I tried peering at the parking charges sign and it looked like it was £15 for more than 4 hours.  Plus you still need to shop at Asda!  (Note for those who live out of London, all supermarket car parks have very stiff charges for those wanting to park most of the day - in order to deter commuter parking)

For artists

The space is MUCH better from the artists' perspective.  Location maybe not so much for those who are travelling long distances.  Moving it down to Battersea increases journey times by at least 30 minutes for most people.

The lighting is MUCH MUCH better controlled.

• All the external natural light has been obscured by blinds on the windows.
• The three segments and artists are lit by good lights with a baffle mesh front - so no spot effects and good diffuse lighting

For those who go to watch

The notice at the entrance to the filming

No tickets are required and entry is free - and you can come and go during the course of the day.

The Heats are open to the public and filmed between 10am and 4pm. Artists are there earlier and stay later. Lunch is around about 12.30pm It then starts again after a break of about an hour.  The Heat finishes for the public at 4pm after the sitters have chosen their preferred portrait.

Lots of people were watching on Friday - many more than at the Wallace Collection. It feels like a larger space and, apart from two pinchpoints, it's easier to move around the room.

Reasons to go 

Reasons to go are you can see:

• how people work - how some start strongly and fade away while others look like they'll never get going and finish strongly
• how the programme gets made
• the extent to which artists get interrupted by interviews, asked to go outside for photography - and why the realistic painting time is probably nearer three hours than four hours
• the self-portrait wall - up close
• You may spot participants from previous series - I had a lovely chat with Geoff Harris who won of the Heats in PAOTY 2019 and who had come along to have a look at the new venue. 

The best bit is listening to the Judges discuss the chances of the artists at half time (which is when they start up again in the afternoon - in front of the the self-portrait wall)!

Plus you get to guess which portrait the sitter will choose. I got two right and one was a complete surprise.

Do NOT BRING bags or buggies

In terms of practical matters:

• Unlike the Wallace Collection, there is no cloakroom at the Centre - so nowhere to leave coats and jackets or large bags
• There are no coat racks - so there were lots of people all clutching their cold weather jackets and coats are watching the PAOTY activities!
• Given it's too warm to wear your coat all day - so bring one that is easy to carry or tie around your waist.
• You cannot bring a bag larger than cabin bag size
• You cannot bring a buggy in.
• There is a large cafe - and I gather from one of the other people who attended that the bacon butties are fabulous!

However, there are no chairs - except for the Judges and presenters - making it elderly/disabled unfriendly for those of us who need to sit down periodically.  However one was found for me when I mentioned I can't stand for long periods.  Apparently the Centre is disabled friendly...... :)

Remembering the Paint by Numbers artist / inventor who has died age 93

There's not many artists who get an obituary in newspapers around the world. However that's what happened this week to Dan Robbins, the commercial artist who had the idea for paint by numbers - a kit which could be sold, combining an outlined and numbered picture with paints which matched the numbers.

He died last week age 93, having helped very many children - and adults - learn how to wield a paint brush and paint to produce a good looking picture.

a paint by numbers kit

I don't know how many of you had a paint by numbers kit when you were young. I know I had several. There again, I was born in the 1950s and the 50s and 60s were the decades when the massive craze for "paint by numbers" swept the USA before venturing further afield.

He claimed that the idea was inspired by Leonardo da Vinci - although art historians have disputed this.

“I remembered hearing that Leonardo used numbered background patterns for his students and apprentices, and I decided to try something like that,” Robbins (2004) 

His boss Max Klein saw potential in the idea - but hated his first effort - and got him to produce more examples. Dab Robbins produced the first 35. Initially he focused on landscapes, and then he branched out to horses, puppies and kittens before returning to landscapes as more artists for involved. However Leonardo's involvement meant they were unable to paint the idea and there were lots of other people who got involved manufacturing paint by numbers kits. (I KNEW there was more than one artist involved. There were some I really liked and others which were naff!). 

The paint by number phenomenon was celebrated by:

• an exhibition at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History - which received the archive of materials when Max Klein died.

Some within the museum questioned the idea of celebrating the paint-by-numbers craze and its impact on art, at least until the crowds showed up

• Paint by Number: The How-to Craze that Swept the Nation. New York: Princeton Architectural Press, 2001 (exhibition catalog).
• the online Paint by Numbers Museum created by the Smithsonian - where you can remember your past artistic achievements

• Introduction
• Every Man a Rembrandt
• The New Leisure
• The Picture's Place
• The Unfinished Work
• Post a Reminiscence - which includes some very touching stories
• Select Bibliography
• His own account Whatever Happened to Paint-By-Numbers? : A Humorous Personal Account of What It Took to Make Anyone an 'Artist' Delavan, Wisc.: Possum Hill Press, 1998.

This is what Dan Robbins had to say at the opening of the exhibition about Paint By Numbers

He was not

“I never claim that painting by number is art. But it is the experience of art, and it brings that experience to the individual who would normally not pick up a brush, not dip it in paint. That’s what it does.”

Your Paintings Are Numbered is an interesting 2017 article in Hyperallergic which is worth a read. It identifies the extent to which paint by numbers annoyed and undermined the art world elite!

The midcentury paint-by-number craze revealed a belief that with enough curiosity, and the ability to follow basic directions, anyone can be an artist.

Obituaries

Like I said - there's not many artists who get comprehensive obituary coverage across the world. Here's a taster of some of them.

USA

• Dan Robbins, Who Made Painting as Easy as 1-2-3 (and 4-5-6), Dies at 93 | The New York Times
• Dan Robbins Paint By Number Inventor who made every man a rembrandt dies at 93 | Washington Post
• Artist who created first paint-by-numbers pictures dies, age 93 | USA Today
• The man who invented paint-by-numbers has died at the age of 93 | CNN
• Dan Robbins, artist behind paint-by-numbers pictures, dead at 93 | NBC News
• Paint by Numbers Hobby kit Originator Dan Robbins Dies Age 93 | ArtLyst
• Dan Robbins, artist who invented paint-by-numbers pictures, dead at 93 | New York Post

UK

• Dan Robbins, artist behind paint-by-numbers phenomenon dies at 93 | The Guardian
• From Warhol to minimalism: how painting by numbers revolutionised art | The Guardian - Jonathan Jones
• Obituary: Dan Robbins, the man who invented painting-by-numbers | The Scotsman
• 'Painting-by-numbers literally saved my life' | BBC

Review: Episode 8 of Portrait Artist of the Year 2019

I don't suppose that when the producers of Portrait Artist of the Year asked Jodie Comer to sit for Episode 8 that they realised that they would have an actress who has been nominated for very many global awards in the period between sitting and broadcasting.

Just goes to show how important portraits are for recording moments in time....

Jodie Comer sits for Portrait Artist of the Year 2019

The Artists, Self-portraits and Sitters

I'm pleased to say that you can see the names and profiles of all the artists in every episode of Series 5 on one page on the Sky Arts website.  Just the credits at the end of the programme to get fixed now.....

Professional Artists

There were four professional artists - with a variety of backgrounds and experience.

• Olga Godovaniuc - video - From Moldova where she went to the Children's School of Art. Now based in London. She handpaints luxury fashion accessories. Likes unusual colours for skin tones. Describes her painting style as "fantastic reality".
• Martin Ireland - video - taught life drawing classes for over 20 years. Worth watching for the faces he pulled when he saw his sitter.

"We have a fabric situation here"

• Colin Pethick - video - a fine art painter and freelance art tutor, based in the Tamar Valley. Became a professional artist after a back injury as a bricklayer. Born in Devon, he studied Fine Art at BA Honours degree level at Plymouth college of art and the University of Plymouth Grinds chicken bones into his paint. His wife loved the programme - but passed way the previous October and had entered the programme to honour her.
• Duncan Shoosmith (Facebook/ Twitter / Instagram) - video - based in Wiltshire; combines painting at home in his garage with looking after his three young children.  He does great portraits of kids if you take a look at his website!

Amateur Artists

• Tasha Davey (Facebook | Instagram) - video - an 18 year old studying for her A-levels. Worked almost flat from her iPad and I think didn't see the problem she made for herself re. perspective
• Tom Mead (Facebook / Instagram) - video - Always nice to see a website which includes evidence that the artist goes to life class and can draw from life! Currently doing a BA degree in Painting at the University of Arts (Wimbledon).  He creates paintings with a multifaceted perspective on individuals which suggest movement.  Loves to paint in acrylic.

The face is the most important thing

• Toby Michael (Instagram) - video - In his final year at Winchester School of Art at the time of filing. Gridded up to start with.
• Rebecca Train (Instagram) - video - Becca is an Office Manager from Kent. She gave up painting for over a decade until she returned to a life drawing class recently.
• Emily Wolff (Facebook/ Instagram) - video - competed in PAOTY 2014 and has sold her artwork internationally since. This is her self-portrait

Start with a mistake and keep correcting it. It's sort of a life philosophy

The Self Portraits

Starting the review of the self-portraits - with the one by Tom Mead

It's always worthwhile listening to the reasons why the Judges like the different self-portraits. I think I like Kathleen's the best - she's the most articulate in my opinion - although I don't always agree with her!

"we want something that surprises us"

I did think one self-portrait gave the editors of the programme some amusement given the cut between the self-portrait and the artist!

The Sitters

Amazing what a difference a year makes - hence the voiceover for Jodie Comer.

• Jodie Comer - an English actress, known for her roles as the assassin Villanelle in Killing Eve (for which she has received numerous nominations for awards), Chloe Gemell in the comedy-drama series My Mad Fat Diary, Ivy Moxam in the BBC3 miniseries Thirteen and Kate Parks in Doctor Foster. She has a wonderful unaffected Scouse accent - which must have come as a surprise to some viewers of Killing Eve.  

Her bone structure is beautiful Tai

• Nick Moran - A British actor who has featured in a number of films over three decades and gained fame from the Guy Ritchie movie, Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels. He portrayed Scabior in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2.
• Daniel Lismore is a London based artist, designer, creative consultant, celebrity stylist, writer and campaigner. Described as England's most eccentric dresser by Vogue.

Discussions and Observations

I heard three key themes in terms of comments from the artists - and I assume that they may well be asked the same question - and then include those which worked best and/or got the best answers.
(I remember being filmed once and giving the BBC producer an answer I KNEW they would not include in the programme because it was too trite for words!)

Interestingly, when you watch the programmes through three times as I do before writing these reviews, I often pick up on things I don't spot the first or second time watching. Like how often certain artists speak - and say something really insightful - or something really stupid. It's a great indicator for who's going to be in the shortlist!

RI Annual Exhibition 2019 - Awards and Candidates

The Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolours (RI) 207th Annual Exhibition at the Mall Galleries opened today after its Private View yesterday - at which the awards were announced.

Group of Paintings by the top prizewinner - on the left

The RI works very hard at making sure there are a wide range of awards for meritorious artwork in their show - and there are so many awards I've had to split them into four groups.

• cash awards
• art materials awards
• publication awards
• recognition awards

Below you can see which works won which prizes.

At the end are photos of the work by Candidates for Membership of the RI.

Cash Awards

The Winsor & Newton Award - Tianya Zhou

Tibetan Ama by Tianya Zhou 
Watercolour 99 x 78cm £6,700

Tianya Zhou was the winner of the top award - the £3,000 Winsor & Newton Award.  He is is a traditional watercolourist specialising in painting Portraits & Figures. He mainly paints the people of Tibet.

Tianya Zhou was born in 1973 in Jingzhou, China, he was awarded Bachelor’s Degree from Hubei Institute of Fine Art, currently he lives and paints in Shenzhen and works as a curator and Professional artist of Luohu Cultural Center, also as Founder and organizer of Shenzhen International Watercolor Biennial Exhibition.

He's a member of

• Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours (RI), 
• China Artists Association (CAA), 
• American Watercolor Society (AWS), 
• National Watercolor Society of USA (NWS), 
• Canadian Society of Painters in Water Colour (CSPWC), 
• Honorary Member of Australian Watercolour Institute(AWI).

The Leathersellers' Prize - Junwei Dai

Tuscan Sunshine by Junwei Dai
Watercolour 70 x 50cm £5,000

Junwei Dai won the £1,000 prize awarded by The Worshipful Company of Leathersellers to an artist aged between 18 and 30 years old.

Junwei is a landscape architect. He comes from Danyang, Jiangsu, lives in Singapore and is a Signature membership of National Watercolor Society (USA).  According to his Facebook Page he's completely self-taught and only started painting watercolour three years ago.

I feel really honored to exhibit my painting in such a great event! Thanks for the jury and supporters of RI and the suggestion from Suzchiang Tan! After becoming signature member of NWS, this is absolutely another big encouragement for my exploring of watercolor since I learned it by myself 3 years ago. Next goal is to achieving membership of RI and signature membership of AWS including dolphin scholarship within 3 years!

Brexit, Banksy and Cold War Steve

This morning I've spent some time looking at artistic commentary on contemporary life - with 

• Cold War Steve and 'McFadden's Cold War'
• Banksy vs Bristol Museum revisited - with Devolved Parliament

Cold War Steve and 'McFadden's Cold War' 

Cold War Steve has been acclaimed as the 'Brexit Bruegel' and 'a modern-day Hogarth'. (Thames and Hudson)

'Ship of Fools' (after Hieronymous Bosch) - collage artwork by Coldwar Steve [sold out]

His Twitter feed @Coldwar_Steve is one of the most ironic and funniest comments on Brexit (and we've surely got the bit where we have to laugh rather than cry - whichever side we voted for) and I cannot for the life of me work out why I haven't come across either his website or twitter feed before now

Coldwar Steve, also known as Cold War Steve, is the nom de plume of Christopher Spencer, a British collage artist and satirist. He is the creator of the Twitter feed McFadden's Cold War. The work features photomontages of celebrities with Eastenders actor Steve McFadden as his character of Phil Mitchell. The work typically shows a grim, dystopian location in England, populated by British media figures and politicians, with McFadden being the constant, usually looking on in disgust at the scene he is viewing. His work has been described as having "captured the mood of Brexit Britain" and likened to earlier British political satirists Hogarth and Gillray. (Wikipedia)

Cold War Steve is the pseudonym of Christopher Spencer who is a collage artist - and extremely good one. He even does it live with cameras filming him!

It's especially poignant that he dedicated himself to his collages as a way of keeping himself busy so as to deal with his mental health issues and the fallout from Brexit.

Seems to me he's becoming the Banksy for the Brexit Years - and like Banksy he has moved into 'selling product'.