Portrait artist of the year. New series 8pm We’d 9 Oct Sky Arts (11 or 36)

I think it was always on the cards who the winner would be when Tai-Shan said that the judges were looking for someone who could push the boundaries of what portraiture is - or words to that effect.

I recorded the programme and sadly the last few minutes were lopped so I didn’t hear what the judges thought of the commission. Compared to the earlier rounds, I thought the artist held back a tad from the very impressionistic paintings produced in the previous rounds. The winner admitted that getting likeness is not their priority. I’m not particulary keen on the leg-dominated perspective they favour but they are an interesting young artist with much potential for development.

I had no idea that Andy Serkis and Lorraine Ashbourne were a couple or that they were mountaineers! An interesting pose, Andy outdoing Rory Stewart by standing for five hours compared to Rory’s four.

The last double pose I remember was when actors Simon Callow and Lily Cole sat back-to-back looking as if they had had an argument. Am I forgetting some others?

I think the judges need a trip to Specsavers. My DH and I have frequently agreed that arty farty lot choose the most quirky, unflattering portrait and call it art. I don't get it, maybe I need a trip to Specsavers

MayBee70

I’ve just watched Lorraine. I’m not disliking it as much now. But I now have a problem that he included her dog but not its head, it’s bottom. Why would anyone paint a dogs bottom?

apparently in real life the dog is very shy.. and Lorraine was delighted that it was shown facing away... it was discussed at the showing..

I’ve just watched Lorraine. I’m not disliking it as much now. But I now have a problem that he included her dog but not its head, it’s bottom. Why would anyone paint a dogs bottom?

Sorry that should have read "found" not fund.

Each to their own I suppose.

I fund his work ugly and unflattering and to my untrained eye, comic book like. Caricatures of the actual subjects.

The women all look like the evil old hags as portrayed in the old children's Ladybird books.

Sort of knew the judges would choose the one they did, but I didn't care for his style at all. Sometimes there is no accounting for taste !

MayBee70

pascal30

Really good choice of winner this year.. I loved the final portrait, especially the legs..

The painting was on Lorraine’s tv show this morning ( or so my partner tells me) and she says she loves it. I guess it is Lycian Freud’ish but he had a unique talent in making the grotesque beautiful. I didn’t notice if the face was a good likeness but he says it wasn’t. I thought Brogans portrait of Joely Richardson was awful but she chose it. I’m still bemused. Mind you, I didn’t like the portrait of Lenny Henry from two seasons ago and that has grown on me.

I agree I didn't particularly like the Joely Richardson portrait either.. MayBee.. but if you had watched last night you would have seen the portraits he did of his partner and friends given more time.. and seen how he portrayed (IMO) their essential essence in luscious colours and paint strokes.. in a very unusual style...

I think he is certainly a painter to watch in the future..

pascal30

Really good choice of winner this year.. I loved the final portrait, especially the legs..

The painting was on Lorraine’s tv show this morning ( or so my partner tells me) and she says she loves it. I guess it is Lycian Freud’ish but he had a unique talent in making the grotesque beautiful. I didn’t notice if the face was a good likeness but he says it wasn’t. I thought Brogans portrait of Joely Richardson was awful but she chose it. I’m still bemused. Mind you, I didn’t like the portrait of Lenny Henry from two seasons ago and that has grown on me.

I catch it now and again but never know which series I'm watching!

The last one had Joely Richardon on by herself. Some great portraits of her- she seemed to be a lovely person.

Really good choice of winner this year.. I loved the final portrait, especially the legs..

Agree about the use of screens. It’s painting from life for heaven’s sake. But very watchable.

ferry23

MayBee70

I think I’m going to give up on this series …

I rarely agree with the judges and I most certainly didn't this year. Lord knows what the commission will look like.

It wasn’t as bad as I was expecting. But why paint her in such an unflattering position? It made her legs look fat and she hasn’t got fat legs at all. I didn’t see if the face looked like her. But the judges don’t seem keen on portraits that resemble the sitter.

The series has become a joke. You could take bets on the worst one winning

shysal

I thought this week's winner was awful! Not having a background in art, I don't understand the judges' reasoning sometimes.

I agree. The lady with her double portraits had a much better likeness and had the tenderness of the married couple evident in their faces.
What a wasted opportunity.
Sometimes I wonder if the judges don’t go for the new. What’s wrong with the old?

MayBee70

I think I’m going to give up on this series …

I rarely agree with the judges and I most certainly didn't this year. Lord knows what the commission will look like.

I think I’m going to give up on this series …

I agreed with the judges this week.. interesting work.. and look forward to seeing how he progresses..

I thought this week's winner was awful! Not having a background in art, I don't understand the judges' reasoning sometimes.

What do people think of the one the judges chose this week? Yet again their decision totally bemuses me, especially when they talk about capturing a likeness. Imo it either looks like someone or it doesn’t ie if you see it in isolation you will know straight away who it is.

I too thought the portraits of Richard were not at all flattering. I would have been hard pressed to choose one to take home quite frankly.

Hannah Waddingham fared much better with her artists, but I noticed not one of them painted the award she brought along with her, so rather pointless bringing it really.

I used to love This Morning when Richard and Judy were on it but I think Judy reined him in most of the time. On his own he’s a loose cannon who opens his mouth before engaging his brain! I seem to be finding the portraits in the repeated old series of much better quality than the current ones.

MayBee70

He deserved it after what he said about hedgehogs the other morning. In an interview about how to protect them he pointed out that they were covered in fleas and should be avoided.

Well said MayBee70. 😊👍🐝

It was Lady Churchill , who possibly asked a gardener to burn it .
Churchill was not that well at the time and was declining .

Esmay Was it not Churchill’s wife who burned the portrait ?