Review: Episode 3 of Portrait Artist of the Year 2019
I was impressed by a lot of the self-portraits of artists participating in Episode 3 of Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year 2019
I'm guessing it was unclear to others as well as me who was going to win the Heat. Unlike previous episodes where the shortlist could more or less be identified by how much camera time each artist got, this time it seemed the cameraman and/or Editor got somewhat distracted.
I'm not going to repeat what I've said in other reviews of this series other than this post includes:
You will find links to:
The six professional artists were:
I do wish they'd give us a much clearer view of all the self-portraits together. One gets a much better sense of who is the good painter. We need to see them from further away. I know the problems they have with the space - but they managed it in the last series but not in this one for some reason.
On the whole the impression gained from the self-portraits was that this was a strong set of painters - with some who displayed some 'quirky' approaches to portrait painting.
They all liked Megan's self-portrait - an artist painting herself as an artist. Sara's was much admired also - as was Libby's.
I had high hopes of Robbie Stuart and Mario Ramirez based on their self-portraits - however in the end there was an inconsistency between the self-portrait and the portrait painted in the heat.
The three sitters were:
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I'm guessing it was unclear to others as well as me who was going to win the Heat. Unlike previous episodes where the shortlist could more or less be identified by how much camera time each artist got, this time it seemed the cameraman and/or Editor got somewhat distracted.
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I'm not going to repeat what I've said in other reviews of this series other than this post includes:
- a list of the professional and amateur artists participating in Episode 3 of the series
- my commentary on themes which I spotted
- who got shortlisted
- who won the Heat and goes through to the Semi-Finals.
- More about the competition and the judges in my first blog post - listed at the end.
The winner of the competition is commissioned to paint Tom Jones for the Museum of Wales.
The Artists, Self-portraits and Sitters
You will find links to:
- the artist's website - embedded in their name - click the link to see more of their artwork
- artists' social media accounts if I can find them online.
- the speeded up time lapse video of each artist working on their portrait
The Professional Artists
The six professional artists were:
- Phillip Butah (Facebook | Twitter) - video - He doesn't like looking at eyes. Has painted Prince Charles - because he asked.
- Libby Fellingham (Facebook | Twitter) - video - trained as an architect with a First Class Degree at the Bartlett School, UCL and Diploma at Cambridge University. Based in Sussex. Tends to work with a palette knife from photos to produce portrait commissions of people, dogs and horses.
- Milo Hartnoll (Twitter | Instagram) - video - a painter currently living and working in Brighton. Studied Illustration at The University of Brighton, graduating in 2013. The internet (but not the programme) suggests that in 2013 he was a finalist in Sky Arts TV Portrait Artist of the Year. He apparently does livestream painting on Instagram - which puzzled me given the speed with which he painted in the heat.
Milo is a figurative painter who mixes classical and modern techniques. His work is process driven, searching for progression through a balance of control and chance.
- Mario Ramirez - video - an art history graduate from Seville. I could not find him on the Internet
- Michael Sheppard (Facebook | Instagram) - video - Graduated with a Fine Art Painting and Drawing degree from Northampton University in 2017 and subsequently an MA at Nottingham Trent University. He has autism and works in pen and ink and just switches off when he draws. Uses mj the art traveller as his brand name. I found this good interview with him.
“I left university a much better artist,” he said. “The course gave me confidence in my ability. I was taught all the different ways and styles of drawing. We had lots of life drawing classes, workshops and studio time with our tutors and I was surprised to see what I was capable of creating.
- Robbie Stuart (Facebook | LinkedIn) - video - Graduated in 1993 from Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art Dundee with a BA (hons), Fine Art. Based in Walthamstow. Paints commissions and does arts and crafts workshops with adults and children.
The Amateur Artists
- Sara Lavelle (Twitter | Instagram) - video - Foundation Diploma in Art and Design (Distinction) at Falmouth University and then went on to study Illustration BA (Hons) at the University of Brighton. As a final year graduate she had only recently taken up painting. Now based in London.
Drawing upon a deep fascination with human psychology, philosophy and spirituality, my work has a predominant focus on portrait painting and figuration. I move freely between commissioned pieces and self initiated projects.
- Megan McMullan (Facebook | Twitter | Instagram) - video - born in Leicester in 1989, she studied at De Montfort university where she achieved a first class honours in her fine art degree and also gaining a masters the year after. Works shifts as a porter - which she finds mixes works really well with the long drying time of oils(!) - and stars in a brilliant video made by Leicester University - see below
- Sile Walsh (Facebook) - video - Born in Dublin and now based in Tramore in Waterford, Ireland. She's painted the long distance sea swimmers of that part of Ireland. Has always drawn and has attended life drawing classes for many years. Portraiture is very new to her. This is a radio interview with her about her experience
The Self Portrait Review
I do wish they'd give us a much clearer view of all the self-portraits together. One gets a much better sense of who is the good painter. We need to see them from further away. I know the problems they have with the space - but they managed it in the last series but not in this one for some reason.
On the whole the impression gained from the self-portraits was that this was a strong set of painters - with some who displayed some 'quirky' approaches to portrait painting.
They all liked Megan's self-portrait - an artist painting herself as an artist. Sara's was much admired also - as was Libby's.
I had high hopes of Robbie Stuart and Mario Ramirez based on their self-portraits - however in the end there was an inconsistency between the self-portrait and the portrait painted in the heat.
The Sitters
The three sitters were:
- Eddie Hall - former professional strongman who is the world record deadlift holder and who won the World's Strongest Man 2017 competition
- Jodie Kidd - fashion model, race car driver, and television personality
- James Purefoy - an actor - and the most portrait sitter who moved least ever!
Discussions and Observations
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