ISOLATION ARTIST BLOG - DAY 37

Painting portraits and other new online art activities


I've just finished joining in with Sky Arts live portrait painting class. Each Sunday from 10am until 2pm anyone can join in and paint a celebrities portrait. This can then be submitted by 2pm on Friday when the judges decide on 1st, 2nd and 3rd place each week. Today we painted the author Bernadine Evaristo, who wrote the outstanding prize winning novel 'Woman Girl Other', which I have already mentioned in one of my blogs. She was a brilliant sitter and did a grand job for four hours. The talented, Duncan Shoosmith, winner of Sky Portrait Artist of the Year 2019, painted Bernadine live. You are able to rewatch this on the Sky Facebook page. 

I surprised myself as how to how much I enjoyed this. It was intense and tiring as to get the most out of it you need to look very carefully and concentrate really hard. The fours went by in a flash and during this time I did 5 pieces of work. It is the last one that I'm most pleased with as it captures Bernadine's personality much more than the previous 4. This was done very quickly in watercolour with no pencil drawing. I had learnt a lot about her face and personality from doing the other paintings but felt that they weren't lively enough and didn't show her strength of character. 

If you enjoy art I'd recommend having a go at this next Sunday. This is one of many new opportunities and informative creative programmes that have started during lock down. The other one I enjoy is Grayson Perry's Art Club aired on Channel 4 at 8pm each Monday evening. There is a theme set each week for anyone who wants to submit their work. Then on the Hampshire Cultural Trusts e mail yesterday I noticed their 'Lockdown: Open Up", which anyone in Hampshire can join in with. To me these programmes and schemes highlight the creativity, resourcefulness and quirkiness of the British nation. I really hope this is something we can continue in Life after lockdown and not forget this very important aspect of the people of this country.

Todays drawings were drawn from life  in Kew Gardens a few years ago.