The Big Epitome Challenge - Episode 2

This continues my commentary on The Big Painting Challenge together with focuses on the 2nd episode which was nigh drawing together with icon people.

In fairness to the contestants, it also features some of my dodgy drawings of people spell working from life!

The argue for including my drawings is because, first, I drew did the drawings inwards the lecture theater inwards the bowels of the National Portrait Gallery on Fri night. I attended a sold out course of report on Life Drawing: Sargent Style given past times creative individual Andy Pankhurst (the link is to his drawings of people from life)

My 2nd argue for posting them is because I've been reflecting on what I idea nigh 2nd episode since watching it.

I've genuinely constitute myself wondering to what extent it's at nowadays revealing the differences betwixt those who predominantly move from photos ( equally a affair of habit) together with those who receive got developed skills inwards working from life. I've known workshops where people who receive got been to a greater extent than oft than non regarded equally real proficient artists revealed that they were rather less accomplished when working from life.  It's oft the illustration that people tin introduce equally quite skilled until y'all accept them out of their comfort zone, away from their fourth dimension lines, together with to a greater extent than oft than non "off piste" when it comes to painting.

I intend the practise of working from life is a salient betoken to heighten amongst those aspiring to improve equally an artist. It's working from life which gives y'all the skills to move from a photo.  If you've alone ever worked from a photograph you're apt to live on 'all at sea' when asked to move from life.

The best flake of advice I ever had was to brand certain I went dorsum dwelling occupation solid from my icon vacation together with sign upwards for a life class. That was when I genuinely started to larn how to utilisation my eyes together with coordinate what I saw amongst the marks my manus made. Which is non to tell y'all tin do it forthwith away - equally my drawings below volition illustrate!

Episode 2: The challenges


I idea the challenges were real fair:
  • painting a self portrait inwards oils
  • drawing a stranger inwards dark together with white chalks
  • painting a 'celebrity' actor
The artists had plenty fourth dimension to do something decent - together with yet the fourth dimension allowed was plenty to motility problems for those non used to planning their move or who similar icon fast - together with and so move along together with overwork a decent painting.

I was genuinely surprised at but how many demonstrated an inability to depict good from life. I'm thinking perchance it powerfulness receive got been fairer if they'd been given 10 minutes to warm upwards via some quickies whether nosotros powerfulness receive got seen much ameliorate functioning past times the participating artists.  There in 1 trial again I gauge they could receive got sat to a greater extent than or less amongst a sketchbook together with drawn 1 some other spell waiting for that session to start!

In relation to painting, I was surprised that few also demonstrated an powerfulness to intend nigh the 4 lines to a greater extent than or less the portrait - together with what the best crop powerfulness aspect like. Some were icon without genuinely making a decent picture.

The Judges' comments


I know some nonetheless intend their comments are harsh. However they seem to live on to a greater extent than or less the Paul Hollywood or Simon Cowell scale to me ie real direct together with real accurate.

Personally I don't receive got a employment amongst them - together with quite enjoyed watching on Lord's Day together with mouthing quite a few of them earlier the judges got a adventure to tell just the same thing. I'm guessing at that topographic point were quite a few other people doing the same thing.

The conclusion


my prediction made finally calendar week after the starting fourth dimension episode equally to who would live on adjacent to go.

Oddly, I intend the argue he was sent dwelling occupation solid was because inwards full general he was failing to uncovering what he saw inwards front end of himself - fifty-fifty when this was a self-portrait. I receive got no uncertainty he greatly enjoys icon together with volition move along to bask it inwards his ain unique way.

My prediction for the adjacent episode


Episode 3 is nominally nigh nonetheless life - but genuinely seems to live on nigh perspective together with scale given the multifariousness of the challenges (see my finally spider web log postal service for to a greater extent than details - it's everything from personal objects through giant chess pieces to the facade of Blenheim Palace!).

I'm hence expecting that those who receive got been having problems amongst scale together with proportion powerfulness good deal amongst this one. Looking dorsum over the starting fourth dimension 2 episodes, I'm thinking Anthea powerfulness live on inwards the frame. She's produced some proficient paintings - but for me she has had the worst neglect so far inwards damage of coping amongst dependent champaign affair which is unfamiliar to her inwards damage of sizing and poor pattern together with placement inside the format.  I idea Daphne's description of her finally icon equally beingness catastrophic got it nigh right. Anthea also doesn't seem to live on able to halt together with start in 1 trial again when she makes mistakes. "Soldier through" seems to live on her motto"

This is what her comment is on her profile page
Criticism from the judges was sometimes harder to accept than at others. Observe was the top dog lesson together with I learned I was non ever accurate. Making certain everything was inwards proper proportion stuck amongst me afterwards.

Who do I intend volition live on inwards the Final


I intend I at nowadays receive got 2 candidates for the final. Paul Bell continues to print despite his wobble inwards drawing this calendar week together with making his colours muddied inwards the icon through over-working. (See website http://paulbellart.co.uk and his blog and his postal service nigh Episode 2)

However immature Claire Parker has real definitely surged frontward this week. Both her self-portrait together with her painted portrait of an histrion were absolutely splendid. (See website/blog of her twelvemonth abroad - amongst added painting: http://claire-parker.weebly.com summation her Twitter account @clairesparker)

Top tip from this episode


The flake of advice that all seem to demand to recollect is know when y'all demand to halt - together with start in 1 trial again or walk away.  Some are ameliorate than others at this - together with I know this is a perennial theme many deal with! :)

Take a aspect at this clip from Episode 2 which neatly demonstrates this point.



My drawings from life class

Three x 10 infinitesimal drawings


Oddly the course of report on Fri started amongst 3 10 infinitesimal drawings. I'm to a greater extent than used to these coming after the real fast quickies.  I demand my quickies to loosen up!


I wasn't at all pleased amongst my starting fourth dimension drawing but knew if I persevered the drawing ought to improve amongst subsequent efforts.

#1 The proportions are incorrect inwards places
- trunk is likewise long,
summation folding her fingers inwards makes her hands aspect odd

#2 Tried to arrange for the likewise long trunk - together with at nowadays she's likewise wide!
She at nowadays looks similar a man!
However I did acquire it all on the page together with didn't chop off her caput or her feet!
#3 Getting my oculus inwards at nowadays together with this 1 is looking better
I intend I'm most pleased amongst the fact that the weight
(ie which leg she is using equally her top dog support) looks nigh right

Four quickie drawings


It's real odd - but sometimes real fast drawings aspect better! The starting fourth dimension 3 were all done inwards 3 minutes. We were given 5 minutes for the finally one. I've ever idea that fast drawings is where y'all genuinely larn nigh drawing people. Unpicking what y'all did incorrect makes y'all aspect in 1 trial again at how that role of the body is constructed.

There is of course of report no fourth dimension for special amongst quickies - perchance a quick dash for an oculus together with a shape of the manus together with pollex but no fingers.




Two xx infinitesimal poses

I much prefer to displace if I don't similar my seat for a longer pose - but at that topographic point was no adventure of that spell sat inwards a real total lecture theatre! It's quite a challenge non to bash the individual inwards front end of me amongst my cardboard drawing board!

This is my agency of proverb I genuinely didn't similar the finally pose because the contrast inwards lighting was far likewise harsh from where I was sitting. However I got on amongst it! ;)

This was the department of the course of report where the tutor was emphasising the demand to utilisation the background when drawing individuals. This was something I learned many years ago. It's much easier to depict shape together with mass if y'all utilisation the background together with acquire inwards move for you.

Can y'all come across how my drawing has improved? It's non but because I've got to a greater extent than time. It's mainly because of all the loosening upwards associated amongst the starting fourth dimension sketches. They help to "get your oculus in".

In the adjacent episode come across if y'all tin spot who uses their sketchbook properly inwards The Big Painting Challenge - together with thinks nigh where to crop together with how to house a individual on the page - BEFORE they start!

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