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

It seems crazy... the female finalist produced totally beautiful portraits that were quite exceptional ... to be pased over for the crude attempts of the winner seems mad.

As soon as he made it to the final I thought that he would be the judges winner, they now often seem to pick the worst of the bunch (do you remember the Lenny Henry Painting!!) and sure enough despite giving another very poor likeness he was chosen. He reckons a likeness is not important.
The lady did much better portraits through the series. Not going to bother watching the commission episode.

Luckygirl3

It seems crazy... the female finalist produced totally beautiful portraits that were quite exceptional ... to be pased over for the crude attempts of the winner seems mad.

similar reaction to the audience response when Roger Fry brought the first Post Modernist Exhibition to The Grafton Galleries in London in 1910.. artists were Van Goch, Cezanne and Matisse amongst others...

pascal30

Luckygirl3

It seems crazy... the female finalist produced totally beautiful portraits that were quite exceptional ... to be pased over for the crude attempts of the winner seems mad.

similar reaction to the audience response when Roger Fry brought the first Post Modernist Exhibition to The Grafton Galleries in London in 1910.. artists were Van Goch, Cezanne and Matisse amongst others...

That may be the case, but as far as portraiture goes, many of their works, particularly Matisse, were recognisable as non-offensive portraits and although some may have been considered crude in their composition - they were not deliberately grotesque or cartoon like.

Their conceptual art is a different thing - all conceptual art provokes a whole range of reactions and personally, much as the heathen I no doubt am when it comes to art, I don't appreciate the "shock" factor when it comes to portraiture.

To be fair I have just seen his final portrait for the commission and it was good - different, but good.

I would still have chosen others.

It was better than I expected. But would I know it was Lorraine if I saw it in a gallery with no name attached? I don’t think I would.

I just feel sorry for Lorraine Kelly, she could have had such a lovely portrait.

MayBee70

It was better than I expected. But would I know it was Lorraine if I saw it in a gallery with no name attached? I don’t think I would.

It looked more like Fiona Bruce than Lorraine Kelly to me, and that was stretching my imagination somewhat !

I agree that the winner of the final was not the best.The judges seem to pick the worst not the best.I feel they should change the judges- it’s meant to be a portrait,and therefore should be a good likeness of the sitter,not a crude caricature.

That painting of Lorraine was awful.

Ah, I've seen it then.
She looks as if she's been beaten up in it!

I used to love this programme but we no longer have Sky - does anyone know if I can stream it from anywhere else?

It’s free to view on either channel 11 or 36 but you can’t access catchup if not subscribed. It’s usually repeated the following day. They’re currently re showing a lot of previous programmes of both the portrait one and the landscape one, too. I tend to have Sky Arts on throughout the night if there’s nothing on BBC4. Currently enjoying the programmes about the creation of the new Nutcracker ballet which is on Monday nights and also Gyles Brandreths History of Pantomime.

I've just rewatched the unveiling .
I didn't like Brophy's portrait of Joely R and I wouldn't have chosen him .
On reflection, I do quite like it -shades of Freud (who influenced him ) .
If I wanted a portrait of myself-I would have chosen Jennifer .
I understand the criteria of the judges-they want something new .

I only watch a few of the episodes, and caught the semi, and the final episode. I was equally shocked with the final choice of ?Brophy as the winner. I did not agree that he was the best of the three finalists.
The woman's work was so lovely, and I thought she totally deserved the commission. Her portrait of her friend, as part of the final, was stunningly beautiful.
I did not like the portrait of Brophy's partner, I don't like pictures of people where a view of the crotch - albeit clothed - is on display. Lucian Freud did that style so much better.
I decided not to watch the winner commission episode.