Review: Episode Half-Dozen Of Portrait Creative Someone Of The Yr 2019

Episode 6 pf Portrait Artist of the Year 2019 was 1 of those where it was clear who definitely needed to live on inwards the shortlist - but in addition to then in that place were a fair few also rans.

What follows is my review of the 6th episode - alongside a commentary on themes - in addition to there's to a greater extent than nigh how choices are made afterwards on.

The Artists, Self-portraits in addition to Sitters

Below is a brusque description of each of the participating artists. The links are to websites in addition to social media sites inwards the artist's name. Most of the grouping were non social media savvy.

If I've made a error alongside whatever of the links or details delight allow me know. How to contact me is inwards the side column of this weblog - or yous tin give the axe comment on the link to this weblog post on my Facebook page. I'll in addition to then right PDQ!

Professional Artists 

Tai talking alongside Jixuan Chen nigh how he draws in addition to paints inwards ink in addition to the brushes he uses

• Jixuan Chen (Facebook | Instagram) - video He paints inwards ink on newspaper - alongside ii brushes inwards the same mitt - 1 for outlining in addition to the other for note - in addition to the modify over betwixt the ii is equally good fast for my eyes! Art Education: 2018: MA (Painting Course) Royal College of Arts. London; 2015 2018: BA (Fine Art-Painting), Wimbledon College of Arts (UAL). London. Got to the in conclusion 200 inwards BP Portrait Artist Award inwards 2018. He completed his submission inwards 130 hours.
• Salvatore Fullam (Facebook | Twitter) - video A professional person creative somebody from from Lucan, Co. Dublin. He paints from photos in addition to engineering but tin give the axe also pigment from life - equally he did in the heat.  Not genuinely got to grips alongside social media other than Facebook.
• Sarah Gibson (Facebook) - video - From Cincinnati, OH. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 contemporary realist artist, specializing inwards figurative works, portraits, in addition to still-lifes. Spent vii years inwards Florence, alongside formal preparation inwards drawing in addition to paradigm from the Angel Academy of Art in addition to The Florence Academy of Art. Currently lives in addition to plant inwards the seaside town of Largs, on the W coast of Scotland - alongside her husband. Teaches business office fourth dimension at the Edinburgh Atelier of Fine Art in addition to sells her ain work.
• Emil Nikolla (Facebook | Instagram) - video Lives in addition to plant inwards Beckenham inwards London. He drives a bus, teaches fine art in addition to paints. Studied at the ΑΝΩΤΑΤΗ ΣΧΟΛΗ ΚΑΛΩΝ ΤΕΧΝΩΝ / Athens School of Fine Arts - Greece's premier Art schoolhouse ). He has exhibited at the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition
• Rosso Spoto - video Born inwards Sicily. HTrack tape of pre-selected for major competitions - but non yet selected. Website non kept upwards to date. No social media presence - although her piece of occupation gets posted on social media.

I strive to do a visual imagery alongside which the viewers tin give the axe easily connect in addition to engage creatively in addition to critically.

Amateur Artists 

• Sebastien Bishop (Facebook | Instagram) - video. The consensus was/is that he produces closed to interesting drawings
• Takwonda Mtawali - video an engineering scientific discipline pupil at the University of Sheffield. She paints using alone chief colours.
• Ellie Preston (Facebook | Twitter | Instagram) - video A Fine Art Graduate who plant inwards an H2O ice cream shop, paints every twenty-four lx minutes menstruum in addition to aspires to becoming a professional person artist. Won the Brenda Landon prize for portrait paradigm at Chelsea
• Stephen Wood - video An regular army veteran in addition to part-time carpenter alongside no formal fine art training. His submission was alone his 3rd paradigm in addition to his estrus paradigm was his fourth. He paints inwards watercolour in addition to uses the grid method

The Self Portrait Review

I loved Ross Spoto's passport photograph approach to her self-portrait which provided personality equally good equally a clear indication of an mightiness to pigment good in addition to consistently - equally is also evidenced past times her website. Her self portrait charmed the Judges.

Observations included:

• disturbing in addition to brilliantly off - "but I recall that's why nosotros liked it" - nigh Salvatore's large self -portrait
• "lovely to have got somebody working alongside watercolour inwards a dissimilar way". I idea this was an odd comment. It assumed watercolour is alone painted inwards 1 way. I felt similar sending the Judges on a watercolour appreciation course!
• a tondo inside a foursquare was a really odd composition which caught the eye.

The Sitters

The sitters were

• Sophie Ellis Bextor - a British singer, songwriter in addition to model in addition to multi-platinum selling recording creative somebody - who has an absolutely fascinating human face upwards
• Adrian Lester - an Olivier Award winning participant on cinema in addition to inwards television receiver dramas. He's also a director, in addition to writer.
• Nitin Sawhney CBE CBE is a British Indian musician, producer in addition to composer - who writes songs in addition to music for film. In 2017 he received the Ivor Novello Lifetime Achievement award

Discussions in addition to Observations

Getting likeness past times one-half way

The Judges evidently appreciate the creative somebody who finds a likeness in addition to they are less appreciative of those who never honour 1 and/or lose it after they've found it.



Some artists who tend to focus on figurative piece of occupation are less bothered past times achieving a likeness, whereas those who do commissions appreciate the importance. It occurs to me that artists who piece of occupation to committee know that they don't tend to acquire paid if the customer isn't happy. It's a keen way of learning how to capture likenesses!

It's begun to strike me that those who have got established a likeness past times one-half way are to a greater extent than than halfway to the shortlist.  Judges volition live on keeping a closer oculus on them inwards the 2d half.

Avoiding over-working paintings

There was a fair flake of tidings nigh the amount of piece of occupation required - in addition to how to consummate the paradigm but avoid over-working. This is a perennial theme.

• some knew the penalties of over-working
• some alongside (I think) rather less sense were totally overwhelmed past times how much piece of occupation was required in addition to the fact they didn't have got plenty fourth dimension - in addition to would have got welcomed the chance to worry nigh over-working!
• Others were (I think) really much thrown past times the fact that the estrus does non genuinely supply 4 hours. Yup - it's a total fiction folks. 

Practising paradigm people inwards 3 hours is a jolly skilful exercise for those artists who have got been selected for the upcoming Heats who desire to train. You can't overwork if yous know yous tin give the axe pigment a skilful caput inwards 3 hours. You simply demand to know when to position your brushes down.

To dress or non to clothe

There's an interesting fence to live on had nigh how much of the body in addition to wearable people should paint. Proper portraits involve a lot of wearable - yet we're simply non seeing people paradigm wearable for the most business office - because most stick to the rubber caput shot.

For my business office I recall it's keen if people tin give the axe demonstrate they tin give the axe pigment to a greater extent than than a head. Knowing how to pigment dissimilar textures inwards damage of wearable is a flake similar knowing how to pigment dissimilar pilus styles - yous alone acquire skilful at it past times lots of practice.

If I always got the chance to rewrite the rules I'd desire them to:

• require them to do an upper body to include both wearable in addition to hands
• either inwards the Heats - which would demand to live on longer
• or equally the self-portrait

(I have got a wicked smile on my human face upwards equally I write - but I know we'd acquire ameliorate results if nosotros did this). 

The benefits of the large brush

I wondered how many artists endeavor using dissimilar sized brushes. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 lot of them could speed upwards significantly if they used bigger brushes.  They don't lay inwards alongside large brushes in addition to and then refine alongside smaller brushes - they endeavor in addition to do the whole paradigm alongside smaller brushes - in addition to that simply takes forever!

When I run across people using small-scale brushes to pigment (i.e. non draw) I simply desire to accomplish into the concealment in addition to have got it off them. Either that or shipping them on a course of written report using large chunky pastel sticks - which is where I learned non to run small-scale when yous motion onto tones in addition to colour.

My persuasion is that a lot of painters could do goodness from learning how to run bigger brushes at the commencement in addition to inwards laying inwards initial layers - in addition to cut back the size of the brush used over time.

I loved seeing the brush alongside the huge body of pilus which was going to live on used past times Jixuan Chen to pigment the eyelashes. It had an incredibly long tip alongside a fine point!

Splitting the Judges

This estrus was marked past times Judges beingness quite separate nigh dissimilar people. Frankly I was pleased to run across this. I don't hear when they all have got the same persuasion (as me!) but sometimes I recall they demand to explicate to a greater extent than why they liked people in addition to why they disagreed.

In this episode they did - in addition to it was much ameliorate for it. If yous didn't hear it sentinel it again.

The Judges summarise the pros in addition to cons of each artist

Decision Time

Sitters direct portrait to have got home

• Sophie Ellis Bextor chose the paradigm past times Ellie Preston - equally the 1 she could run across inwards her mother's house
• Adrian Lester was 'gobsmacked; when he saw the portraits in addition to took a spell to speak. He chose the portrait past times Emil Nikolla
• Nitin Sawhney chose the paradigm past times Sarah Gibson equally beingness the 1 he recognized the most

Things the Judges liked

• artists who honour a likeness
• being able to sentinel a journeying inwards paradigm - alongside a resolution
• painters who pigment the body - in addition to non simply the caput - in addition to acquire a likeness inwards damage of posture
• the way artists position pigment downwards - which is dissimilar in addition to new 
• using colours intelligently - whether this is bold or sensitive
• integrating the background i.e. making closed to thoughtful decisions in addition to non simply making it a apartment colour

Judges were less impressed with

• portraits which lack likeness
• starting good alongside a drawing - but failing to improve when painting
• cartoon similar qualities
• unfinished portraits
• painting equally good large in addition to and then non finishing
• "weaker" paintings (i.e. ones which await OK until yous position them side past times side to a stronger paradigm of the same sort)

It seems clearer in addition to clearer to me that if the Judges are choosing 1 of the ways they do this is position those painters who have got painted inwards comparable styles together (eg graphic style) in addition to and then the Judges compare them in addition to pick the 1 they prefer. This way it's pot luck whether yous acquire through. You demand to live on the best of your vogue of paradigm inwards your Heat.

Kathleen Soriano summed it upwards inwards a rapid burn downwards tilt equally follows

....it's hard for us because we're wrestling alongside thence many things when we're trying to pick winners. We're looking for somebody who is bringing something novel but you're are looking for somebody who knows what they're doing; you're looking for something that is fresh in addition to dissimilar but is non cheesy or cliched - thence there's a lot of dissimilar things we're trying to doing when we're trying to direct winners each week.

If you're inwards the novel Heats for Portrait Artist of the Year 2020 - starting side past times side calendar month at the Battersea Arts Centre - I propose yous re-create that tilt out in addition to post it somewhere yous tin give the axe run across it every twenty-four lx minutes menstruum until yous attend your heat!

The Shortlist in addition to Heat Winner

The Shortlist

The Judges chose ii professionals in addition to an amateur who is a graduate of fine fine art who aspires to paradigm total fourth dimension - listed hither inwards alphabetical order:

• Ellie Preston
• Salvatore Fullam
• Emil Nikolla

I liked Rosso Porto's paradigm - but I'm guessing she was competing alongside Emil for a identify on the shortlist.

I recall Sarah Gibson's was on its way. However I'm really firmly of the persuasion that she should have got been working on a much smaller format if she was going to exit thence much of the sheet untouched. It simply leaves it looking  equally if it comes into the category of "nice paradigm but should have got tried harder". It's insubstantial.  This is non a preliminary written report in addition to you're going to pigment to a greater extent than afterwards - this is it - yous MUST endeavor in addition to scope a finished paradigm - equally all the shortlisted artists did.

The chap using watercolour had got a skilful likeness inwards the drawing but was nowhere nigh finished inwards damage of painting. It's a lesson inwards what happens if yous don't practice.

I recall Salvatore got shortlisted inwards business office because of

• his self-portrait where he painted himself top to toe alongside wearable in addition to peel in addition to hands! (see my betoken before nigh clothing)
• the fact he painted a body in addition to got the likeness of the private through posture 
• finished his estrus paradigm (i.e. all sheet covered!)

Self portrait in addition to estrus portrait past times Salvatore Fullam

Self portrait in addition to estrus portrait past times Ellie Preston

I'm non that keen on the portrait of Sophie Ellis Bextor - but Ellie likely had the worst seat for paradigm somebody who has such a really rigid in addition to angular jaw line. I idea it was a ameliorate paradigm for the actual laying on of pigment rather than the likeness. However I liked the self-portrait a lot in addition to idea that was really good.

Self portrait in addition to estrus portrait past times Emil Nikolla

These await similar portraits past times a mature painter who has been paradigm people for a long time. This is a human being who has worked at his paradigm in addition to has got results. His are also the most naturalistic paintings of all those who painted this week.

He's the variety of chap yous committee to do a portrait in addition to you'd know inwards advance you'd acquire a portrait that genuinely looked similar the somebody - in addition to that yous in addition to the sitter volition never always live on disappointed.

I recall those people inwards southward E London who have got the chance to do classes alongside Emil are really lucky!

The Final Decision

Waiting to hear the Final Decision

Episode 6 Winner

The Judges chose Emil Nikolla equally the Heat Winner. 

Add caption

This is the video of him paradigm the Heat Portrait speeded up


EMIL NIKOLLA: Time-lapse paradigm on Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year 2019 from N9 Design on Vimeo.

and finally.....

It may come upwards equally no surprise to yous that the actual heats are non televised inwards the fellowship they are filmed in. That's to brand certain they spread out the skilful ones in addition to the non do skilful ones

I'm non proverb which episodes they cropped upwards inwards but ii of the finalists have got been identified equally Heat Winners inwards ii of Heats 1 to 6 - which way (big hint) - that the 3rd finalist comes from either Episode 7 or 8.

We'll all honour out inwards 3 weeks fourth dimension - at the terminate of the semi-finals - after they have got identified the finalists.

I'm soundless looking forwards to the betoken after the Final when I tin give the axe finally present yous what a Final genuinely looks like!

More Learning Points re. Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year

PLUS below are my weblog posts from in conclusion yr which contains lots of learning points nigh paradigm inwards this competitor for those aspiring to compete this year.

Learning Points re the 2019 competition

passport photograph approach to her self-portrait which provided personality equally good equally a clear indication of an mightiness to pigment good in addition to consistently - equally is also evidenced past times her website. Her self portrait charmed the Judges.

Observations included:

• disturbing in addition to brilliantly off - "but I recall that's why nosotros liked it" - nigh Salvatore's large self -portrait
• "lovely to have got somebody working alongside watercolour inwards a dissimilar way". I idea this was an odd comment. It assumed watercolour is alone painted inwards 1 way. I felt similar sending the Judges on a watercolour appreciation course!
• a tondo inside a foursquare was a really odd composition which caught the eye.



The Sitters


The sitters were

• Sophie Ellis Bextor - a British singer, songwriter in addition to model in addition to multi-platinum selling recording creative somebody - who has an absolutely fascinating human face upwards
• Adrian Lester - an Olivier Award winning participant on cinema in addition to inwards television receiver dramas. He's also a director, in addition to writer.
• Nitin Sawhney CBE CBE is a British Indian musician, producer in addition to composer - who writes songs in addition to music for film. In 2017 he received the Ivor Novello Lifetime Achievement award



Discussions in addition to Observations




Getting likeness past times one-half way


The Judges evidently appreciate the creative somebody who finds a likeness in addition to they are less appreciative of those who never honour 1 and/or lose it after they've found it.



Some artists who tend to focus on figurative piece of occupation are less bothered past times achieving a likeness, whereas those who do commissions appreciate the importance. It occurs to me that artists who piece of occupation to committee know that they don't tend to acquire paid if the customer isn't happy. It's a keen way of learning how to capture likenesses!

It's begun to strike me that those who have got established a likeness past times one-half way are to a greater extent than than halfway to the shortlist.  Judges volition live on keeping a closer oculus on them inwards the 2d half.



Avoiding over-working paintings


There was a fair flake of tidings nigh the amount of piece of occupation required - in addition to how to consummate the paradigm but avoid over-working. This is a perennial theme.

• some knew the penalties of over-working
• some alongside (I think) rather less sense were totally overwhelmed past times how much piece of occupation was required in addition to the fact they didn't have got plenty fourth dimension - in addition to would have got welcomed the chance to worry nigh over-working!
• Others were (I think) really much thrown past times the fact that the estrus does non genuinely supply 4 hours. Yup - it's a total fiction folks. 
Practising paradigm people inwards 3 hours is a jolly skilful exercise for those artists who have got been selected for the upcoming Heats who desire to train. You can't overwork if yous know yous tin give the axe pigment a skilful caput inwards 3 hours. You simply demand to know when to position your brushes down.



To dress or non to clothe


There's an interesting fence to live on had nigh how much of the body in addition to wearable people should paint. Proper portraits involve a lot of wearable - yet we're simply non seeing people paradigm wearable for the most business office - because most stick to the rubber caput shot.

For my business office I recall it's keen if people tin give the axe demonstrate they tin give the axe pigment to a greater extent than than a head. Knowing how to pigment dissimilar textures inwards damage of wearable is a flake similar knowing how to pigment dissimilar pilus styles - yous alone acquire skilful at it past times lots of practice.

If I always got the chance to rewrite the rules I'd desire them to:

• require them to do an upper body to include both wearable in addition to hands
• either inwards the Heats - which would demand to live on longer
• or equally the self-portrait
(I have got a wicked smile on my human face upwards equally I write - but I know we'd acquire ameliorate results if nosotros did this). 



The benefits of the large brush


I wondered how many artists endeavor using dissimilar sized brushes. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 lot of them could speed upwards significantly if they used bigger brushes.  They don't lay inwards alongside large brushes in addition to and then refine alongside smaller brushes - they endeavor in addition to do the whole paradigm alongside smaller brushes - in addition to that simply takes forever!

When I run across people using small-scale brushes to pigment (i.e. non draw) I simply desire to accomplish into the concealment in addition to have got it off them. Either that or shipping them on a course of written report using large chunky pastel sticks - which is where I learned non to run small-scale when yous motion onto tones in addition to colour.

My persuasion is that a lot of painters could do goodness from learning how to run bigger brushes at the commencement in addition to inwards laying inwards initial layers - in addition to cut back the size of the brush used over time.

I loved seeing the brush alongside the huge body of pilus which was going to live on used past times Jixuan Chen to pigment the eyelashes. It had an incredibly long tip alongside a fine point!




Splitting the Judges


This estrus was marked past times Judges beingness quite separate nigh dissimilar people. Frankly I was pleased to run across this. I don't hear when they all have got the same persuasion (as me!) but sometimes I recall they demand to explicate to a greater extent than why they liked people in addition to why they disagreed.

In this episode they did - in addition to it was much ameliorate for it. If yous didn't hear it sentinel it again.





The Judges summarise the pros in addition to cons of each artist





Decision Time




Sitters direct portrait to have got home



• Sophie Ellis Bextor chose the paradigm past times Ellie Preston - equally the 1 she could run across inwards her mother's house
• Adrian Lester was 'gobsmacked; when he saw the portraits in addition to took a spell to speak. He chose the portrait past times Emil Nikolla
• Nitin Sawhney chose the paradigm past times Sarah Gibson equally beingness the 1 he recognized the most



Things the Judges liked

• artists who honour a likeness
• being able to sentinel a journeying inwards paradigm - alongside a resolution
• painters who pigment the body - in addition to non simply the caput - in addition to acquire a likeness inwards damage of posture
• the way artists position pigment downwards - which is dissimilar in addition to new 
• using colours intelligently - whether this is bold or sensitive
• integrating the background i.e. making closed to thoughtful decisions in addition to non simply making it a apartment colour



Judges were less impressed with

• portraits which lack likeness
• starting good alongside a drawing - but failing to improve when painting
• cartoon similar qualities
• unfinished portraits
• painting equally good large in addition to and then non finishing
• "weaker" paintings (i.e. ones which await OK until yous position them side past times side to a stronger paradigm of the same sort)
It seems clearer in addition to clearer to me that if the Judges are choosing 1 of the ways they do this is position those painters who have got painted inwards comparable styles together (eg graphic style) in addition to and then the Judges compare them in addition to pick the 1 they prefer. This way it's pot luck whether yous acquire through. You demand to live on the best of your vogue of paradigm inwards your Heat.

Kathleen Soriano summed it upwards inwards a rapid burn downwards tilt equally follows


....it's hard for us because we're wrestling alongside thence many things when we're trying to pick winners. We're looking for somebody who is bringing something novel but you're are looking for somebody who knows what they're doing; you're looking for something that is fresh in addition to dissimilar but is non cheesy or cliched - thence there's a lot of dissimilar things we're trying to doing when we're trying to direct winners each week.

If you're inwards the novel Heats for Portrait Artist of the Year 2020 - starting side past times side calendar month at the Battersea Arts Centre - I propose yous re-create that tilt out in addition to post it somewhere yous tin give the axe run across it every twenty-four lx minutes menstruum until yous attend your heat!



The Shortlist in addition to Heat Winner




The Shortlist


The Judges chose ii professionals in addition to an amateur who is a graduate of fine fine art who aspires to paradigm total fourth dimension - listed hither inwards alphabetical order:

• Ellie Preston
• Salvatore Fullam
• Emil Nikolla
I liked Rosso Porto's paradigm - but I'm guessing she was competing alongside Emil for a identify on the shortlist.

I recall Sarah Gibson's was on its way. However I'm really firmly of the persuasion that she should have got been working on a much smaller format if she was going to exit thence much of the sheet untouched. It simply leaves it looking  equally if it comes into the category of "nice paradigm but should have got tried harder". It's insubstantial.  This is non a preliminary written report in addition to you're going to pigment to a greater extent than afterwards - this is it - yous MUST endeavor in addition to scope a finished paradigm - equally all the shortlisted artists did.

The chap using watercolour had got a skilful likeness inwards the drawing but was nowhere nigh finished inwards damage of painting. It's a lesson inwards what happens if yous don't practice.

I recall Salvatore got shortlisted inwards business office because of

• his self-portrait where he painted himself top to toe alongside wearable in addition to peel in addition to hands! (see my betoken before nigh clothing)
• the fact he painted a body in addition to got the likeness of the private through posture 
• finished his estrus paradigm (i.e. all sheet covered!)



Self portrait in addition to estrus portrait past times Salvatore Fullam






Self portrait in addition to estrus portrait past times Ellie Preston


I'm non that keen on the portrait of Sophie Ellis Bextor - but Ellie likely had the worst seat for paradigm somebody who has such a really rigid in addition to angular jaw line. I idea it was a ameliorate paradigm for the actual laying on of pigment rather than the likeness. However I liked the self-portrait a lot in addition to idea that was really good.






Self portrait in addition to estrus portrait past times Emil Nikolla

These await similar portraits past times a mature painter who has been paradigm people for a long time. This is a human being who has worked at his paradigm in addition to has got results. His are also the most naturalistic paintings of all those who painted this week.



He's the variety of chap yous committee to do a portrait in addition to you'd know inwards advance you'd acquire a portrait that genuinely looked similar the somebody - in addition to that yous in addition to the sitter volition never always live on disappointed.


I recall those people inwards southward E London who have got the chance to do classes alongside Emil are really lucky!





The Final Decision






Waiting to hear the Final Decision




Episode 6 Winner


The Judges chose Emil Nikolla equally the Heat Winner. 





Add caption


This is the video of him paradigm the Heat Portrait speeded up


EMIL NIKOLLA: Time-lapse paradigm on Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year 2019 from N9 Design on Vimeo.



and finally.....


It may come upwards equally no surprise to yous that the actual heats are non televised inwards the fellowship they are filmed in. That's to brand certain they spread out the skilful ones in addition to the non do skilful ones

I'm non proverb which episodes they cropped upwards inwards but ii of the finalists have got been identified equally Heat Winners inwards ii of Heats 1 to 6 - which way (big hint) - that the 3rd finalist comes from either Episode 7 or 8.

We'll all honour out inwards 3 weeks fourth dimension - at the terminate of the semi-finals - after they have got identified the finalists.

I'm soundless looking forwards to the betoken after the Final when I tin give the axe finally present yous what a Final genuinely looks like!




More Learning Points re. Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year


PLUS below are my weblog posts from in conclusion yr which contains lots of learning points nigh paradigm inwards this competitor for those aspiring to compete this year.




Learning Points re the 2019 competition

passport photograph approach to her self-portrait which provided personality equally good equally a clear indication of an mightiness to pigment good in addition to consistently - equally is also evidenced past times her website. Her self portrait charmed the Judges.

Observations included:


• disturbing in addition to brilliantly off - "but I recall that's why nosotros liked it" - nigh Salvatore's large self -portrait
• "lovely to have got somebody working alongside watercolour inwards a dissimilar way". I idea this was an odd comment. It assumed watercolour is alone painted inwards 1 way. I felt similar sending the Judges on a watercolour appreciation course!
• a tondo inside a foursquare was a really odd composition which caught the eye.




The Sitters


The sitters were


• Sophie Ellis Bextor - a British singer, songwriter in addition to model in addition to multi-platinum selling recording creative somebody - who has an absolutely fascinating human face upwards
• Adrian Lester - an Olivier Award winning participant on cinema in addition to inwards television receiver dramas. He's also a director, in addition to writer.
• Nitin Sawhney CBE CBE is a British Indian musician, producer in addition to composer - who writes songs in addition to music for film. In 2017 he received the Ivor Novello Lifetime Achievement award




Discussions in addition to Observations




Getting likeness past times one-half way


The Judges evidently appreciate the creative somebody who finds a likeness in addition to they are less appreciative of those who never honour 1 and/or lose it after they've found it.



Some artists who tend to focus on figurative piece of occupation are less bothered past times achieving a likeness, whereas those who do commissions appreciate the importance. It occurs to me that artists who piece of occupation to committee know that they don't tend to acquire paid if the customer isn't happy. It's a keen way of learning how to capture likenesses!

It's begun to strike me that those who have got established a likeness past times one-half way are to a greater extent than than halfway to the shortlist.  Judges volition live on keeping a closer oculus on them inwards the 2d half.



Avoiding over-working paintings


There was a fair flake of tidings nigh the amount of piece of occupation required - in addition to how to consummate the paradigm but avoid over-working. This is a perennial theme.


• some knew the penalties of over-working
• some alongside (I think) rather less sense were totally overwhelmed past times how much piece of occupation was required in addition to the fact they didn't have got plenty fourth dimension - in addition to would have got welcomed the chance to worry nigh over-working!
• Others were (I think) really much thrown past times the fact that the estrus does non genuinely supply 4 hours. Yup - it's a total fiction folks. 

Practising paradigm people inwards 3 hours is a jolly skilful exercise for those artists who have got been selected for the upcoming Heats who desire to train. You can't overwork if yous know yous tin give the axe pigment a skilful caput inwards 3 hours. You simply demand to know when to position your brushes down.



To dress or non to clothe


There's an interesting fence to live on had nigh how much of the body in addition to wearable people should paint. Proper portraits involve a lot of wearable - yet we're simply non seeing people paradigm wearable for the most business office - because most stick to the rubber caput shot.

For my business office I recall it's keen if people tin give the axe demonstrate they tin give the axe pigment to a greater extent than than a head. Knowing how to pigment dissimilar textures inwards damage of wearable is a flake similar knowing how to pigment dissimilar pilus styles - yous alone acquire skilful at it past times lots of practice.

If I always got the chance to rewrite the rules I'd desire them to:


• require them to do an upper body to include both wearable in addition to hands
• either inwards the Heats - which would demand to live on longer
• or equally the self-portrait

(I have got a wicked smile on my human face upwards equally I write - but I know we'd acquire ameliorate results if nosotros did this). 



The benefits of the large brush


I wondered how many artists endeavor using dissimilar sized brushes. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 lot of them could speed upwards significantly if they used bigger brushes.  They don't lay inwards alongside large brushes in addition to and then refine alongside smaller brushes - they endeavor in addition to do the whole paradigm alongside smaller brushes - in addition to that simply takes forever!

When I run across people using small-scale brushes to pigment (i.e. non draw) I simply desire to accomplish into the concealment in addition to have got it off them. Either that or shipping them on a course of written report using large chunky pastel sticks - which is where I learned non to run small-scale when yous motion onto tones in addition to colour.

My persuasion is that a lot of painters could do goodness from learning how to run bigger brushes at the commencement in addition to inwards laying inwards initial layers - in addition to cut back the size of the brush used over time.

I loved seeing the brush alongside the huge body of pilus which was going to live on used past times Jixuan Chen to pigment the eyelashes. It had an incredibly long tip alongside a fine point!




Splitting the Judges


This estrus was marked past times Judges beingness quite separate nigh dissimilar people. Frankly I was pleased to run across this. I don't hear when they all have got the same persuasion (as me!) but sometimes I recall they demand to explicate to a greater extent than why they liked people in addition to why they disagreed.

In this episode they did - in addition to it was much ameliorate for it. If yous didn't hear it sentinel it again.





The Judges summarise the pros in addition to cons of each artist





Decision Time




Sitters direct portrait to have got home




• Sophie Ellis Bextor chose the paradigm past times Ellie Preston - equally the 1 she could run across inwards her mother's house
• Adrian Lester was 'gobsmacked; when he saw the portraits in addition to took a spell to speak. He chose the portrait past times Emil Nikolla
• Nitin Sawhney chose the paradigm past times Sarah Gibson equally beingness the 1 he recognized the most




Things the Judges liked

• artists who honour a likeness
• being able to sentinel a journeying inwards paradigm - alongside a resolution
• painters who pigment the body - in addition to non simply the caput - in addition to acquire a likeness inwards damage of posture
• the way artists position pigment downwards - which is dissimilar in addition to new 
• using colours intelligently - whether this is bold or sensitive
• integrating the background i.e. making closed to thoughtful decisions in addition to non simply making it a apartment colour




Judges were less impressed with

• portraits which lack likeness
• starting good alongside a drawing - but failing to improve when painting
• cartoon similar qualities
• unfinished portraits
• painting equally good large in addition to and then non finishing
• "weaker" paintings (i.e. ones which await OK until yous position them side past times side to a stronger paradigm of the same sort)

It seems clearer in addition to clearer to me that if the Judges are choosing 1 of the ways they do this is position those painters who have got painted inwards comparable styles together (eg graphic style) in addition to and then the Judges compare them in addition to pick the 1 they prefer. This way it's pot luck whether yous acquire through. You demand to live on the best of your vogue of paradigm inwards your Heat.

Kathleen Soriano summed it upwards inwards a rapid burn downwards tilt equally follows


....it's hard for us because we're wrestling alongside thence many things when we're trying to pick winners. We're looking for somebody who is bringing something novel but you're are looking for somebody who knows what they're doing; you're looking for something that is fresh in addition to dissimilar but is non cheesy or cliched - thence there's a lot of dissimilar things we're trying to doing when we're trying to direct winners each week.

If you're inwards the novel Heats for Portrait Artist of the Year 2020 - starting side past times side calendar month at the Battersea Arts Centre - I propose yous re-create that tilt out in addition to post it somewhere yous tin give the axe run across it every twenty-four lx minutes menstruum until yous attend your heat!



The Shortlist in addition to Heat Winner




The Shortlist


The Judges chose ii professionals in addition to an amateur who is a graduate of fine fine art who aspires to paradigm total fourth dimension - listed hither inwards alphabetical order:


• Ellie Preston
• Salvatore Fullam
• Emil Nikolla

I liked Rosso Porto's paradigm - but I'm guessing she was competing alongside Emil for a identify on the shortlist.

I recall Sarah Gibson's was on its way. However I'm really firmly of the persuasion that she should have got been working on a much smaller format if she was going to exit thence much of the sheet untouched. It simply leaves it looking  equally if it comes into the category of "nice paradigm but should have got tried harder". It's insubstantial.  This is non a preliminary written report in addition to you're going to pigment to a greater extent than afterwards - this is it - yous MUST endeavor in addition to scope a finished paradigm - equally all the shortlisted artists did.

The chap using watercolour had got a skilful likeness inwards the drawing but was nowhere nigh finished inwards damage of painting. It's a lesson inwards what happens if yous don't practice.

I recall Salvatore got shortlisted inwards business office because of


• his self-portrait where he painted himself top to toe alongside wearable in addition to peel in addition to hands! (see my betoken before nigh clothing)
• the fact he painted a body in addition to got the likeness of the private through posture 
• finished his estrus paradigm (i.e. all sheet covered!)



Self portrait in addition to estrus portrait past times Salvatore Fullam






Self portrait in addition to estrus portrait past times Ellie Preston


I'm non that keen on the portrait of Sophie Ellis Bextor - but Ellie likely had the worst seat for paradigm somebody who has such a really rigid in addition to angular jaw line. I idea it was a ameliorate paradigm for the actual laying on of pigment rather than the likeness. However I liked the self-portrait a lot in addition to idea that was really good.






Self portrait in addition to estrus portrait past times Emil Nikolla

These await similar portraits past times a mature painter who has been paradigm people for a long time. This is a human being who has worked at his paradigm in addition to has got results. His are also the most naturalistic paintings of all those who painted this week.





He's the variety of chap yous committee to do a portrait in addition to you'd know inwards advance you'd acquire a portrait that genuinely looked similar the somebody - in addition to that yous in addition to the sitter volition never always live on disappointed.




I recall those people inwards southward E London who have got the chance to do classes alongside Emil are really lucky!





The Final Decision






Waiting to hear the Final Decision




Episode 6 Winner


The Judges chose Emil Nikolla equally the Heat Winner. 





Add caption


This is the video of him paradigm the Heat Portrait speeded up


EMIL NIKOLLA: Time-lapse paradigm on Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year 2019 from N9 Design on Vimeo.



and finally.....


It may come upwards equally no surprise to yous that the actual heats are non televised inwards the fellowship they are filmed in. That's to brand certain they spread out the skilful ones in addition to the non do skilful ones

I'm non proverb which episodes they cropped upwards inwards but ii of the finalists have got been identified equally Heat Winners inwards ii of Heats 1 to 6 - which way (big hint) - that the 3rd finalist comes from either Episode 7 or 8.

We'll all honour out inwards 3 weeks fourth dimension - at the terminate of the semi-finals - after they have got identified the finalists.

I'm soundless looking forwards to the betoken after the Final when I tin give the axe finally present yous what a Final genuinely looks like!




More Learning Points re. Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year


PLUS below are my weblog posts from in conclusion yr which contains lots of learning points nigh paradigm inwards this competitor for those aspiring to compete this year.




Learning Points re the 2019 competition

Review: Episode v of Portrait Artist of the Year 2019

passport photograph approach to her self-portrait which provided personality equally good equally a clear indication of an mightiness to pigment good in addition to consistently - equally is also evidenced past times her website. Her self portrait charmed the Judges.

Observations included:


• disturbing in addition to brilliantly off - "but I recall that's why nosotros liked it" - nigh Salvatore's large self -portrait
• "lovely to have got somebody working alongside watercolour inwards a dissimilar way". I idea this was an odd comment. It assumed watercolour is alone painted inwards 1 way. I felt similar sending the Judges on a watercolour appreciation course!
• a tondo inside a foursquare was a really odd composition which caught the eye.




The Sitters


The sitters were


• Sophie Ellis Bextor - a British singer, songwriter in addition to model in addition to multi-platinum selling recording creative somebody - who has an absolutely fascinating human face upwards
• Adrian Lester - an Olivier Award winning participant on cinema in addition to inwards television receiver dramas. He's also a director, in addition to writer.
• Nitin Sawhney CBE CBE is a British Indian musician, producer in addition to composer - who writes songs in addition to music for film. In 2017 he received the Ivor Novello Lifetime Achievement award




Discussions in addition to Observations




Getting likeness past times one-half way


The Judges evidently appreciate the creative somebody who finds a likeness in addition to they are less appreciative of those who never honour 1 and/or lose it after they've found it.



Some artists who tend to focus on figurative piece of occupation are less bothered past times achieving a likeness, whereas those who do commissions appreciate the importance. It occurs to me that artists who piece of occupation to committee know that they don't tend to acquire paid if the customer isn't happy. It's a keen way of learning how to capture likenesses!

It's begun to strike me that those who have got established a likeness past times one-half way are to a greater extent than than halfway to the shortlist.  Judges volition live on keeping a closer oculus on them inwards the 2d half.



Avoiding over-working paintings


There was a fair flake of tidings nigh the amount of piece of occupation required - in addition to how to consummate the paradigm but avoid over-working. This is a perennial theme.


• some knew the penalties of over-working
• some alongside (I think) rather less sense were totally overwhelmed past times how much piece of occupation was required in addition to the fact they didn't have got plenty fourth dimension - in addition to would have got welcomed the chance to worry nigh over-working!
• Others were (I think) really much thrown past times the fact that the estrus does non genuinely supply 4 hours. Yup - it's a total fiction folks. 

Practising paradigm people inwards 3 hours is a jolly skilful exercise for those artists who have got been selected for the upcoming Heats who desire to train. You can't overwork if yous know yous tin give the axe pigment a skilful caput inwards 3 hours. You simply demand to know when to position your brushes down.



To dress or non to clothe


There's an interesting fence to live on had nigh how much of the body in addition to wearable people should paint. Proper portraits involve a lot of wearable - yet we're simply non seeing people paradigm wearable for the most business office - because most stick to the rubber caput shot.

For my business office I recall it's keen if people tin give the axe demonstrate they tin give the axe pigment to a greater extent than than a head. Knowing how to pigment dissimilar textures inwards damage of wearable is a flake similar knowing how to pigment dissimilar pilus styles - yous alone acquire skilful at it past times lots of practice.

If I always got the chance to rewrite the rules I'd desire them to:


• require them to do an upper body to include both wearable in addition to hands
• either inwards the Heats - which would demand to live on longer
• or equally the self-portrait

(I have got a wicked smile on my human face upwards equally I write - but I know we'd acquire ameliorate results if nosotros did this). 



The benefits of the large brush


I wondered how many artists endeavor using dissimilar sized brushes. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 lot of them could speed upwards significantly if they used bigger brushes.  They don't lay inwards alongside large brushes in addition to and then refine alongside smaller brushes - they endeavor in addition to do the whole paradigm alongside smaller brushes - in addition to that simply takes forever!

When I run across people using small-scale brushes to pigment (i.e. non draw) I simply desire to accomplish into the concealment in addition to have got it off them. Either that or shipping them on a course of written report using large chunky pastel sticks - which is where I learned non to run small-scale when yous motion onto tones in addition to colour.

My persuasion is that a lot of painters could do goodness from learning how to run bigger brushes at the commencement in addition to inwards laying inwards initial layers - in addition to cut back the size of the brush used over time.

I loved seeing the brush alongside the huge body of pilus which was going to live on used past times Jixuan Chen to pigment the eyelashes. It had an incredibly long tip alongside a fine point!




Splitting the Judges


This estrus was marked past times Judges beingness quite separate nigh dissimilar people. Frankly I was pleased to run across this. I don't hear when they all have got the same persuasion (as me!) but sometimes I recall they demand to explicate to a greater extent than why they liked people in addition to why they disagreed.

In this episode they did - in addition to it was much ameliorate for it. If yous didn't hear it sentinel it again.





The Judges summarise the pros in addition to cons of each artist





Decision Time




Sitters direct portrait to have got home




• Sophie Ellis Bextor chose the paradigm past times Ellie Preston - equally the 1 she could run across inwards her mother's house
• Adrian Lester was 'gobsmacked; when he saw the portraits in addition to took a spell to speak. He chose the portrait past times Emil Nikolla
• Nitin Sawhney chose the paradigm past times Sarah Gibson equally beingness the 1 he recognized the most




Things the Judges liked

• artists who honour a likeness
• being able to sentinel a journeying inwards paradigm - alongside a resolution
• painters who pigment the body - in addition to non simply the caput - in addition to acquire a likeness inwards damage of posture
• the way artists position pigment downwards - which is dissimilar in addition to new 
• using colours intelligently - whether this is bold or sensitive
• integrating the background i.e. making closed to thoughtful decisions in addition to non simply making it a apartment colour




Judges were less impressed with

• portraits which lack likeness
• starting good alongside a drawing - but failing to improve when painting
• cartoon similar qualities
• unfinished portraits
• painting equally good large in addition to and then non finishing
• "weaker" paintings (i.e. ones which await OK until yous position them side past times side to a stronger paradigm of the same sort)

It seems clearer in addition to clearer to me that if the Judges are choosing 1 of the ways they do this is position those painters who have got painted inwards comparable styles together (eg graphic style) in addition to and then the Judges compare them in addition to pick the 1 they prefer. This way it's pot luck whether yous acquire through. You demand to live on the best of your vogue of paradigm inwards your Heat.

Kathleen Soriano summed it upwards inwards a rapid burn downwards tilt equally follows


....it's hard for us because we're wrestling alongside thence many things when we're trying to pick winners. We're looking for somebody who is bringing something novel but you're are looking for somebody who knows what they're doing; you're looking for something that is fresh in addition to dissimilar but is non cheesy or cliched - thence there's a lot of dissimilar things we're trying to doing when we're trying to direct winners each week.

If you're inwards the novel Heats for Portrait Artist of the Year 2020 - starting side past times side calendar month at the Battersea Arts Centre - I propose yous re-create that tilt out in addition to post it somewhere yous tin give the axe run across it every twenty-four lx minutes menstruum until yous attend your heat!



The Shortlist in addition to Heat Winner




The Shortlist


The Judges chose ii professionals in addition to an amateur who is a graduate of fine fine art who aspires to paradigm total fourth dimension - listed hither inwards alphabetical order:


• Ellie Preston
• Salvatore Fullam
• Emil Nikolla

I liked Rosso Porto's paradigm - but I'm guessing she was competing alongside Emil for a identify on the shortlist.

I recall Sarah Gibson's was on its way. However I'm really firmly of the persuasion that she should have got been working on a much smaller format if she was going to exit thence much of the sheet untouched. It simply leaves it looking  equally if it comes into the category of "nice paradigm but should have got tried harder". It's insubstantial.  This is non a preliminary written report in addition to you're going to pigment to a greater extent than afterwards - this is it - yous MUST endeavor in addition to scope a finished paradigm - equally all the shortlisted artists did.

The chap using watercolour had got a skilful likeness inwards the drawing but was nowhere nigh finished inwards damage of painting. It's a lesson inwards what happens if yous don't practice.

I recall Salvatore got shortlisted inwards business office because of


• his self-portrait where he painted himself top to toe alongside wearable in addition to peel in addition to hands! (see my betoken before nigh clothing)
• the fact he painted a body in addition to got the likeness of the private through posture 
• finished his estrus paradigm (i.e. all sheet covered!)



Self portrait in addition to estrus portrait past times Salvatore Fullam






Self portrait in addition to estrus portrait past times Ellie Preston


I'm non that keen on the portrait of Sophie Ellis Bextor - but Ellie likely had the worst seat for paradigm somebody who has such a really rigid in addition to angular jaw line. I idea it was a ameliorate paradigm for the actual laying on of pigment rather than the likeness. However I liked the self-portrait a lot in addition to idea that was really good.






Self portrait in addition to estrus portrait past times Emil Nikolla

These await similar portraits past times a mature painter who has been paradigm people for a long time. This is a human being who has worked at his paradigm in addition to has got results. His are also the most naturalistic paintings of all those who painted this week.





He's the variety of chap yous committee to do a portrait in addition to you'd know inwards advance you'd acquire a portrait that genuinely looked similar the somebody - in addition to that yous in addition to the sitter volition never always live on disappointed.




I recall those people inwards southward E London who have got the chance to do classes alongside Emil are really lucky!





The Final Decision






Waiting to hear the Final Decision




Episode 6 Winner


The Judges chose Emil Nikolla equally the Heat Winner. 





Add caption


This is the video of him paradigm the Heat Portrait speeded up


EMIL NIKOLLA: Time-lapse paradigm on Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year 2019 from N9 Design on Vimeo.



and finally.....


It may come upwards equally no surprise to yous that the actual heats are non televised inwards the fellowship they are filmed in. That's to brand certain they spread out the skilful ones in addition to the non do skilful ones

I'm non proverb which episodes they cropped upwards inwards but ii of the finalists have got been identified equally Heat Winners inwards ii of Heats 1 to 6 - which way (big hint) - that the 3rd finalist comes from either Episode 7 or 8.

We'll all honour out inwards 3 weeks fourth dimension - at the terminate of the semi-finals - after they have got identified the finalists.

I'm soundless looking forwards to the betoken after the Final when I tin give the axe finally present yous what a Final genuinely looks like!




More Learning Points re. Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year


PLUS below are my weblog posts from in conclusion yr which contains lots of learning points nigh paradigm inwards this competitor for those aspiring to compete this year.




Learning Points re the 2019 competition

Review: Episode 4 of Portrait Artist of the Year 2019

passport photograph approach to her self-portrait which provided personality equally good equally a clear indication of an mightiness to pigment good in addition to consistently - equally is also evidenced past times her website. Her self portrait charmed the Judges.

Observations included:


• disturbing in addition to brilliantly off - "but I recall that's why nosotros liked it" - nigh Salvatore's large self -portrait
• "lovely to have got somebody working alongside watercolour inwards a dissimilar way". I idea this was an odd comment. It assumed watercolour is alone painted inwards 1 way. I felt similar sending the Judges on a watercolour appreciation course!
• a tondo inside a foursquare was a really odd composition which caught the eye.




The Sitters


The sitters were


• Sophie Ellis Bextor - a British singer, songwriter in addition to model in addition to multi-platinum selling recording creative somebody - who has an absolutely fascinating human face upwards
• Adrian Lester - an Olivier Award winning participant on cinema in addition to inwards television receiver dramas. He's also a director, in addition to writer.
• Nitin Sawhney CBE CBE is a British Indian musician, producer in addition to composer - who writes songs in addition to music for film. In 2017 he received the Ivor Novello Lifetime Achievement award




Discussions in addition to Observations




Getting likeness past times one-half way


The Judges evidently appreciate the creative somebody who finds a likeness in addition to they are less appreciative of those who never honour 1 and/or lose it after they've found it.



Some artists who tend to focus on figurative piece of occupation are less bothered past times achieving a likeness, whereas those who do commissions appreciate the importance. It occurs to me that artists who piece of occupation to committee know that they don't tend to acquire paid if the customer isn't happy. It's a keen way of learning how to capture likenesses!

It's begun to strike me that those who have got established a likeness past times one-half way are to a greater extent than than halfway to the shortlist.  Judges volition live on keeping a closer oculus on them inwards the 2d half.



Avoiding over-working paintings


There was a fair flake of tidings nigh the amount of piece of occupation required - in addition to how to consummate the paradigm but avoid over-working. This is a perennial theme.


• some knew the penalties of over-working
• some alongside (I think) rather less sense were totally overwhelmed past times how much piece of occupation was required in addition to the fact they didn't have got plenty fourth dimension - in addition to would have got welcomed the chance to worry nigh over-working!
• Others were (I think) really much thrown past times the fact that the estrus does non genuinely supply 4 hours. Yup - it's a total fiction folks. 

Practising paradigm people inwards 3 hours is a jolly skilful exercise for those artists who have got been selected for the upcoming Heats who desire to train. You can't overwork if yous know yous tin give the axe pigment a skilful caput inwards 3 hours. You simply demand to know when to position your brushes down.



To dress or non to clothe


There's an interesting fence to live on had nigh how much of the body in addition to wearable people should paint. Proper portraits involve a lot of wearable - yet we're simply non seeing people paradigm wearable for the most business office - because most stick to the rubber caput shot.

For my business office I recall it's keen if people tin give the axe demonstrate they tin give the axe pigment to a greater extent than than a head. Knowing how to pigment dissimilar textures inwards damage of wearable is a flake similar knowing how to pigment dissimilar pilus styles - yous alone acquire skilful at it past times lots of practice.

If I always got the chance to rewrite the rules I'd desire them to:


• require them to do an upper body to include both wearable in addition to hands
• either inwards the Heats - which would demand to live on longer
• or equally the self-portrait

(I have got a wicked smile on my human face upwards equally I write - but I know we'd acquire ameliorate results if nosotros did this). 



The benefits of the large brush


I wondered how many artists endeavor using dissimilar sized brushes. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 lot of them could speed upwards significantly if they used bigger brushes.  They don't lay inwards alongside large brushes in addition to and then refine alongside smaller brushes - they endeavor in addition to do the whole paradigm alongside smaller brushes - in addition to that simply takes forever!

When I run across people using small-scale brushes to pigment (i.e. non draw) I simply desire to accomplish into the concealment in addition to have got it off them. Either that or shipping them on a course of written report using large chunky pastel sticks - which is where I learned non to run small-scale when yous motion onto tones in addition to colour.

My persuasion is that a lot of painters could do goodness from learning how to run bigger brushes at the commencement in addition to inwards laying inwards initial layers - in addition to cut back the size of the brush used over time.

I loved seeing the brush alongside the huge body of pilus which was going to live on used past times Jixuan Chen to pigment the eyelashes. It had an incredibly long tip alongside a fine point!




Splitting the Judges


This estrus was marked past times Judges beingness quite separate nigh dissimilar people. Frankly I was pleased to run across this. I don't hear when they all have got the same persuasion (as me!) but sometimes I recall they demand to explicate to a greater extent than why they liked people in addition to why they disagreed.

In this episode they did - in addition to it was much ameliorate for it. If yous didn't hear it sentinel it again.





The Judges summarise the pros in addition to cons of each artist





Decision Time




Sitters direct portrait to have got home




• Sophie Ellis Bextor chose the paradigm past times Ellie Preston - equally the 1 she could run across inwards her mother's house
• Adrian Lester was 'gobsmacked; when he saw the portraits in addition to took a spell to speak. He chose the portrait past times Emil Nikolla
• Nitin Sawhney chose the paradigm past times Sarah Gibson equally beingness the 1 he recognized the most




Things the Judges liked

• artists who honour a likeness
• being able to sentinel a journeying inwards paradigm - alongside a resolution
• painters who pigment the body - in addition to non simply the caput - in addition to acquire a likeness inwards damage of posture
• the way artists position pigment downwards - which is dissimilar in addition to new 
• using colours intelligently - whether this is bold or sensitive
• integrating the background i.e. making closed to thoughtful decisions in addition to non simply making it a apartment colour




Judges were less impressed with

• portraits which lack likeness
• starting good alongside a drawing - but failing to improve when painting
• cartoon similar qualities
• unfinished portraits
• painting equally good large in addition to and then non finishing
• "weaker" paintings (i.e. ones which await OK until yous position them side past times side to a stronger paradigm of the same sort)

It seems clearer in addition to clearer to me that if the Judges are choosing 1 of the ways they do this is position those painters who have got painted inwards comparable styles together (eg graphic style) in addition to and then the Judges compare them in addition to pick the 1 they prefer. This way it's pot luck whether yous acquire through. You demand to live on the best of your vogue of paradigm inwards your Heat.

Kathleen Soriano summed it upwards inwards a rapid burn downwards tilt equally follows


....it's hard for us because we're wrestling alongside thence many things when we're trying to pick winners. We're looking for somebody who is bringing something novel but you're are looking for somebody who knows what they're doing; you're looking for something that is fresh in addition to dissimilar but is non cheesy or cliched - thence there's a lot of dissimilar things we're trying to doing when we're trying to direct winners each week.

If you're inwards the novel Heats for Portrait Artist of the Year 2020 - starting side past times side calendar month at the Battersea Arts Centre - I propose yous re-create that tilt out in addition to post it somewhere yous tin give the axe run across it every twenty-four lx minutes menstruum until yous attend your heat!



The Shortlist in addition to Heat Winner




The Shortlist


The Judges chose ii professionals in addition to an amateur who is a graduate of fine fine art who aspires to paradigm total fourth dimension - listed hither inwards alphabetical order:


• Ellie Preston
• Salvatore Fullam
• Emil Nikolla

I liked Rosso Porto's paradigm - but I'm guessing she was competing alongside Emil for a identify on the shortlist.

I recall Sarah Gibson's was on its way. However I'm really firmly of the persuasion that she should have got been working on a much smaller format if she was going to exit thence much of the sheet untouched. It simply leaves it looking  equally if it comes into the category of "nice paradigm but should have got tried harder". It's insubstantial.  This is non a preliminary written report in addition to you're going to pigment to a greater extent than afterwards - this is it - yous MUST endeavor in addition to scope a finished paradigm - equally all the shortlisted artists did.

The chap using watercolour had got a skilful likeness inwards the drawing but was nowhere nigh finished inwards damage of painting. It's a lesson inwards what happens if yous don't practice.

I recall Salvatore got shortlisted inwards business office because of


• his self-portrait where he painted himself top to toe alongside wearable in addition to peel in addition to hands! (see my betoken before nigh clothing)
• the fact he painted a body in addition to got the likeness of the private through posture 
• finished his estrus paradigm (i.e. all sheet covered!)



Self portrait in addition to estrus portrait past times Salvatore Fullam






Self portrait in addition to estrus portrait past times Ellie Preston


I'm non that keen on the portrait of Sophie Ellis Bextor - but Ellie likely had the worst seat for paradigm somebody who has such a really rigid in addition to angular jaw line. I idea it was a ameliorate paradigm for the actual laying on of pigment rather than the likeness. However I liked the self-portrait a lot in addition to idea that was really good.






Self portrait in addition to estrus portrait past times Emil Nikolla

These await similar portraits past times a mature painter who has been paradigm people for a long time. This is a human being who has worked at his paradigm in addition to has got results. His are also the most naturalistic paintings of all those who painted this week.





He's the variety of chap yous committee to do a portrait in addition to you'd know inwards advance you'd acquire a portrait that genuinely looked similar the somebody - in addition to that yous in addition to the sitter volition never always live on disappointed.




I recall those people inwards southward E London who have got the chance to do classes alongside Emil are really lucky!





The Final Decision






Waiting to hear the Final Decision




Episode 6 Winner


The Judges chose Emil Nikolla equally the Heat Winner. 





Add caption


This is the video of him paradigm the Heat Portrait speeded up


EMIL NIKOLLA: Time-lapse paradigm on Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year 2019 from N9 Design on Vimeo.



and finally.....


It may come upwards equally no surprise to yous that the actual heats are non televised inwards the fellowship they are filmed in. That's to brand certain they spread out the skilful ones in addition to the non do skilful ones

I'm non proverb which episodes they cropped upwards inwards but ii of the finalists have got been identified equally Heat Winners inwards ii of Heats 1 to 6 - which way (big hint) - that the 3rd finalist comes from either Episode 7 or 8.

We'll all honour out inwards 3 weeks fourth dimension - at the terminate of the semi-finals - after they have got identified the finalists.

I'm soundless looking forwards to the betoken after the Final when I tin give the axe finally present yous what a Final genuinely looks like!




More Learning Points re. Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year


PLUS below are my weblog posts from in conclusion yr which contains lots of learning points nigh paradigm inwards this competitor for those aspiring to compete this year.




Learning Points re the 2019 competition

Review: Episode 3 of Portrait Artist of the Year 2019

passport photograph approach to her self-portrait which provided personality equally good equally a clear indication of an mightiness to pigment good in addition to consistently - equally is also evidenced past times her website. Her self portrait charmed the Judges.

Observations included:


• disturbing in addition to brilliantly off - "but I recall that's why nosotros liked it" - nigh Salvatore's large self -portrait
• "lovely to have got somebody working alongside watercolour inwards a dissimilar way". I idea this was an odd comment. It assumed watercolour is alone painted inwards 1 way. I felt similar sending the Judges on a watercolour appreciation course!
• a tondo inside a foursquare was a really odd composition which caught the eye.




The Sitters


The sitters were


• Sophie Ellis Bextor - a British singer, songwriter in addition to model in addition to multi-platinum selling recording creative somebody - who has an absolutely fascinating human face upwards
• Adrian Lester - an Olivier Award winning participant on cinema in addition to inwards television receiver dramas. He's also a director, in addition to writer.
• Nitin Sawhney CBE CBE is a British Indian musician, producer in addition to composer - who writes songs in addition to music for film. In 2017 he received the Ivor Novello Lifetime Achievement award




Discussions in addition to Observations




Getting likeness past times one-half way


The Judges evidently appreciate the creative somebody who finds a likeness in addition to they are less appreciative of those who never honour 1 and/or lose it after they've found it.



Some artists who tend to focus on figurative piece of occupation are less bothered past times achieving a likeness, whereas those who do commissions appreciate the importance. It occurs to me that artists who piece of occupation to committee know that they don't tend to acquire paid if the customer isn't happy. It's a keen way of learning how to capture likenesses!

It's begun to strike me that those who have got established a likeness past times one-half way are to a greater extent than than halfway to the shortlist.  Judges volition live on keeping a closer oculus on them inwards the 2d half.



Avoiding over-working paintings


There was a fair flake of tidings nigh the amount of piece of occupation required - in addition to how to consummate the paradigm but avoid over-working. This is a perennial theme.


• some knew the penalties of over-working
• some alongside (I think) rather less sense were totally overwhelmed past times how much piece of occupation was required in addition to the fact they didn't have got plenty fourth dimension - in addition to would have got welcomed the chance to worry nigh over-working!
• Others were (I think) really much thrown past times the fact that the estrus does non genuinely supply 4 hours. Yup - it's a total fiction folks. 

Practising paradigm people inwards 3 hours is a jolly skilful exercise for those artists who have got been selected for the upcoming Heats who desire to train. You can't overwork if yous know yous tin give the axe pigment a skilful caput inwards 3 hours. You simply demand to know when to position your brushes down.



To dress or non to clothe


There's an interesting fence to live on had nigh how much of the body in addition to wearable people should paint. Proper portraits involve a lot of wearable - yet we're simply non seeing people paradigm wearable for the most business office - because most stick to the rubber caput shot.

For my business office I recall it's keen if people tin give the axe demonstrate they tin give the axe pigment to a greater extent than than a head. Knowing how to pigment dissimilar textures inwards damage of wearable is a flake similar knowing how to pigment dissimilar pilus styles - yous alone acquire skilful at it past times lots of practice.

If I always got the chance to rewrite the rules I'd desire them to:


• require them to do an upper body to include both wearable in addition to hands
• either inwards the Heats - which would demand to live on longer
• or equally the self-portrait

(I have got a wicked smile on my human face upwards equally I write - but I know we'd acquire ameliorate results if nosotros did this). 



The benefits of the large brush


I wondered how many artists endeavor using dissimilar sized brushes. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 lot of them could speed upwards significantly if they used bigger brushes.  They don't lay inwards alongside large brushes in addition to and then refine alongside smaller brushes - they endeavor in addition to do the whole paradigm alongside smaller brushes - in addition to that simply takes forever!

When I run across people using small-scale brushes to pigment (i.e. non draw) I simply desire to accomplish into the concealment in addition to have got it off them. Either that or shipping them on a course of written report using large chunky pastel sticks - which is where I learned non to run small-scale when yous motion onto tones in addition to colour.

My persuasion is that a lot of painters could do goodness from learning how to run bigger brushes at the commencement in addition to inwards laying inwards initial layers - in addition to cut back the size of the brush used over time.

I loved seeing the brush alongside the huge body of pilus which was going to live on used past times Jixuan Chen to pigment the eyelashes. It had an incredibly long tip alongside a fine point!




Splitting the Judges


This estrus was marked past times Judges beingness quite separate nigh dissimilar people. Frankly I was pleased to run across this. I don't hear when they all have got the same persuasion (as me!) but sometimes I recall they demand to explicate to a greater extent than why they liked people in addition to why they disagreed.

In this episode they did - in addition to it was much ameliorate for it. If yous didn't hear it sentinel it again.





The Judges summarise the pros in addition to cons of each artist





Decision Time




Sitters direct portrait to have got home




• Sophie Ellis Bextor chose the paradigm past times Ellie Preston - equally the 1 she could run across inwards her mother's house
• Adrian Lester was 'gobsmacked; when he saw the portraits in addition to took a spell to speak. He chose the portrait past times Emil Nikolla
• Nitin Sawhney chose the paradigm past times Sarah Gibson equally beingness the 1 he recognized the most




Things the Judges liked

• artists who honour a likeness
• being able to sentinel a journeying inwards paradigm - alongside a resolution
• painters who pigment the body - in addition to non simply the caput - in addition to acquire a likeness inwards damage of posture
• the way artists position pigment downwards - which is dissimilar in addition to new 
• using colours intelligently - whether this is bold or sensitive
• integrating the background i.e. making closed to thoughtful decisions in addition to non simply making it a apartment colour




Judges were less impressed with

• portraits which lack likeness
• starting good alongside a drawing - but failing to improve when painting
• cartoon similar qualities
• unfinished portraits
• painting equally good large in addition to and then non finishing
• "weaker" paintings (i.e. ones which await OK until yous position them side past times side to a stronger paradigm of the same sort)

It seems clearer in addition to clearer to me that if the Judges are choosing 1 of the ways they do this is position those painters who have got painted inwards comparable styles together (eg graphic style) in addition to and then the Judges compare them in addition to pick the 1 they prefer. This way it's pot luck whether yous acquire through. You demand to live on the best of your vogue of paradigm inwards your Heat.

Kathleen Soriano summed it upwards inwards a rapid burn downwards tilt equally follows


....it's hard for us because we're wrestling alongside thence many things when we're trying to pick winners. We're looking for somebody who is bringing something novel but you're are looking for somebody who knows what they're doing; you're looking for something that is fresh in addition to dissimilar but is non cheesy or cliched - thence there's a lot of dissimilar things we're trying to doing when we're trying to direct winners each week.

If you're inwards the novel Heats for Portrait Artist of the Year 2020 - starting side past times side calendar month at the Battersea Arts Centre - I propose yous re-create that tilt out in addition to post it somewhere yous tin give the axe run across it every twenty-four lx minutes menstruum until yous attend your heat!



The Shortlist in addition to Heat Winner




The Shortlist


The Judges chose ii professionals in addition to an amateur who is a graduate of fine fine art who aspires to paradigm total fourth dimension - listed hither inwards alphabetical order:


• Ellie Preston
• Salvatore Fullam
• Emil Nikolla

I liked Rosso Porto's paradigm - but I'm guessing she was competing alongside Emil for a identify on the shortlist.

I recall Sarah Gibson's was on its way. However I'm really firmly of the persuasion that she should have got been working on a much smaller format if she was going to exit thence much of the sheet untouched. It simply leaves it looking  equally if it comes into the category of "nice paradigm but should have got tried harder". It's insubstantial.  This is non a preliminary written report in addition to you're going to pigment to a greater extent than afterwards - this is it - yous MUST endeavor in addition to scope a finished paradigm - equally all the shortlisted artists did.

The chap using watercolour had got a skilful likeness inwards the drawing but was nowhere nigh finished inwards damage of painting. It's a lesson inwards what happens if yous don't practice.

I recall Salvatore got shortlisted inwards business office because of


• his self-portrait where he painted himself top to toe alongside wearable in addition to peel in addition to hands! (see my betoken before nigh clothing)
• the fact he painted a body in addition to got the likeness of the private through posture 
• finished his estrus paradigm (i.e. all sheet covered!)



Self portrait in addition to estrus portrait past times Salvatore Fullam






Self portrait in addition to estrus portrait past times Ellie Preston


I'm non that keen on the portrait of Sophie Ellis Bextor - but Ellie likely had the worst seat for paradigm somebody who has such a really rigid in addition to angular jaw line. I idea it was a ameliorate paradigm for the actual laying on of pigment rather than the likeness. However I liked the self-portrait a lot in addition to idea that was really good.






Self portrait in addition to estrus portrait past times Emil Nikolla

These await similar portraits past times a mature painter who has been paradigm people for a long time. This is a human being who has worked at his paradigm in addition to has got results. His are also the most naturalistic paintings of all those who painted this week.





He's the variety of chap yous committee to do a portrait in addition to you'd know inwards advance you'd acquire a portrait that genuinely looked similar the somebody - in addition to that yous in addition to the sitter volition never always live on disappointed.




I recall those people inwards southward E London who have got the chance to do classes alongside Emil are really lucky!





The Final Decision






Waiting to hear the Final Decision




Episode 6 Winner


The Judges chose Emil Nikolla equally the Heat Winner. 





Add caption


This is the video of him paradigm the Heat Portrait speeded up


EMIL NIKOLLA: Time-lapse paradigm on Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year 2019 from N9 Design on Vimeo.



and finally.....


It may come upwards equally no surprise to yous that the actual heats are non televised inwards the fellowship they are filmed in. That's to brand certain they spread out the skilful ones in addition to the non do skilful ones

I'm non proverb which episodes they cropped upwards inwards but ii of the finalists have got been identified equally Heat Winners inwards ii of Heats 1 to 6 - which way (big hint) - that the 3rd finalist comes from either Episode 7 or 8.

We'll all honour out inwards 3 weeks fourth dimension - at the terminate of the semi-finals - after they have got identified the finalists.

I'm soundless looking forwards to the betoken after the Final when I tin give the axe finally present yous what a Final genuinely looks like!




More Learning Points re. Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year


PLUS below are my weblog posts from in conclusion yr which contains lots of learning points nigh paradigm inwards this competitor for those aspiring to compete this year.




Learning Points re the 2019 competition

Review: Episode 2 of Portrait Artist of the Year 2019

passport photograph approach to her self-portrait which provided personality equally good equally a clear indication of an mightiness to pigment good in addition to consistently - equally is also evidenced past times her website. Her self portrait charmed the Judges.

Observations included:


• disturbing in addition to brilliantly off - "but I recall that's why nosotros liked it" - nigh Salvatore's large self -portrait
• "lovely to have got somebody working alongside watercolour inwards a dissimilar way". I idea this was an odd comment. It assumed watercolour is alone painted inwards 1 way. I felt similar sending the Judges on a watercolour appreciation course!
• a tondo inside a foursquare was a really odd composition which caught the eye.




The Sitters


The sitters were


• Sophie Ellis Bextor - a British singer, songwriter in addition to model in addition to multi-platinum selling recording creative somebody - who has an absolutely fascinating human face upwards
• Adrian Lester - an Olivier Award winning participant on cinema in addition to inwards television receiver dramas. He's also a director, in addition to writer.
• Nitin Sawhney CBE CBE is a British Indian musician, producer in addition to composer - who writes songs in addition to music for film. In 2017 he received the Ivor Novello Lifetime Achievement award




Discussions in addition to Observations




Getting likeness past times one-half way


The Judges evidently appreciate the creative somebody who finds a likeness in addition to they are less appreciative of those who never honour 1 and/or lose it after they've found it.



Some artists who tend to focus on figurative piece of occupation are less bothered past times achieving a likeness, whereas those who do commissions appreciate the importance. It occurs to me that artists who piece of occupation to committee know that they don't tend to acquire paid if the customer isn't happy. It's a keen way of learning how to capture likenesses!

It's begun to strike me that those who have got established a likeness past times one-half way are to a greater extent than than halfway to the shortlist.  Judges volition live on keeping a closer oculus on them inwards the 2d half.



Avoiding over-working paintings


There was a fair flake of tidings nigh the amount of piece of occupation required - in addition to how to consummate the paradigm but avoid over-working. This is a perennial theme.


• some knew the penalties of over-working
• some alongside (I think) rather less sense were totally overwhelmed past times how much piece of occupation was required in addition to the fact they didn't have got plenty fourth dimension - in addition to would have got welcomed the chance to worry nigh over-working!
• Others were (I think) really much thrown past times the fact that the estrus does non genuinely supply 4 hours. Yup - it's a total fiction folks. 

Practising paradigm people inwards 3 hours is a jolly skilful exercise for those artists who have got been selected for the upcoming Heats who desire to train. You can't overwork if yous know yous tin give the axe pigment a skilful caput inwards 3 hours. You simply demand to know when to position your brushes down.



To dress or non to clothe


There's an interesting fence to live on had nigh how much of the body in addition to wearable people should paint. Proper portraits involve a lot of wearable - yet we're simply non seeing people paradigm wearable for the most business office - because most stick to the rubber caput shot.

For my business office I recall it's keen if people tin give the axe demonstrate they tin give the axe pigment to a greater extent than than a head. Knowing how to pigment dissimilar textures inwards damage of wearable is a flake similar knowing how to pigment dissimilar pilus styles - yous alone acquire skilful at it past times lots of practice.

If I always got the chance to rewrite the rules I'd desire them to:


• require them to do an upper body to include both wearable in addition to hands
• either inwards the Heats - which would demand to live on longer
• or equally the self-portrait

(I have got a wicked smile on my human face upwards equally I write - but I know we'd acquire ameliorate results if nosotros did this). 



The benefits of the large brush


I wondered how many artists endeavor using dissimilar sized brushes. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 lot of them could speed upwards significantly if they used bigger brushes.  They don't lay inwards alongside large brushes in addition to and then refine alongside smaller brushes - they endeavor in addition to do the whole paradigm alongside smaller brushes - in addition to that simply takes forever!

When I run across people using small-scale brushes to pigment (i.e. non draw) I simply desire to accomplish into the concealment in addition to have got it off them. Either that or shipping them on a course of written report using large chunky pastel sticks - which is where I learned non to run small-scale when yous motion onto tones in addition to colour.

My persuasion is that a lot of painters could do goodness from learning how to run bigger brushes at the commencement in addition to inwards laying inwards initial layers - in addition to cut back the size of the brush used over time.

I loved seeing the brush alongside the huge body of pilus which was going to live on used past times Jixuan Chen to pigment the eyelashes. It had an incredibly long tip alongside a fine point!




Splitting the Judges


This estrus was marked past times Judges beingness quite separate nigh dissimilar people. Frankly I was pleased to run across this. I don't hear when they all have got the same persuasion (as me!) but sometimes I recall they demand to explicate to a greater extent than why they liked people in addition to why they disagreed.

In this episode they did - in addition to it was much ameliorate for it. If yous didn't hear it sentinel it again.





The Judges summarise the pros in addition to cons of each artist





Decision Time




Sitters direct portrait to have got home




• Sophie Ellis Bextor chose the paradigm past times Ellie Preston - equally the 1 she could run across inwards her mother's house
• Adrian Lester was 'gobsmacked; when he saw the portraits in addition to took a spell to speak. He chose the portrait past times Emil Nikolla
• Nitin Sawhney chose the paradigm past times Sarah Gibson equally beingness the 1 he recognized the most




Things the Judges liked

• artists who honour a likeness
• being able to sentinel a journeying inwards paradigm - alongside a resolution
• painters who pigment the body - in addition to non simply the caput - in addition to acquire a likeness inwards damage of posture
• the way artists position pigment downwards - which is dissimilar in addition to new 
• using colours intelligently - whether this is bold or sensitive
• integrating the background i.e. making closed to thoughtful decisions in addition to non simply making it a apartment colour




Judges were less impressed with

• portraits which lack likeness
• starting good alongside a drawing - but failing to improve when painting
• cartoon similar qualities
• unfinished portraits
• painting equally good large in addition to and then non finishing
• "weaker" paintings (i.e. ones which await OK until yous position them side past times side to a stronger paradigm of the same sort)

It seems clearer in addition to clearer to me that if the Judges are choosing 1 of the ways they do this is position those painters who have got painted inwards comparable styles together (eg graphic style) in addition to and then the Judges compare them in addition to pick the 1 they prefer. This way it's pot luck whether yous acquire through. You demand to live on the best of your vogue of paradigm inwards your Heat.

Kathleen Soriano summed it upwards inwards a rapid burn downwards tilt equally follows


....it's hard for us because we're wrestling alongside thence many things when we're trying to pick winners. We're looking for somebody who is bringing something novel but you're are looking for somebody who knows what they're doing; you're looking for something that is fresh in addition to dissimilar but is non cheesy or cliched - thence there's a lot of dissimilar things we're trying to doing when we're trying to direct winners each week.

If you're inwards the novel Heats for Portrait Artist of the Year 2020 - starting side past times side calendar month at the Battersea Arts Centre - I propose yous re-create that tilt out in addition to post it somewhere yous tin give the axe run across it every twenty-four lx minutes menstruum until yous attend your heat!



The Shortlist in addition to Heat Winner




The Shortlist


The Judges chose ii professionals in addition to an amateur who is a graduate of fine fine art who aspires to paradigm total fourth dimension - listed hither inwards alphabetical order:


• Ellie Preston
• Salvatore Fullam
• Emil Nikolla

I liked Rosso Porto's paradigm - but I'm guessing she was competing alongside Emil for a identify on the shortlist.

I recall Sarah Gibson's was on its way. However I'm really firmly of the persuasion that she should have got been working on a much smaller format if she was going to exit thence much of the sheet untouched. It simply leaves it looking  equally if it comes into the category of "nice paradigm but should have got tried harder". It's insubstantial.  This is non a preliminary written report in addition to you're going to pigment to a greater extent than afterwards - this is it - yous MUST endeavor in addition to scope a finished paradigm - equally all the shortlisted artists did.

The chap using watercolour had got a skilful likeness inwards the drawing but was nowhere nigh finished inwards damage of painting. It's a lesson inwards what happens if yous don't practice.

I recall Salvatore got shortlisted inwards business office because of


• his self-portrait where he painted himself top to toe alongside wearable in addition to peel in addition to hands! (see my betoken before nigh clothing)
• the fact he painted a body in addition to got the likeness of the private through posture 
• finished his estrus paradigm (i.e. all sheet covered!)



Self portrait in addition to estrus portrait past times Salvatore Fullam






Self portrait in addition to estrus portrait past times Ellie Preston


I'm non that keen on the portrait of Sophie Ellis Bextor - but Ellie likely had the worst seat for paradigm somebody who has such a really rigid in addition to angular jaw line. I idea it was a ameliorate paradigm for the actual laying on of pigment rather than the likeness. However I liked the self-portrait a lot in addition to idea that was really good.






Self portrait in addition to estrus portrait past times Emil Nikolla

These await similar portraits past times a mature painter who has been paradigm people for a long time. This is a human being who has worked at his paradigm in addition to has got results. His are also the most naturalistic paintings of all those who painted this week.





He's the variety of chap yous committee to do a portrait in addition to you'd know inwards advance you'd acquire a portrait that genuinely looked similar the somebody - in addition to that yous in addition to the sitter volition never always live on disappointed.




I recall those people inwards southward E London who have got the chance to do classes alongside Emil are really lucky!





The Final Decision






Waiting to hear the Final Decision




Episode 6 Winner


The Judges chose Emil Nikolla equally the Heat Winner. 





Add caption


This is the video of him paradigm the Heat Portrait speeded up


EMIL NIKOLLA: Time-lapse paradigm on Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year 2019 from N9 Design on Vimeo.



and finally.....


It may come upwards equally no surprise to yous that the actual heats are non televised inwards the fellowship they are filmed in. That's to brand certain they spread out the skilful ones in addition to the non do skilful ones

I'm non proverb which episodes they cropped upwards inwards but ii of the finalists have got been identified equally Heat Winners inwards ii of Heats 1 to 6 - which way (big hint) - that the 3rd finalist comes from either Episode 7 or 8.

We'll all honour out inwards 3 weeks fourth dimension - at the terminate of the semi-finals - after they have got identified the finalists.

I'm soundless looking forwards to the betoken after the Final when I tin give the axe finally present yous what a Final genuinely looks like!




More Learning Points re. Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year


PLUS below are my weblog posts from in conclusion yr which contains lots of learning points nigh paradigm inwards this competitor for those aspiring to compete this year.




Learning Points re the 2019 competition

Review: Episode 1 of Portrait Artist of the Year 2019

passport photograph approach to her self-portrait which provided personality equally good equally a clear indication of an mightiness to pigment good in addition to consistently - equally is also evidenced past times her website. Her self portrait charmed the Judges.

Observations included:


• disturbing in addition to brilliantly off - "but I recall that's why nosotros liked it" - nigh Salvatore's large self -portrait
• "lovely to have got somebody working alongside watercolour inwards a dissimilar way". I idea this was an odd comment. It assumed watercolour is alone painted inwards 1 way. I felt similar sending the Judges on a watercolour appreciation course!
• a tondo inside a foursquare was a really odd composition which caught the eye.




The Sitters


The sitters were


• Sophie Ellis Bextor - a British singer, songwriter in addition to model in addition to multi-platinum selling recording creative somebody - who has an absolutely fascinating human face upwards
• Adrian Lester - an Olivier Award winning participant on cinema in addition to inwards television receiver dramas. He's also a director, in addition to writer.
• Nitin Sawhney CBE CBE is a British Indian musician, producer in addition to composer - who writes songs in addition to music for film. In 2017 he received the Ivor Novello Lifetime Achievement award




Discussions in addition to Observations




Getting likeness past times one-half way


The Judges evidently appreciate the creative somebody who finds a likeness in addition to they are less appreciative of those who never honour 1 and/or lose it after they've found it.



Some artists who tend to focus on figurative piece of occupation are less bothered past times achieving a likeness, whereas those who do commissions appreciate the importance. It occurs to me that artists who piece of occupation to committee know that they don't tend to acquire paid if the customer isn't happy. It's a keen way of learning how to capture likenesses!

It's begun to strike me that those who have got established a likeness past times one-half way are to a greater extent than than halfway to the shortlist.  Judges volition live on keeping a closer oculus on them inwards the 2d half.



Avoiding over-working paintings


There was a fair flake of tidings nigh the amount of piece of occupation required - in addition to how to consummate the paradigm but avoid over-working. This is a perennial theme.


• some knew the penalties of over-working
• some alongside (I think) rather less sense were totally overwhelmed past times how much piece of occupation was required in addition to the fact they didn't have got plenty fourth dimension - in addition to would have got welcomed the chance to worry nigh over-working!
• Others were (I think) really much thrown past times the fact that the estrus does non genuinely supply 4 hours. Yup - it's a total fiction folks. 

Practising paradigm people inwards 3 hours is a jolly skilful exercise for those artists who have got been selected for the upcoming Heats who desire to train. You can't overwork if yous know yous tin give the axe pigment a skilful caput inwards 3 hours. You simply demand to know when to position your brushes down.



To dress or non to clothe


There's an interesting fence to live on had nigh how much of the body in addition to wearable people should paint. Proper portraits involve a lot of wearable - yet we're simply non seeing people paradigm wearable for the most business office - because most stick to the rubber caput shot.

For my business office I recall it's keen if people tin give the axe demonstrate they tin give the axe pigment to a greater extent than than a head. Knowing how to pigment dissimilar textures inwards damage of wearable is a flake similar knowing how to pigment dissimilar pilus styles - yous alone acquire skilful at it past times lots of practice.

If I always got the chance to rewrite the rules I'd desire them to:


• require them to do an upper body to include both wearable in addition to hands
• either inwards the Heats - which would demand to live on longer
• or equally the self-portrait

(I have got a wicked smile on my human face upwards equally I write - but I know we'd acquire ameliorate results if nosotros did this). 



The benefits of the large brush


I wondered how many artists endeavor using dissimilar sized brushes. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 lot of them could speed upwards significantly if they used bigger brushes.  They don't lay inwards alongside large brushes in addition to and then refine alongside smaller brushes - they endeavor in addition to do the whole paradigm alongside smaller brushes - in addition to that simply takes forever!

When I run across people using small-scale brushes to pigment (i.e. non draw) I simply desire to accomplish into the concealment in addition to have got it off them. Either that or shipping them on a course of written report using large chunky pastel sticks - which is where I learned non to run small-scale when yous motion onto tones in addition to colour.

My persuasion is that a lot of painters could do goodness from learning how to run bigger brushes at the commencement in addition to inwards laying inwards initial layers - in addition to cut back the size of the brush used over time.

I loved seeing the brush alongside the huge body of pilus which was going to live on used past times Jixuan Chen to pigment the eyelashes. It had an incredibly long tip alongside a fine point!




Splitting the Judges


This estrus was marked past times Judges beingness quite separate nigh dissimilar people. Frankly I was pleased to run across this. I don't hear when they all have got the same persuasion (as me!) but sometimes I recall they demand to explicate to a greater extent than why they liked people in addition to why they disagreed.

In this episode they did - in addition to it was much ameliorate for it. If yous didn't hear it sentinel it again.





The Judges summarise the pros in addition to cons of each artist





Decision Time




Sitters direct portrait to have got home




• Sophie Ellis Bextor chose the paradigm past times Ellie Preston - equally the 1 she could run across inwards her mother's house
• Adrian Lester was 'gobsmacked; when he saw the portraits in addition to took a spell to speak. He chose the portrait past times Emil Nikolla
• Nitin Sawhney chose the paradigm past times Sarah Gibson equally beingness the 1 he recognized the most




Things the Judges liked

• artists who honour a likeness
• being able to sentinel a journeying inwards paradigm - alongside a resolution
• painters who pigment the body - in addition to non simply the caput - in addition to acquire a likeness inwards damage of posture
• the way artists position pigment downwards - which is dissimilar in addition to new 
• using colours intelligently - whether this is bold or sensitive
• integrating the background i.e. making closed to thoughtful decisions in addition to non simply making it a apartment colour




Judges were less impressed with

• portraits which lack likeness
• starting good alongside a drawing - but failing to improve when painting
• cartoon similar qualities
• unfinished portraits
• painting equally good large in addition to and then non finishing
• "weaker" paintings (i.e. ones which await OK until yous position them side past times side to a stronger paradigm of the same sort)

It seems clearer in addition to clearer to me that if the Judges are choosing 1 of the ways they do this is position those painters who have got painted inwards comparable styles together (eg graphic style) in addition to and then the Judges compare them in addition to pick the 1 they prefer. This way it's pot luck whether yous acquire through. You demand to live on the best of your vogue of paradigm inwards your Heat.

Kathleen Soriano summed it upwards inwards a rapid burn downwards tilt equally follows


....it's hard for us because we're wrestling alongside thence many things when we're trying to pick winners. We're looking for somebody who is bringing something novel but you're are looking for somebody who knows what they're doing; you're looking for something that is fresh in addition to dissimilar but is non cheesy or cliched - thence there's a lot of dissimilar things we're trying to doing when we're trying to direct winners each week.

If you're inwards the novel Heats for Portrait Artist of the Year 2020 - starting side past times side calendar month at the Battersea Arts Centre - I propose yous re-create that tilt out in addition to post it somewhere yous tin give the axe run across it every twenty-four lx minutes menstruum until yous attend your heat!



The Shortlist in addition to Heat Winner




The Shortlist


The Judges chose ii professionals in addition to an amateur who is a graduate of fine fine art who aspires to paradigm total fourth dimension - listed hither inwards alphabetical order:


• Ellie Preston
• Salvatore Fullam
• Emil Nikolla

I liked Rosso Porto's paradigm - but I'm guessing she was competing alongside Emil for a identify on the shortlist.

I recall Sarah Gibson's was on its way. However I'm really firmly of the persuasion that she should have got been working on a much smaller format if she was going to exit thence much of the sheet untouched. It simply leaves it looking  equally if it comes into the category of "nice paradigm but should have got tried harder". It's insubstantial.  This is non a preliminary written report in addition to you're going to pigment to a greater extent than afterwards - this is it - yous MUST endeavor in addition to scope a finished paradigm - equally all the shortlisted artists did.

The chap using watercolour had got a skilful likeness inwards the drawing but was nowhere nigh finished inwards damage of painting. It's a lesson inwards what happens if yous don't practice.

I recall Salvatore got shortlisted inwards business office because of


• his self-portrait where he painted himself top to toe alongside wearable in addition to peel in addition to hands! (see my betoken before nigh clothing)
• the fact he painted a body in addition to got the likeness of the private through posture 
• finished his estrus paradigm (i.e. all sheet covered!)



Self portrait in addition to estrus portrait past times Salvatore Fullam






Self portrait in addition to estrus portrait past times Ellie Preston


I'm non that keen on the portrait of Sophie Ellis Bextor - but Ellie likely had the worst seat for paradigm somebody who has such a really rigid in addition to angular jaw line. I idea it was a ameliorate paradigm for the actual laying on of pigment rather than the likeness. However I liked the self-portrait a lot in addition to idea that was really good.






Self portrait in addition to estrus portrait past times Emil Nikolla

These await similar portraits past times a mature painter who has been paradigm people for a long time. This is a human being who has worked at his paradigm in addition to has got results. His are also the most naturalistic paintings of all those who painted this week.





He's the variety of chap yous committee to do a portrait in addition to you'd know inwards advance you'd acquire a portrait that genuinely looked similar the somebody - in addition to that yous in addition to the sitter volition never always live on disappointed.




I recall those people inwards southward E London who have got the chance to do classes alongside Emil are really lucky!





The Final Decision






Waiting to hear the Final Decision




Episode 6 Winner


The Judges chose Emil Nikolla equally the Heat Winner. 





Add caption


This is the video of him paradigm the Heat Portrait speeded up


EMIL NIKOLLA: Time-lapse paradigm on Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year 2019 from N9 Design on Vimeo.



and finally.....


It may come upwards equally no surprise to yous that the actual heats are non televised inwards the fellowship they are filmed in. That's to brand certain they spread out the skilful ones in addition to the non do skilful ones

I'm non proverb which episodes they cropped upwards inwards but ii of the finalists have got been identified equally Heat Winners inwards ii of Heats 1 to 6 - which way (big hint) - that the 3rd finalist comes from either Episode 7 or 8.

We'll all honour out inwards 3 weeks fourth dimension - at the terminate of the semi-finals - after they have got identified the finalists.

I'm soundless looking forwards to the betoken after the Final when I tin give the axe finally present yous what a Final genuinely looks like!




More Learning Points re. Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year


PLUS below are my weblog posts from in conclusion yr which contains lots of learning points nigh paradigm inwards this competitor for those aspiring to compete this year.




Learning Points re the 2019 competition

Call for Entries - Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year 2019

Learning Points re the 2018 Competition

Below are my PREVIOUS weblog posts nigh the 2018 competitor in addition to my reviews of the heats, semi-finals in addition to in conclusion - inwards which I comment on specific aspects for aspiring time to come contestants!

• passport photograph approach to her self-portrait which provided personality equally good equally a clear indication of an mightiness to pigment good in addition to consistently - equally is also evidenced past times her website. Her self portrait charmed the Judges.
  
  Observations included:
  
  • disturbing in addition to brilliantly off - "but I recall that's why nosotros liked it" - nigh Salvatore's large self -portrait
  • "lovely to have got somebody working alongside watercolour inwards a dissimilar way". I idea this was an odd comment. It assumed watercolour is alone painted inwards 1 way. I felt similar sending the Judges on a watercolour appreciation course!
  • a tondo inside a foursquare was a really odd composition which caught the eye.
  
  

  The Sitters

  
  The sitters were
  
  • Sophie Ellis Bextor - a British singer, songwriter in addition to model in addition to multi-platinum selling recording creative somebody - who has an absolutely fascinating human face upwards
  • Adrian Lester - an Olivier Award winning participant on cinema in addition to inwards television receiver dramas. He's also a director, in addition to writer.
  • Nitin Sawhney CBE CBE is a British Indian musician, producer in addition to composer - who writes songs in addition to music for film. In 2017 he received the Ivor Novello Lifetime Achievement award
  
  

  Discussions in addition to Observations

  
  

  Getting likeness past times one-half way

  
  The Judges evidently appreciate the creative somebody who finds a likeness in addition to they are less appreciative of those who never honour 1 and/or lose it after they've found it.
  
  
  
  Some artists who tend to focus on figurative piece of occupation are less bothered past times achieving a likeness, whereas those who do commissions appreciate the importance. It occurs to me that artists who piece of occupation to committee know that they don't tend to acquire paid if the customer isn't happy. It's a keen way of learning how to capture likenesses!
  
  It's begun to strike me that those who have got established a likeness past times one-half way are to a greater extent than than halfway to the shortlist.  Judges volition live on keeping a closer oculus on them inwards the 2d half.
  
  

  Avoiding over-working paintings

  
  There was a fair flake of tidings nigh the amount of piece of occupation required - in addition to how to consummate the paradigm but avoid over-working. This is a perennial theme.
  
  • some knew the penalties of over-working
  • some alongside (I think) rather less sense were totally overwhelmed past times how much piece of occupation was required in addition to the fact they didn't have got plenty fourth dimension - in addition to would have got welcomed the chance to worry nigh over-working!
  • Others were (I think) really much thrown past times the fact that the estrus does non genuinely supply 4 hours. Yup - it's a total fiction folks. 
  Practising paradigm people inwards 3 hours is a jolly skilful exercise for those artists who have got been selected for the upcoming Heats who desire to train. You can't overwork if yous know yous tin give the axe pigment a skilful caput inwards 3 hours. You simply demand to know when to position your brushes down.
  
  

  To dress or non to clothe

  
  There's an interesting fence to live on had nigh how much of the body in addition to wearable people should paint. Proper portraits involve a lot of wearable - yet we're simply non seeing people paradigm wearable for the most business office - because most stick to the rubber caput shot.
  
  For my business office I recall it's keen if people tin give the axe demonstrate they tin give the axe pigment to a greater extent than than a head. Knowing how to pigment dissimilar textures inwards damage of wearable is a flake similar knowing how to pigment dissimilar pilus styles - yous alone acquire skilful at it past times lots of practice.
  
  If I always got the chance to rewrite the rules I'd desire them to:
  
  • require them to do an upper body to include both wearable in addition to hands
  • either inwards the Heats - which would demand to live on longer
  • or equally the self-portrait
  (I have got a wicked smile on my human face upwards equally I write - but I know we'd acquire ameliorate results if nosotros did this). 
  
  

  The benefits of the large brush

  
  I wondered how many artists endeavor using dissimilar sized brushes. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 lot of them could speed upwards significantly if they used bigger brushes.  They don't lay inwards alongside large brushes in addition to and then refine alongside smaller brushes - they endeavor in addition to do the whole paradigm alongside smaller brushes - in addition to that simply takes forever!
  
  When I run across people using small-scale brushes to pigment (i.e. non draw) I simply desire to accomplish into the concealment in addition to have got it off them. Either that or shipping them on a course of written report using large chunky pastel sticks - which is where I learned non to run small-scale when yous motion onto tones in addition to colour.
  
  My persuasion is that a lot of painters could do goodness from learning how to run bigger brushes at the commencement in addition to inwards laying inwards initial layers - in addition to cut back the size of the brush used over time.
  
  I loved seeing the brush alongside the huge body of pilus which was going to live on used past times Jixuan Chen to pigment the eyelashes. It had an incredibly long tip alongside a fine point!
  
  
  

  Splitting the Judges

  
  This estrus was marked past times Judges beingness quite separate nigh dissimilar people. Frankly I was pleased to run across this. I don't hear when they all have got the same persuasion (as me!) but sometimes I recall they demand to explicate to a greater extent than why they liked people in addition to why they disagreed.
  
  In this episode they did - in addition to it was much ameliorate for it. If yous didn't hear it sentinel it again.
  
  

  

  The Judges summarise the pros in addition to cons of each artist
  

  
  

  Decision Time

  
  

  Sitters direct portrait to have got home

  
  
  • Sophie Ellis Bextor chose the paradigm past times Ellie Preston - equally the 1 she could run across inwards her mother's house
  • Adrian Lester was 'gobsmacked; when he saw the portraits in addition to took a spell to speak. He chose the portrait past times Emil Nikolla
  • Nitin Sawhney chose the paradigm past times Sarah Gibson equally beingness the 1 he recognized the most
  
  

  Things the Judges liked

  • artists who honour a likeness
  • being able to sentinel a journeying inwards paradigm - alongside a resolution
  • painters who pigment the body - in addition to non simply the caput - in addition to acquire a likeness inwards damage of posture
  • the way artists position pigment downwards - which is dissimilar in addition to new 
  • using colours intelligently - whether this is bold or sensitive
  • integrating the background i.e. making closed to thoughtful decisions in addition to non simply making it a apartment colour
  
  

  Judges were less impressed with

  • portraits which lack likeness
  • starting good alongside a drawing - but failing to improve when painting
  • cartoon similar qualities
  • unfinished portraits
  • painting equally good large in addition to and then non finishing
  • "weaker" paintings (i.e. ones which await OK until yous position them side past times side to a stronger paradigm of the same sort)
  It seems clearer in addition to clearer to me that if the Judges are choosing 1 of the ways they do this is position those painters who have got painted inwards comparable styles together (eg graphic style) in addition to and then the Judges compare them in addition to pick the 1 they prefer. This way it's pot luck whether yous acquire through. You demand to live on the best of your vogue of paradigm inwards your Heat.
  
  Kathleen Soriano summed it upwards inwards a rapid burn downwards tilt equally follows
  

  ....it's hard for us because we're wrestling alongside thence many things when we're trying to pick winners. We're looking for somebody who is bringing something novel but you're are looking for somebody who knows what they're doing; you're looking for something that is fresh in addition to dissimilar but is non cheesy or cliched - thence there's a lot of dissimilar things we're trying to doing when we're trying to direct winners each week.

  If you're inwards the novel Heats for Portrait Artist of the Year 2020 - starting side past times side calendar month at the Battersea Arts Centre - I propose yous re-create that tilt out in addition to post it somewhere yous tin give the axe run across it every twenty-four lx minutes menstruum until yous attend your heat!
  
  

  The Shortlist in addition to Heat Winner

  
  

  The Shortlist

  
  The Judges chose ii professionals in addition to an amateur who is a graduate of fine fine art who aspires to paradigm total fourth dimension - listed hither inwards alphabetical order:
  
  • Ellie Preston
  • Salvatore Fullam
  • Emil Nikolla
  I liked Rosso Porto's paradigm - but I'm guessing she was competing alongside Emil for a identify on the shortlist.
  
  I recall Sarah Gibson's was on its way. However I'm really firmly of the persuasion that she should have got been working on a much smaller format if she was going to exit thence much of the sheet untouched. It simply leaves it looking  equally if it comes into the category of "nice paradigm but should have got tried harder". It's insubstantial.  This is non a preliminary written report in addition to you're going to pigment to a greater extent than afterwards - this is it - yous MUST endeavor in addition to scope a finished paradigm - equally all the shortlisted artists did.
  
  The chap using watercolour had got a skilful likeness inwards the drawing but was nowhere nigh finished inwards damage of painting. It's a lesson inwards what happens if yous don't practice.
  
  I recall Salvatore got shortlisted inwards business office because of
  
  • his self-portrait where he painted himself top to toe alongside wearable in addition to peel in addition to hands! (see my betoken before nigh clothing)
  • the fact he painted a body in addition to got the likeness of the private through posture 
  • finished his estrus paradigm (i.e. all sheet covered!)

  

  Self portrait in addition to estrus portrait past times Salvatore Fullam

  
  

  

  Self portrait in addition to estrus portrait past times Ellie Preston

  
  I'm non that keen on the portrait of Sophie Ellis Bextor - but Ellie likely had the worst seat for paradigm somebody who has such a really rigid in addition to angular jaw line. I idea it was a ameliorate paradigm for the actual laying on of pigment rather than the likeness. However I liked the self-portrait a lot in addition to idea that was really good.
  
  
  

  

  Self portrait in addition to estrus portrait past times Emil Nikolla

  These await similar portraits past times a mature painter who has been paradigm people for a long time. This is a human being who has worked at his paradigm in addition to has got results. His are also the most naturalistic paintings of all those who painted this week.
  
  
  
  He's the variety of chap yous committee to do a portrait in addition to you'd know inwards advance you'd acquire a portrait that genuinely looked similar the somebody - in addition to that yous in addition to the sitter volition never always live on disappointed.
  
  
  I recall those people inwards southward E London who have got the chance to do classes alongside Emil are really lucky!
  

  
  

  The Final Decision

  
  

  

  Waiting to hear the Final Decision

  
  

  Episode 6 Winner

  
  The Judges chose Emil Nikolla equally the Heat Winner. 
  
  

  

  Add caption

  
  This is the video of him paradigm the Heat Portrait speeded up
  
  
  EMIL NIKOLLA: Time-lapse paradigm on Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year 2019 from N9 Design on Vimeo.
  
  

  and finally.....

  
  It may come upwards equally no surprise to yous that the actual heats are non televised inwards the fellowship they are filmed in. That's to brand certain they spread out the skilful ones in addition to the non do skilful ones
  
  I'm non proverb which episodes they cropped upwards inwards but ii of the finalists have got been identified equally Heat Winners inwards ii of Heats 1 to 6 - which way (big hint) - that the 3rd finalist comes from either Episode 7 or 8.
  
  We'll all honour out inwards 3 weeks fourth dimension - at the terminate of the semi-finals - after they have got identified the finalists.
  
  I'm soundless looking forwards to the betoken after the Final when I tin give the axe finally present yous what a Final genuinely looks like!
  
  
  

  More Learning Points re. Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year

  
  PLUS below are my weblog posts from in conclusion yr which contains lots of learning points nigh paradigm inwards this competitor for those aspiring to compete this year.
  
  
  

  Learning Points re the 2019 competition

  Call for Entries - Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year 2019

• passport photograph approach to her self-portrait which provided personality equally good equally a clear indication of an mightiness to pigment good in addition to consistently - equally is also evidenced past times her website. Her self portrait charmed the Judges.
  
  Observations included:
  
  • disturbing in addition to brilliantly off - "but I recall that's why nosotros liked it" - nigh Salvatore's large self -portrait
  • "lovely to have got somebody working alongside watercolour inwards a dissimilar way". I idea this was an odd comment. It assumed watercolour is alone painted inwards 1 way. I felt similar sending the Judges on a watercolour appreciation course!
  • a tondo inside a foursquare was a really odd composition which caught the eye.
  
  

  The Sitters

  
  The sitters were
  
  • Sophie Ellis Bextor - a British singer, songwriter in addition to model in addition to multi-platinum selling recording creative somebody - who has an absolutely fascinating human face upwards
  • Adrian Lester - an Olivier Award winning participant on cinema in addition to inwards television receiver dramas. He's also a director, in addition to writer.
  • Nitin Sawhney CBE CBE is a British Indian musician, producer in addition to composer - who writes songs in addition to music for film. In 2017 he received the Ivor Novello Lifetime Achievement award
  
  

  Discussions in addition to Observations

  
  

  Getting likeness past times one-half way

  
  The Judges evidently appreciate the creative somebody who finds a likeness in addition to they are less appreciative of those who never honour 1 and/or lose it after they've found it.
  
  
  
  Some artists who tend to focus on figurative piece of occupation are less bothered past times achieving a likeness, whereas those who do commissions appreciate the importance. It occurs to me that artists who piece of occupation to committee know that they don't tend to acquire paid if the customer isn't happy. It's a keen way of learning how to capture likenesses!
  
  It's begun to strike me that those who have got established a likeness past times one-half way are to a greater extent than than halfway to the shortlist.  Judges volition live on keeping a closer oculus on them inwards the 2d half.
  
  

  Avoiding over-working paintings

  
  There was a fair flake of tidings nigh the amount of piece of occupation required - in addition to how to consummate the paradigm but avoid over-working. This is a perennial theme.
  
  • some knew the penalties of over-working
  • some alongside (I think) rather less sense were totally overwhelmed past times how much piece of occupation was required in addition to the fact they didn't have got plenty fourth dimension - in addition to would have got welcomed the chance to worry nigh over-working!
  • Others were (I think) really much thrown past times the fact that the estrus does non genuinely supply 4 hours. Yup - it's a total fiction folks. 
  Practising paradigm people inwards 3 hours is a jolly skilful exercise for those artists who have got been selected for the upcoming Heats who desire to train. You can't overwork if yous know yous tin give the axe pigment a skilful caput inwards 3 hours. You simply demand to know when to position your brushes down.
  
  

  To dress or non to clothe

  
  There's an interesting fence to live on had nigh how much of the body in addition to wearable people should paint. Proper portraits involve a lot of wearable - yet we're simply non seeing people paradigm wearable for the most business office - because most stick to the rubber caput shot.
  
  For my business office I recall it's keen if people tin give the axe demonstrate they tin give the axe pigment to a greater extent than than a head. Knowing how to pigment dissimilar textures inwards damage of wearable is a flake similar knowing how to pigment dissimilar pilus styles - yous alone acquire skilful at it past times lots of practice.
  
  If I always got the chance to rewrite the rules I'd desire them to:
  
  • require them to do an upper body to include both wearable in addition to hands
  • either inwards the Heats - which would demand to live on longer
  • or equally the self-portrait
  (I have got a wicked smile on my human face upwards equally I write - but I know we'd acquire ameliorate results if nosotros did this). 
  
  

  The benefits of the large brush

  
  I wondered how many artists endeavor using dissimilar sized brushes. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 lot of them could speed upwards significantly if they used bigger brushes.  They don't lay inwards alongside large brushes in addition to and then refine alongside smaller brushes - they endeavor in addition to do the whole paradigm alongside smaller brushes - in addition to that simply takes forever!
  
  When I run across people using small-scale brushes to pigment (i.e. non draw) I simply desire to accomplish into the concealment in addition to have got it off them. Either that or shipping them on a course of written report using large chunky pastel sticks - which is where I learned non to run small-scale when yous motion onto tones in addition to colour.
  
  My persuasion is that a lot of painters could do goodness from learning how to run bigger brushes at the commencement in addition to inwards laying inwards initial layers - in addition to cut back the size of the brush used over time.
  
  I loved seeing the brush alongside the huge body of pilus which was going to live on used past times Jixuan Chen to pigment the eyelashes. It had an incredibly long tip alongside a fine point!
  
  
  

  Splitting the Judges

  
  This estrus was marked past times Judges beingness quite separate nigh dissimilar people. Frankly I was pleased to run across this. I don't hear when they all have got the same persuasion (as me!) but sometimes I recall they demand to explicate to a greater extent than why they liked people in addition to why they disagreed.
  
  In this episode they did - in addition to it was much ameliorate for it. If yous didn't hear it sentinel it again.
  
  

  

  The Judges summarise the pros in addition to cons of each artist
  

  
  

  Decision Time

  
  

  Sitters direct portrait to have got home

  
  
  • Sophie Ellis Bextor chose the paradigm past times Ellie Preston - equally the 1 she could run across inwards her mother's house
  • Adrian Lester was 'gobsmacked; when he saw the portraits in addition to took a spell to speak. He chose the portrait past times Emil Nikolla
  • Nitin Sawhney chose the paradigm past times Sarah Gibson equally beingness the 1 he recognized the most
  
  

  Things the Judges liked

  • artists who honour a likeness
  • being able to sentinel a journeying inwards paradigm - alongside a resolution
  • painters who pigment the body - in addition to non simply the caput - in addition to acquire a likeness inwards damage of posture
  • the way artists position pigment downwards - which is dissimilar in addition to new 
  • using colours intelligently - whether this is bold or sensitive
  • integrating the background i.e. making closed to thoughtful decisions in addition to non simply making it a apartment colour
  
  

  Judges were less impressed with

  • portraits which lack likeness
  • starting good alongside a drawing - but failing to improve when painting
  • cartoon similar qualities
  • unfinished portraits
  • painting equally good large in addition to and then non finishing
  • "weaker" paintings (i.e. ones which await OK until yous position them side past times side to a stronger paradigm of the same sort)
  It seems clearer in addition to clearer to me that if the Judges are choosing 1 of the ways they do this is position those painters who have got painted inwards comparable styles together (eg graphic style) in addition to and then the Judges compare them in addition to pick the 1 they prefer. This way it's pot luck whether yous acquire through. You demand to live on the best of your vogue of paradigm inwards your Heat.
  
  Kathleen Soriano summed it upwards inwards a rapid burn downwards tilt equally follows
  

  ....it's hard for us because we're wrestling alongside thence many things when we're trying to pick winners. We're looking for somebody who is bringing something novel but you're are looking for somebody who knows what they're doing; you're looking for something that is fresh in addition to dissimilar but is non cheesy or cliched - thence there's a lot of dissimilar things we're trying to doing when we're trying to direct winners each week.

  If you're inwards the novel Heats for Portrait Artist of the Year 2020 - starting side past times side calendar month at the Battersea Arts Centre - I propose yous re-create that tilt out in addition to post it somewhere yous tin give the axe run across it every twenty-four lx minutes menstruum until yous attend your heat!
  
  

  The Shortlist in addition to Heat Winner

  
  

  The Shortlist

  
  The Judges chose ii professionals in addition to an amateur who is a graduate of fine fine art who aspires to paradigm total fourth dimension - listed hither inwards alphabetical order:
  
  • Ellie Preston
  • Salvatore Fullam
  • Emil Nikolla
  I liked Rosso Porto's paradigm - but I'm guessing she was competing alongside Emil for a identify on the shortlist.
  
  I recall Sarah Gibson's was on its way. However I'm really firmly of the persuasion that she should have got been working on a much smaller format if she was going to exit thence much of the sheet untouched. It simply leaves it looking  equally if it comes into the category of "nice paradigm but should have got tried harder". It's insubstantial.  This is non a preliminary written report in addition to you're going to pigment to a greater extent than afterwards - this is it - yous MUST endeavor in addition to scope a finished paradigm - equally all the shortlisted artists did.
  
  The chap using watercolour had got a skilful likeness inwards the drawing but was nowhere nigh finished inwards damage of painting. It's a lesson inwards what happens if yous don't practice.
  
  I recall Salvatore got shortlisted inwards business office because of
  
  • his self-portrait where he painted himself top to toe alongside wearable in addition to peel in addition to hands! (see my betoken before nigh clothing)
  • the fact he painted a body in addition to got the likeness of the private through posture 
  • finished his estrus paradigm (i.e. all sheet covered!)

  

  Self portrait in addition to estrus portrait past times Salvatore Fullam

  
  

  

  Self portrait in addition to estrus portrait past times Ellie Preston

  
  I'm non that keen on the portrait of Sophie Ellis Bextor - but Ellie likely had the worst seat for paradigm somebody who has such a really rigid in addition to angular jaw line. I idea it was a ameliorate paradigm for the actual laying on of pigment rather than the likeness. However I liked the self-portrait a lot in addition to idea that was really good.
  
  
  

  

  Self portrait in addition to estrus portrait past times Emil Nikolla

  These await similar portraits past times a mature painter who has been paradigm people for a long time. This is a human being who has worked at his paradigm in addition to has got results. His are also the most naturalistic paintings of all those who painted this week.
  
  
  
  He's the variety of chap yous committee to do a portrait in addition to you'd know inwards advance you'd acquire a portrait that genuinely looked similar the somebody - in addition to that yous in addition to the sitter volition never always live on disappointed.
  
  
  I recall those people inwards southward E London who have got the chance to do classes alongside Emil are really lucky!
  

  
  

  The Final Decision

  
  

  

  Waiting to hear the Final Decision

  
  

  Episode 6 Winner

  
  The Judges chose Emil Nikolla equally the Heat Winner. 
  
  

  

  Add caption

  
  This is the video of him paradigm the Heat Portrait speeded up
  
  
  EMIL NIKOLLA: Time-lapse paradigm on Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year 2019 from N9 Design on Vimeo.
  
  

  and finally.....

  
  It may come upwards equally no surprise to yous that the actual heats are non televised inwards the fellowship they are filmed in. That's to brand certain they spread out the skilful ones in addition to the non do skilful ones
  
  I'm non proverb which episodes they cropped upwards inwards but ii of the finalists have got been identified equally Heat Winners inwards ii of Heats 1 to 6 - which way (big hint) - that the 3rd finalist comes from either Episode 7 or 8.
  
  We'll all honour out inwards 3 weeks fourth dimension - at the terminate of the semi-finals - after they have got identified the finalists.
  
  I'm soundless looking forwards to the betoken after the Final when I tin give the axe finally present yous what a Final genuinely looks like!
  
  
  

  More Learning Points re. Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year

  
  PLUS below are my weblog posts from in conclusion yr which contains lots of learning points nigh paradigm inwards this competitor for those aspiring to compete this year.
  
  
  

  Learning Points re the 2019 competition

  Review: Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year 2018 - Episode 1

• passport photograph approach to her self-portrait which provided personality equally good equally a clear indication of an mightiness to pigment good in addition to consistently - equally is also evidenced past times her website. Her self portrait charmed the Judges.
  
  Observations included:
  
  • disturbing in addition to brilliantly off - "but I recall that's why nosotros liked it" - nigh Salvatore's large self -portrait
  • "lovely to have got somebody working alongside watercolour inwards a dissimilar way". I idea this was an odd comment. It assumed watercolour is alone painted inwards 1 way. I felt similar sending the Judges on a watercolour appreciation course!
  • a tondo inside a foursquare was a really odd composition which caught the eye.
  
  

  The Sitters

  
  The sitters were
  
  • Sophie Ellis Bextor - a British singer, songwriter in addition to model in addition to multi-platinum selling recording creative somebody - who has an absolutely fascinating human face upwards
  • Adrian Lester - an Olivier Award winning participant on cinema in addition to inwards television receiver dramas. He's also a director, in addition to writer.
  • Nitin Sawhney CBE CBE is a British Indian musician, producer in addition to composer - who writes songs in addition to music for film. In 2017 he received the Ivor Novello Lifetime Achievement award
  
  

  Discussions in addition to Observations

  
  

  Getting likeness past times one-half way

  
  The Judges evidently appreciate the creative somebody who finds a likeness in addition to they are less appreciative of those who never honour 1 and/or lose it after they've found it.
  
  
  
  Some artists who tend to focus on figurative piece of occupation are less bothered past times achieving a likeness, whereas those who do commissions appreciate the importance. It occurs to me that artists who piece of occupation to committee know that they don't tend to acquire paid if the customer isn't happy. It's a keen way of learning how to capture likenesses!
  
  It's begun to strike me that those who have got established a likeness past times one-half way are to a greater extent than than halfway to the shortlist.  Judges volition live on keeping a closer oculus on them inwards the 2d half.
  
  

  Avoiding over-working paintings

  
  There was a fair flake of tidings nigh the amount of piece of occupation required - in addition to how to consummate the paradigm but avoid over-working. This is a perennial theme.
  
  • some knew the penalties of over-working
  • some alongside (I think) rather less sense were totally overwhelmed past times how much piece of occupation was required in addition to the fact they didn't have got plenty fourth dimension - in addition to would have got welcomed the chance to worry nigh over-working!
  • Others were (I think) really much thrown past times the fact that the estrus does non genuinely supply 4 hours. Yup - it's a total fiction folks. 
  Practising paradigm people inwards 3 hours is a jolly skilful exercise for those artists who have got been selected for the upcoming Heats who desire to train. You can't overwork if yous know yous tin give the axe pigment a skilful caput inwards 3 hours. You simply demand to know when to position your brushes down.
  
  

  To dress or non to clothe

  
  There's an interesting fence to live on had nigh how much of the body in addition to wearable people should paint. Proper portraits involve a lot of wearable - yet we're simply non seeing people paradigm wearable for the most business office - because most stick to the rubber caput shot.
  
  For my business office I recall it's keen if people tin give the axe demonstrate they tin give the axe pigment to a greater extent than than a head. Knowing how to pigment dissimilar textures inwards damage of wearable is a flake similar knowing how to pigment dissimilar pilus styles - yous alone acquire skilful at it past times lots of practice.
  
  If I always got the chance to rewrite the rules I'd desire them to:
  
  • require them to do an upper body to include both wearable in addition to hands
  • either inwards the Heats - which would demand to live on longer
  • or equally the self-portrait
  (I have got a wicked smile on my human face upwards equally I write - but I know we'd acquire ameliorate results if nosotros did this). 
  
  

  The benefits of the large brush

  
  I wondered how many artists endeavor using dissimilar sized brushes. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 lot of them could speed upwards significantly if they used bigger brushes.  They don't lay inwards alongside large brushes in addition to and then refine alongside smaller brushes - they endeavor in addition to do the whole paradigm alongside smaller brushes - in addition to that simply takes forever!
  
  When I run across people using small-scale brushes to pigment (i.e. non draw) I simply desire to accomplish into the concealment in addition to have got it off them. Either that or shipping them on a course of written report using large chunky pastel sticks - which is where I learned non to run small-scale when yous motion onto tones in addition to colour.
  
  My persuasion is that a lot of painters could do goodness from learning how to run bigger brushes at the commencement in addition to inwards laying inwards initial layers - in addition to cut back the size of the brush used over time.
  
  I loved seeing the brush alongside the huge body of pilus which was going to live on used past times Jixuan Chen to pigment the eyelashes. It had an incredibly long tip alongside a fine point!
  
  
  

  Splitting the Judges

  
  This estrus was marked past times Judges beingness quite separate nigh dissimilar people. Frankly I was pleased to run across this. I don't hear when they all have got the same persuasion (as me!) but sometimes I recall they demand to explicate to a greater extent than why they liked people in addition to why they disagreed.
  
  In this episode they did - in addition to it was much ameliorate for it. If yous didn't hear it sentinel it again.
  
  

  

  The Judges summarise the pros in addition to cons of each artist
  

  
  

  Decision Time

  
  

  Sitters direct portrait to have got home

  
  
  • Sophie Ellis Bextor chose the paradigm past times Ellie Preston - equally the 1 she could run across inwards her mother's house
  • Adrian Lester was 'gobsmacked; when he saw the portraits in addition to took a spell to speak. He chose the portrait past times Emil Nikolla
  • Nitin Sawhney chose the paradigm past times Sarah Gibson equally beingness the 1 he recognized the most
  
  

  Things the Judges liked

  • artists who honour a likeness
  • being able to sentinel a journeying inwards paradigm - alongside a resolution
  • painters who pigment the body - in addition to non simply the caput - in addition to acquire a likeness inwards damage of posture
  • the way artists position pigment downwards - which is dissimilar in addition to new 
  • using colours intelligently - whether this is bold or sensitive
  • integrating the background i.e. making closed to thoughtful decisions in addition to non simply making it a apartment colour
  
  

  Judges were less impressed with

  • portraits which lack likeness
  • starting good alongside a drawing - but failing to improve when painting
  • cartoon similar qualities
  • unfinished portraits
  • painting equally good large in addition to and then non finishing
  • "weaker" paintings (i.e. ones which await OK until yous position them side past times side to a stronger paradigm of the same sort)
  It seems clearer in addition to clearer to me that if the Judges are choosing 1 of the ways they do this is position those painters who have got painted inwards comparable styles together (eg graphic style) in addition to and then the Judges compare them in addition to pick the 1 they prefer. This way it's pot luck whether yous acquire through. You demand to live on the best of your vogue of paradigm inwards your Heat.
  
  Kathleen Soriano summed it upwards inwards a rapid burn downwards tilt equally follows
  

  ....it's hard for us because we're wrestling alongside thence many things when we're trying to pick winners. We're looking for somebody who is bringing something novel but you're are looking for somebody who knows what they're doing; you're looking for something that is fresh in addition to dissimilar but is non cheesy or cliched - thence there's a lot of dissimilar things we're trying to doing when we're trying to direct winners each week.

  If you're inwards the novel Heats for Portrait Artist of the Year 2020 - starting side past times side calendar month at the Battersea Arts Centre - I propose yous re-create that tilt out in addition to post it somewhere yous tin give the axe run across it every twenty-four lx minutes menstruum until yous attend your heat!
  
  

  The Shortlist in addition to Heat Winner

  
  

  The Shortlist

  
  The Judges chose ii professionals in addition to an amateur who is a graduate of fine fine art who aspires to paradigm total fourth dimension - listed hither inwards alphabetical order:
  
  • Ellie Preston
  • Salvatore Fullam
  • Emil Nikolla
  I liked Rosso Porto's paradigm - but I'm guessing she was competing alongside Emil for a identify on the shortlist.
  
  I recall Sarah Gibson's was on its way. However I'm really firmly of the persuasion that she should have got been working on a much smaller format if she was going to exit thence much of the sheet untouched. It simply leaves it looking  equally if it comes into the category of "nice paradigm but should have got tried harder". It's insubstantial.  This is non a preliminary written report in addition to you're going to pigment to a greater extent than afterwards - this is it - yous MUST endeavor in addition to scope a finished paradigm - equally all the shortlisted artists did.
  
  The chap using watercolour had got a skilful likeness inwards the drawing but was nowhere nigh finished inwards damage of painting. It's a lesson inwards what happens if yous don't practice.
  
  I recall Salvatore got shortlisted inwards business office because of
  
  • his self-portrait where he painted himself top to toe alongside wearable in addition to peel in addition to hands! (see my betoken before nigh clothing)
  • the fact he painted a body in addition to got the likeness of the private through posture 
  • finished his estrus paradigm (i.e. all sheet covered!)

  

  Self portrait in addition to estrus portrait past times Salvatore Fullam

  
  

  

  Self portrait in addition to estrus portrait past times Ellie Preston

  
  I'm non that keen on the portrait of Sophie Ellis Bextor - but Ellie likely had the worst seat for paradigm somebody who has such a really rigid in addition to angular jaw line. I idea it was a ameliorate paradigm for the actual laying on of pigment rather than the likeness. However I liked the self-portrait a lot in addition to idea that was really good.
  
  
  

  

  Self portrait in addition to estrus portrait past times Emil Nikolla

  These await similar portraits past times a mature painter who has been paradigm people for a long time. This is a human being who has worked at his paradigm in addition to has got results. His are also the most naturalistic paintings of all those who painted this week.
  
  
  
  He's the variety of chap yous committee to do a portrait in addition to you'd know inwards advance you'd acquire a portrait that genuinely looked similar the somebody - in addition to that yous in addition to the sitter volition never always live on disappointed.
  
  
  I recall those people inwards southward E London who have got the chance to do classes alongside Emil are really lucky!
  

  
  

  The Final Decision

  
  

  

  Waiting to hear the Final Decision

  
  

  Episode 6 Winner

  
  The Judges chose Emil Nikolla equally the Heat Winner. 
  
  

  

  Add caption

  
  This is the video of him paradigm the Heat Portrait speeded up
  
  
  EMIL NIKOLLA: Time-lapse paradigm on Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year 2019 from N9 Design on Vimeo.
  
  

  and finally.....

  
  It may come upwards equally no surprise to yous that the actual heats are non televised inwards the fellowship they are filmed in. That's to brand certain they spread out the skilful ones in addition to the non do skilful ones
  
  I'm non proverb which episodes they cropped upwards inwards but ii of the finalists have got been identified equally Heat Winners inwards ii of Heats 1 to 6 - which way (big hint) - that the 3rd finalist comes from either Episode 7 or 8.
  
  We'll all honour out inwards 3 weeks fourth dimension - at the terminate of the semi-finals - after they have got identified the finalists.
  
  I'm soundless looking forwards to the betoken after the Final when I tin give the axe finally present yous what a Final genuinely looks like!
  
  
  

  More Learning Points re. Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year

  
  PLUS below are my weblog posts from in conclusion yr which contains lots of learning points nigh paradigm inwards this competitor for those aspiring to compete this year.
  
  
  

  Learning Points re the 2019 competition

  Review: Episode 2 of Portrait Artist of the Year 2018

• passport photograph approach to her self-portrait which provided personality equally good equally a clear indication of an mightiness to pigment good in addition to consistently - equally is also evidenced past times her website. Her self portrait charmed the Judges.
  
  Observations included:
  
  • disturbing in addition to brilliantly off - "but I recall that's why nosotros liked it" - nigh Salvatore's large self -portrait
  • "lovely to have got somebody working alongside watercolour inwards a dissimilar way". I idea this was an odd comment. It assumed watercolour is alone painted inwards 1 way. I felt similar sending the Judges on a watercolour appreciation course!
  • a tondo inside a foursquare was a really odd composition which caught the eye.
  
  

  The Sitters

  
  The sitters were
  
  • Sophie Ellis Bextor - a British singer, songwriter in addition to model in addition to multi-platinum selling recording creative somebody - who has an absolutely fascinating human face upwards
  • Adrian Lester - an Olivier Award winning participant on cinema in addition to inwards television receiver dramas. He's also a director, in addition to writer.
  • Nitin Sawhney CBE CBE is a British Indian musician, producer in addition to composer - who writes songs in addition to music for film. In 2017 he received the Ivor Novello Lifetime Achievement award
  
  

  Discussions in addition to Observations

  
  

  Getting likeness past times one-half way

  
  The Judges evidently appreciate the creative somebody who finds a likeness in addition to they are less appreciative of those who never honour 1 and/or lose it after they've found it.
  
  
  
  Some artists who tend to focus on figurative piece of occupation are less bothered past times achieving a likeness, whereas those who do commissions appreciate the importance. It occurs to me that artists who piece of occupation to committee know that they don't tend to acquire paid if the customer isn't happy. It's a keen way of learning how to capture likenesses!
  
  It's begun to strike me that those who have got established a likeness past times one-half way are to a greater extent than than halfway to the shortlist.  Judges volition live on keeping a closer oculus on them inwards the 2d half.
  
  

  Avoiding over-working paintings

  
  There was a fair flake of tidings nigh the amount of piece of occupation required - in addition to how to consummate the paradigm but avoid over-working. This is a perennial theme.
  
  • some knew the penalties of over-working
  • some alongside (I think) rather less sense were totally overwhelmed past times how much piece of occupation was required in addition to the fact they didn't have got plenty fourth dimension - in addition to would have got welcomed the chance to worry nigh over-working!
  • Others were (I think) really much thrown past times the fact that the estrus does non genuinely supply 4 hours. Yup - it's a total fiction folks. 
  Practising paradigm people inwards 3 hours is a jolly skilful exercise for those artists who have got been selected for the upcoming Heats who desire to train. You can't overwork if yous know yous tin give the axe pigment a skilful caput inwards 3 hours. You simply demand to know when to position your brushes down.
  
  

  To dress or non to clothe

  
  There's an interesting fence to live on had nigh how much of the body in addition to wearable people should paint. Proper portraits involve a lot of wearable - yet we're simply non seeing people paradigm wearable for the most business office - because most stick to the rubber caput shot.
  
  For my business office I recall it's keen if people tin give the axe demonstrate they tin give the axe pigment to a greater extent than than a head. Knowing how to pigment dissimilar textures inwards damage of wearable is a flake similar knowing how to pigment dissimilar pilus styles - yous alone acquire skilful at it past times lots of practice.
  
  If I always got the chance to rewrite the rules I'd desire them to:
  
  • require them to do an upper body to include both wearable in addition to hands
  • either inwards the Heats - which would demand to live on longer
  • or equally the self-portrait
  (I have got a wicked smile on my human face upwards equally I write - but I know we'd acquire ameliorate results if nosotros did this). 
  
  

  The benefits of the large brush

  
  I wondered how many artists endeavor using dissimilar sized brushes. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 lot of them could speed upwards significantly if they used bigger brushes.  They don't lay inwards alongside large brushes in addition to and then refine alongside smaller brushes - they endeavor in addition to do the whole paradigm alongside smaller brushes - in addition to that simply takes forever!
  
  When I run across people using small-scale brushes to pigment (i.e. non draw) I simply desire to accomplish into the concealment in addition to have got it off them. Either that or shipping them on a course of written report using large chunky pastel sticks - which is where I learned non to run small-scale when yous motion onto tones in addition to colour.
  
  My persuasion is that a lot of painters could do goodness from learning how to run bigger brushes at the commencement in addition to inwards laying inwards initial layers - in addition to cut back the size of the brush used over time.
  
  I loved seeing the brush alongside the huge body of pilus which was going to live on used past times Jixuan Chen to pigment the eyelashes. It had an incredibly long tip alongside a fine point!
  
  
  

  Splitting the Judges

  
  This estrus was marked past times Judges beingness quite separate nigh dissimilar people. Frankly I was pleased to run across this. I don't hear when they all have got the same persuasion (as me!) but sometimes I recall they demand to explicate to a greater extent than why they liked people in addition to why they disagreed.
  
  In this episode they did - in addition to it was much ameliorate for it. If yous didn't hear it sentinel it again.
  
  

  

  The Judges summarise the pros in addition to cons of each artist
  

  
  

  Decision Time

  
  

  Sitters direct portrait to have got home

  
  
  • Sophie Ellis Bextor chose the paradigm past times Ellie Preston - equally the 1 she could run across inwards her mother's house
  • Adrian Lester was 'gobsmacked; when he saw the portraits in addition to took a spell to speak. He chose the portrait past times Emil Nikolla
  • Nitin Sawhney chose the paradigm past times Sarah Gibson equally beingness the 1 he recognized the most
  
  

  Things the Judges liked

  • artists who honour a likeness
  • being able to sentinel a journeying inwards paradigm - alongside a resolution
  • painters who pigment the body - in addition to non simply the caput - in addition to acquire a likeness inwards damage of posture
  • the way artists position pigment downwards - which is dissimilar in addition to new 
  • using colours intelligently - whether this is bold or sensitive
  • integrating the background i.e. making closed to thoughtful decisions in addition to non simply making it a apartment colour
  
  

  Judges were less impressed with

  • portraits which lack likeness
  • starting good alongside a drawing - but failing to improve when painting
  • cartoon similar qualities
  • unfinished portraits
  • painting equally good large in addition to and then non finishing
  • "weaker" paintings (i.e. ones which await OK until yous position them side past times side to a stronger paradigm of the same sort)
  It seems clearer in addition to clearer to me that if the Judges are choosing 1 of the ways they do this is position those painters who have got painted inwards comparable styles together (eg graphic style) in addition to and then the Judges compare them in addition to pick the 1 they prefer. This way it's pot luck whether yous acquire through. You demand to live on the best of your vogue of paradigm inwards your Heat.
  
  Kathleen Soriano summed it upwards inwards a rapid burn downwards tilt equally follows
  

  ....it's hard for us because we're wrestling alongside thence many things when we're trying to pick winners. We're looking for somebody who is bringing something novel but you're are looking for somebody who knows what they're doing; you're looking for something that is fresh in addition to dissimilar but is non cheesy or cliched - thence there's a lot of dissimilar things we're trying to doing when we're trying to direct winners each week.

  If you're inwards the novel Heats for Portrait Artist of the Year 2020 - starting side past times side calendar month at the Battersea Arts Centre - I propose yous re-create that tilt out in addition to post it somewhere yous tin give the axe run across it every twenty-four lx minutes menstruum until yous attend your heat!
  
  

  The Shortlist in addition to Heat Winner

  
  

  The Shortlist

  
  The Judges chose ii professionals in addition to an amateur who is a graduate of fine fine art who aspires to paradigm total fourth dimension - listed hither inwards alphabetical order:
  
  • Ellie Preston
  • Salvatore Fullam
  • Emil Nikolla
  I liked Rosso Porto's paradigm - but I'm guessing she was competing alongside Emil for a identify on the shortlist.
  
  I recall Sarah Gibson's was on its way. However I'm really firmly of the persuasion that she should have got been working on a much smaller format if she was going to exit thence much of the sheet untouched. It simply leaves it looking  equally if it comes into the category of "nice paradigm but should have got tried harder". It's insubstantial.  This is non a preliminary written report in addition to you're going to pigment to a greater extent than afterwards - this is it - yous MUST endeavor in addition to scope a finished paradigm - equally all the shortlisted artists did.
  
  The chap using watercolour had got a skilful likeness inwards the drawing but was nowhere nigh finished inwards damage of painting. It's a lesson inwards what happens if yous don't practice.
  
  I recall Salvatore got shortlisted inwards business office because of
  
  • his self-portrait where he painted himself top to toe alongside wearable in addition to peel in addition to hands! (see my betoken before nigh clothing)
  • the fact he painted a body in addition to got the likeness of the private through posture 
  • finished his estrus paradigm (i.e. all sheet covered!)

  

  Self portrait in addition to estrus portrait past times Salvatore Fullam

  
  

  

  Self portrait in addition to estrus portrait past times Ellie Preston

  
  I'm non that keen on the portrait of Sophie Ellis Bextor - but Ellie likely had the worst seat for paradigm somebody who has such a really rigid in addition to angular jaw line. I idea it was a ameliorate paradigm for the actual laying on of pigment rather than the likeness. However I liked the self-portrait a lot in addition to idea that was really good.
  
  
  

  

  Self portrait in addition to estrus portrait past times Emil Nikolla

  These await similar portraits past times a mature painter who has been paradigm people for a long time. This is a human being who has worked at his paradigm in addition to has got results. His are also the most naturalistic paintings of all those who painted this week.
  
  
  
  He's the variety of chap yous committee to do a portrait in addition to you'd know inwards advance you'd acquire a portrait that genuinely looked similar the somebody - in addition to that yous in addition to the sitter volition never always live on disappointed.
  
  
  I recall those people inwards southward E London who have got the chance to do classes alongside Emil are really lucky!
  

  
  

  The Final Decision

  
  

  

  Waiting to hear the Final Decision

  
  

  Episode 6 Winner

  
  The Judges chose Emil Nikolla equally the Heat Winner. 
  
  

  

  Add caption

  
  This is the video of him paradigm the Heat Portrait speeded up
  
  
  EMIL NIKOLLA: Time-lapse paradigm on Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year 2019 from N9 Design on Vimeo.
  
  

  and finally.....

  
  It may come upwards equally no surprise to yous that the actual heats are non televised inwards the fellowship they are filmed in. That's to brand certain they spread out the skilful ones in addition to the non do skilful ones
  
  I'm non proverb which episodes they cropped upwards inwards but ii of the finalists have got been identified equally Heat Winners inwards ii of Heats 1 to 6 - which way (big hint) - that the 3rd finalist comes from either Episode 7 or 8.
  
  We'll all honour out inwards 3 weeks fourth dimension - at the terminate of the semi-finals - after they have got identified the finalists.
  
  I'm soundless looking forwards to the betoken after the Final when I tin give the axe finally present yous what a Final genuinely looks like!
  
  
  

  More Learning Points re. Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year

  
  PLUS below are my weblog posts from in conclusion yr which contains lots of learning points nigh paradigm inwards this competitor for those aspiring to compete this year.
  
  
  

  Learning Points re the 2019 competition

  Review: Episode 3 of Portrait Artist of the Year 2018 (now updated alongside the interview alongside the winner)

• passport photograph approach to her self-portrait which provided personality equally good equally a clear indication of an mightiness to pigment good in addition to consistently - equally is also evidenced past times her website. Her self portrait charmed the Judges.
  
  Observations included:
  
  • disturbing in addition to brilliantly off - "but I recall that's why nosotros liked it" - nigh Salvatore's large self -portrait
  • "lovely to have got somebody working alongside watercolour inwards a dissimilar way". I idea this was an odd comment. It assumed watercolour is alone painted inwards 1 way. I felt similar sending the Judges on a watercolour appreciation course!
  • a tondo inside a foursquare was a really odd composition which caught the eye.
  
  

  The Sitters

  
  The sitters were
  
  • Sophie Ellis Bextor - a British singer, songwriter in addition to model in addition to multi-platinum selling recording creative somebody - who has an absolutely fascinating human face upwards
  • Adrian Lester - an Olivier Award winning participant on cinema in addition to inwards television receiver dramas. He's also a director, in addition to writer.
  • Nitin Sawhney CBE CBE is a British Indian musician, producer in addition to composer - who writes songs in addition to music for film. In 2017 he received the Ivor Novello Lifetime Achievement award
  
  

  Discussions in addition to Observations

  
  

  Getting likeness past times one-half way

  
  The Judges evidently appreciate the creative somebody who finds a likeness in addition to they are less appreciative of those who never honour 1 and/or lose it after they've found it.
  
  
  
  Some artists who tend to focus on figurative piece of occupation are less bothered past times achieving a likeness, whereas those who do commissions appreciate the importance. It occurs to me that artists who piece of occupation to committee know that they don't tend to acquire paid if the customer isn't happy. It's a keen way of learning how to capture likenesses!
  
  It's begun to strike me that those who have got established a likeness past times one-half way are to a greater extent than than halfway to the shortlist.  Judges volition live on keeping a closer oculus on them inwards the 2d half.
  
  

  Avoiding over-working paintings

  
  There was a fair flake of tidings nigh the amount of piece of occupation required - in addition to how to consummate the paradigm but avoid over-working. This is a perennial theme.
  
  • some knew the penalties of over-working
  • some alongside (I think) rather less sense were totally overwhelmed past times how much piece of occupation was required in addition to the fact they didn't have got plenty fourth dimension - in addition to would have got welcomed the chance to worry nigh over-working!
  • Others were (I think) really much thrown past times the fact that the estrus does non genuinely supply 4 hours. Yup - it's a total fiction folks. 
  Practising paradigm people inwards 3 hours is a jolly skilful exercise for those artists who have got been selected for the upcoming Heats who desire to train. You can't overwork if yous know yous tin give the axe pigment a skilful caput inwards 3 hours. You simply demand to know when to position your brushes down.
  
  

  To dress or non to clothe

  
  There's an interesting fence to live on had nigh how much of the body in addition to wearable people should paint. Proper portraits involve a lot of wearable - yet we're simply non seeing people paradigm wearable for the most business office - because most stick to the rubber caput shot.
  
  For my business office I recall it's keen if people tin give the axe demonstrate they tin give the axe pigment to a greater extent than than a head. Knowing how to pigment dissimilar textures inwards damage of wearable is a flake similar knowing how to pigment dissimilar pilus styles - yous alone acquire skilful at it past times lots of practice.
  
  If I always got the chance to rewrite the rules I'd desire them to:
  
  • require them to do an upper body to include both wearable in addition to hands
  • either inwards the Heats - which would demand to live on longer
  • or equally the self-portrait
  (I have got a wicked smile on my human face upwards equally I write - but I know we'd acquire ameliorate results if nosotros did this). 
  
  

  The benefits of the large brush

  
  I wondered how many artists endeavor using dissimilar sized brushes. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 lot of them could speed upwards significantly if they used bigger brushes.  They don't lay inwards alongside large brushes in addition to and then refine alongside smaller brushes - they endeavor in addition to do the whole paradigm alongside smaller brushes - in addition to that simply takes forever!
  
  When I run across people using small-scale brushes to pigment (i.e. non draw) I simply desire to accomplish into the concealment in addition to have got it off them. Either that or shipping them on a course of written report using large chunky pastel sticks - which is where I learned non to run small-scale when yous motion onto tones in addition to colour.
  
  My persuasion is that a lot of painters could do goodness from learning how to run bigger brushes at the commencement in addition to inwards laying inwards initial layers - in addition to cut back the size of the brush used over time.
  
  I loved seeing the brush alongside the huge body of pilus which was going to live on used past times Jixuan Chen to pigment the eyelashes. It had an incredibly long tip alongside a fine point!
  
  
  

  Splitting the Judges

  
  This estrus was marked past times Judges beingness quite separate nigh dissimilar people. Frankly I was pleased to run across this. I don't hear when they all have got the same persuasion (as me!) but sometimes I recall they demand to explicate to a greater extent than why they liked people in addition to why they disagreed.
  
  In this episode they did - in addition to it was much ameliorate for it. If yous didn't hear it sentinel it again.
  
  

  

  The Judges summarise the pros in addition to cons of each artist
  

  
  

  Decision Time

  
  

  Sitters direct portrait to have got home

  
  
  • Sophie Ellis Bextor chose the paradigm past times Ellie Preston - equally the 1 she could run across inwards her mother's house
  • Adrian Lester was 'gobsmacked; when he saw the portraits in addition to took a spell to speak. He chose the portrait past times Emil Nikolla
  • Nitin Sawhney chose the paradigm past times Sarah Gibson equally beingness the 1 he recognized the most
  
  

  Things the Judges liked

  • artists who honour a likeness
  • being able to sentinel a journeying inwards paradigm - alongside a resolution
  • painters who pigment the body - in addition to non simply the caput - in addition to acquire a likeness inwards damage of posture
  • the way artists position pigment downwards - which is dissimilar in addition to new 
  • using colours intelligently - whether this is bold or sensitive
  • integrating the background i.e. making closed to thoughtful decisions in addition to non simply making it a apartment colour
  
  

  Judges were less impressed with

  • portraits which lack likeness
  • starting good alongside a drawing - but failing to improve when painting
  • cartoon similar qualities
  • unfinished portraits
  • painting equally good large in addition to and then non finishing
  • "weaker" paintings (i.e. ones which await OK until yous position them side past times side to a stronger paradigm of the same sort)
  It seems clearer in addition to clearer to me that if the Judges are choosing 1 of the ways they do this is position those painters who have got painted inwards comparable styles together (eg graphic style) in addition to and then the Judges compare them in addition to pick the 1 they prefer. This way it's pot luck whether yous acquire through. You demand to live on the best of your vogue of paradigm inwards your Heat.
  
  Kathleen Soriano summed it upwards inwards a rapid burn downwards tilt equally follows
  

  ....it's hard for us because we're wrestling alongside thence many things when we're trying to pick winners. We're looking for somebody who is bringing something novel but you're are looking for somebody who knows what they're doing; you're looking for something that is fresh in addition to dissimilar but is non cheesy or cliched - thence there's a lot of dissimilar things we're trying to doing when we're trying to direct winners each week.

  If you're inwards the novel Heats for Portrait Artist of the Year 2020 - starting side past times side calendar month at the Battersea Arts Centre - I propose yous re-create that tilt out in addition to post it somewhere yous tin give the axe run across it every twenty-four lx minutes menstruum until yous attend your heat!
  
  

  The Shortlist in addition to Heat Winner

  
  

  The Shortlist

  
  The Judges chose ii professionals in addition to an amateur who is a graduate of fine fine art who aspires to paradigm total fourth dimension - listed hither inwards alphabetical order:
  
  • Ellie Preston
  • Salvatore Fullam
  • Emil Nikolla
  I liked Rosso Porto's paradigm - but I'm guessing she was competing alongside Emil for a identify on the shortlist.
  
  I recall Sarah Gibson's was on its way. However I'm really firmly of the persuasion that she should have got been working on a much smaller format if she was going to exit thence much of the sheet untouched. It simply leaves it looking  equally if it comes into the category of "nice paradigm but should have got tried harder". It's insubstantial.  This is non a preliminary written report in addition to you're going to pigment to a greater extent than afterwards - this is it - yous MUST endeavor in addition to scope a finished paradigm - equally all the shortlisted artists did.
  
  The chap using watercolour had got a skilful likeness inwards the drawing but was nowhere nigh finished inwards damage of painting. It's a lesson inwards what happens if yous don't practice.
  
  I recall Salvatore got shortlisted inwards business office because of
  
  • his self-portrait where he painted himself top to toe alongside wearable in addition to peel in addition to hands! (see my betoken before nigh clothing)
  • the fact he painted a body in addition to got the likeness of the private through posture 
  • finished his estrus paradigm (i.e. all sheet covered!)

  

  Self portrait in addition to estrus portrait past times Salvatore Fullam

  
  

  

  Self portrait in addition to estrus portrait past times Ellie Preston

  
  I'm non that keen on the portrait of Sophie Ellis Bextor - but Ellie likely had the worst seat for paradigm somebody who has such a really rigid in addition to angular jaw line. I idea it was a ameliorate paradigm for the actual laying on of pigment rather than the likeness. However I liked the self-portrait a lot in addition to idea that was really good.
  
  
  

  

  Self portrait in addition to estrus portrait past times Emil Nikolla

  These await similar portraits past times a mature painter who has been paradigm people for a long time. This is a human being who has worked at his paradigm in addition to has got results. His are also the most naturalistic paintings of all those who painted this week.
  
  
  
  He's the variety of chap yous committee to do a portrait in addition to you'd know inwards advance you'd acquire a portrait that genuinely looked similar the somebody - in addition to that yous in addition to the sitter volition never always live on disappointed.
  
  
  I recall those people inwards southward E London who have got the chance to do classes alongside Emil are really lucky!
  

  
  

  The Final Decision

  
  

  

  Waiting to hear the Final Decision

  
  

  Episode 6 Winner

  
  The Judges chose Emil Nikolla equally the Heat Winner. 
  
  

  

  Add caption

  
  This is the video of him paradigm the Heat Portrait speeded up
  
  
  EMIL NIKOLLA: Time-lapse paradigm on Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year 2019 from N9 Design on Vimeo.
  
  

  and finally.....

  
  It may come upwards equally no surprise to yous that the actual heats are non televised inwards the fellowship they are filmed in. That's to brand certain they spread out the skilful ones in addition to the non do skilful ones
  
  I'm non proverb which episodes they cropped upwards inwards but ii of the finalists have got been identified equally Heat Winners inwards ii of Heats 1 to 6 - which way (big hint) - that the 3rd finalist comes from either Episode 7 or 8.
  
  We'll all honour out inwards 3 weeks fourth dimension - at the terminate of the semi-finals - after they have got identified the finalists.
  
  I'm soundless looking forwards to the betoken after the Final when I tin give the axe finally present yous what a Final genuinely looks like!
  
  
  

  More Learning Points re. Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year

  
  PLUS below are my weblog posts from in conclusion yr which contains lots of learning points nigh paradigm inwards this competitor for those aspiring to compete this year.
  
  
  

  Learning Points re the 2019 competition

  Review: Episode 4 of Portrait Artist of the Year 2018

• passport photograph approach to her self-portrait which provided personality equally good equally a clear indication of an mightiness to pigment good in addition to consistently - equally is also evidenced past times her website. Her self portrait charmed the Judges.
  
  Observations included:
  
  • disturbing in addition to brilliantly off - "but I recall that's why nosotros liked it" - nigh Salvatore's large self -portrait
  • "lovely to have got somebody working alongside watercolour inwards a dissimilar way". I idea this was an odd comment. It assumed watercolour is alone painted inwards 1 way. I felt similar sending the Judges on a watercolour appreciation course!
  • a tondo inside a foursquare was a really odd composition which caught the eye.
  
  

  The Sitters

  
  The sitters were
  
  • Sophie Ellis Bextor - a British singer, songwriter in addition to model in addition to multi-platinum selling recording creative somebody - who has an absolutely fascinating human face upwards
  • Adrian Lester - an Olivier Award winning participant on cinema in addition to inwards television receiver dramas. He's also a director, in addition to writer.
  • Nitin Sawhney CBE CBE is a British Indian musician, producer in addition to composer - who writes songs in addition to music for film. In 2017 he received the Ivor Novello Lifetime Achievement award
  
  

  Discussions in addition to Observations

  
  

  Getting likeness past times one-half way

  
  The Judges evidently appreciate the creative somebody who finds a likeness in addition to they are less appreciative of those who never honour 1 and/or lose it after they've found it.
  
  
  
  Some artists who tend to focus on figurative piece of occupation are less bothered past times achieving a likeness, whereas those who do commissions appreciate the importance. It occurs to me that artists who piece of occupation to committee know that they don't tend to acquire paid if the customer isn't happy. It's a keen way of learning how to capture likenesses!
  
  It's begun to strike me that those who have got established a likeness past times one-half way are to a greater extent than than halfway to the shortlist.  Judges volition live on keeping a closer oculus on them inwards the 2d half.
  
  

  Avoiding over-working paintings

  
  There was a fair flake of tidings nigh the amount of piece of occupation required - in addition to how to consummate the paradigm but avoid over-working. This is a perennial theme.
  
  • some knew the penalties of over-working
  • some alongside (I think) rather less sense were totally overwhelmed past times how much piece of occupation was required in addition to the fact they didn't have got plenty fourth dimension - in addition to would have got welcomed the chance to worry nigh over-working!
  • Others were (I think) really much thrown past times the fact that the estrus does non genuinely supply 4 hours. Yup - it's a total fiction folks. 
  Practising paradigm people inwards 3 hours is a jolly skilful exercise for those artists who have got been selected for the upcoming Heats who desire to train. You can't overwork if yous know yous tin give the axe pigment a skilful caput inwards 3 hours. You simply demand to know when to position your brushes down.
  
  

  To dress or non to clothe

  
  There's an interesting fence to live on had nigh how much of the body in addition to wearable people should paint. Proper portraits involve a lot of wearable - yet we're simply non seeing people paradigm wearable for the most business office - because most stick to the rubber caput shot.
  
  For my business office I recall it's keen if people tin give the axe demonstrate they tin give the axe pigment to a greater extent than than a head. Knowing how to pigment dissimilar textures inwards damage of wearable is a flake similar knowing how to pigment dissimilar pilus styles - yous alone acquire skilful at it past times lots of practice.
  
  If I always got the chance to rewrite the rules I'd desire them to:
  
  • require them to do an upper body to include both wearable in addition to hands
  • either inwards the Heats - which would demand to live on longer
  • or equally the self-portrait
  (I have got a wicked smile on my human face upwards equally I write - but I know we'd acquire ameliorate results if nosotros did this). 
  
  

  The benefits of the large brush

  
  I wondered how many artists endeavor using dissimilar sized brushes. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 lot of them could speed upwards significantly if they used bigger brushes.  They don't lay inwards alongside large brushes in addition to and then refine alongside smaller brushes - they endeavor in addition to do the whole paradigm alongside smaller brushes - in addition to that simply takes forever!
  
  When I run across people using small-scale brushes to pigment (i.e. non draw) I simply desire to accomplish into the concealment in addition to have got it off them. Either that or shipping them on a course of written report using large chunky pastel sticks - which is where I learned non to run small-scale when yous motion onto tones in addition to colour.
  
  My persuasion is that a lot of painters could do goodness from learning how to run bigger brushes at the commencement in addition to inwards laying inwards initial layers - in addition to cut back the size of the brush used over time.
  
  I loved seeing the brush alongside the huge body of pilus which was going to live on used past times Jixuan Chen to pigment the eyelashes. It had an incredibly long tip alongside a fine point!
  
  
  

  Splitting the Judges

  
  This estrus was marked past times Judges beingness quite separate nigh dissimilar people. Frankly I was pleased to run across this. I don't hear when they all have got the same persuasion (as me!) but sometimes I recall they demand to explicate to a greater extent than why they liked people in addition to why they disagreed.
  
  In this episode they did - in addition to it was much ameliorate for it. If yous didn't hear it sentinel it again.
  
  

  

  The Judges summarise the pros in addition to cons of each artist
  

  
  

  Decision Time

  
  

  Sitters direct portrait to have got home

  
  
  • Sophie Ellis Bextor chose the paradigm past times Ellie Preston - equally the 1 she could run across inwards her mother's house
  • Adrian Lester was 'gobsmacked; when he saw the portraits in addition to took a spell to speak. He chose the portrait past times Emil Nikolla
  • Nitin Sawhney chose the paradigm past times Sarah Gibson equally beingness the 1 he recognized the most
  
  

  Things the Judges liked

  • artists who honour a likeness
  • being able to sentinel a journeying inwards paradigm - alongside a resolution
  • painters who pigment the body - in addition to non simply the caput - in addition to acquire a likeness inwards damage of posture
  • the way artists position pigment downwards - which is dissimilar in addition to new 
  • using colours intelligently - whether this is bold or sensitive
  • integrating the background i.e. making closed to thoughtful decisions in addition to non simply making it a apartment colour
  
  

  Judges were less impressed with

  • portraits which lack likeness
  • starting good alongside a drawing - but failing to improve when painting
  • cartoon similar qualities
  • unfinished portraits
  • painting equally good large in addition to and then non finishing
  • "weaker" paintings (i.e. ones which await OK until yous position them side past times side to a stronger paradigm of the same sort)
  It seems clearer in addition to clearer to me that if the Judges are choosing 1 of the ways they do this is position those painters who have got painted inwards comparable styles together (eg graphic style) in addition to and then the Judges compare them in addition to pick the 1 they prefer. This way it's pot luck whether yous acquire through. You demand to live on the best of your vogue of paradigm inwards your Heat.
  
  Kathleen Soriano summed it upwards inwards a rapid burn downwards tilt equally follows
  

  ....it's hard for us because we're wrestling alongside thence many things when we're trying to pick winners. We're looking for somebody who is bringing something novel but you're are looking for somebody who knows what they're doing; you're looking for something that is fresh in addition to dissimilar but is non cheesy or cliched - thence there's a lot of dissimilar things we're trying to doing when we're trying to direct winners each week.

  If you're inwards the novel Heats for Portrait Artist of the Year 2020 - starting side past times side calendar month at the Battersea Arts Centre - I propose yous re-create that tilt out in addition to post it somewhere yous tin give the axe run across it every twenty-four lx minutes menstruum until yous attend your heat!
  
  

  The Shortlist in addition to Heat Winner

  
  

  The Shortlist

  
  The Judges chose ii professionals in addition to an amateur who is a graduate of fine fine art who aspires to paradigm total fourth dimension - listed hither inwards alphabetical order:
  
  • Ellie Preston
  • Salvatore Fullam
  • Emil Nikolla
  I liked Rosso Porto's paradigm - but I'm guessing she was competing alongside Emil for a identify on the shortlist.
  
  I recall Sarah Gibson's was on its way. However I'm really firmly of the persuasion that she should have got been working on a much smaller format if she was going to exit thence much of the sheet untouched. It simply leaves it looking  equally if it comes into the category of "nice paradigm but should have got tried harder". It's insubstantial.  This is non a preliminary written report in addition to you're going to pigment to a greater extent than afterwards - this is it - yous MUST endeavor in addition to scope a finished paradigm - equally all the shortlisted artists did.
  
  The chap using watercolour had got a skilful likeness inwards the drawing but was nowhere nigh finished inwards damage of painting. It's a lesson inwards what happens if yous don't practice.
  
  I recall Salvatore got shortlisted inwards business office because of
  
  • his self-portrait where he painted himself top to toe alongside wearable in addition to peel in addition to hands! (see my betoken before nigh clothing)
  • the fact he painted a body in addition to got the likeness of the private through posture 
  • finished his estrus paradigm (i.e. all sheet covered!)

  

  Self portrait in addition to estrus portrait past times Salvatore Fullam

  
  

  

  Self portrait in addition to estrus portrait past times Ellie Preston

  
  I'm non that keen on the portrait of Sophie Ellis Bextor - but Ellie likely had the worst seat for paradigm somebody who has such a really rigid in addition to angular jaw line. I idea it was a ameliorate paradigm for the actual laying on of pigment rather than the likeness. However I liked the self-portrait a lot in addition to idea that was really good.
  
  
  

  

  Self portrait in addition to estrus portrait past times Emil Nikolla

  These await similar portraits past times a mature painter who has been paradigm people for a long time. This is a human being who has worked at his paradigm in addition to has got results. His are also the most naturalistic paintings of all those who painted this week.
  
  
  
  He's the variety of chap yous committee to do a portrait in addition to you'd know inwards advance you'd acquire a portrait that genuinely looked similar the somebody - in addition to that yous in addition to the sitter volition never always live on disappointed.
  
  
  I recall those people inwards southward E London who have got the chance to do classes alongside Emil are really lucky!
  

  
  

  The Final Decision

  
  

  

  Waiting to hear the Final Decision

  
  

  Episode 6 Winner

  
  The Judges chose Emil Nikolla equally the Heat Winner. 
  
  

  

  Add caption

  
  This is the video of him paradigm the Heat Portrait speeded up
  
  
  EMIL NIKOLLA: Time-lapse paradigm on Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year 2019 from N9 Design on Vimeo.
  
  

  and finally.....

  
  It may come upwards equally no surprise to yous that the actual heats are non televised inwards the fellowship they are filmed in. That's to brand certain they spread out the skilful ones in addition to the non do skilful ones
  
  I'm non proverb which episodes they cropped upwards inwards but ii of the finalists have got been identified equally Heat Winners inwards ii of Heats 1 to 6 - which way (big hint) - that the 3rd finalist comes from either Episode 7 or 8.
  
  We'll all honour out inwards 3 weeks fourth dimension - at the terminate of the semi-finals - after they have got identified the finalists.
  
  I'm soundless looking forwards to the betoken after the Final when I tin give the axe finally present yous what a Final genuinely looks like!
  
  
  

  More Learning Points re. Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year

  
  PLUS below are my weblog posts from in conclusion yr which contains lots of learning points nigh paradigm inwards this competitor for those aspiring to compete this year.
  
  
  

  Learning Points re the 2019 competition

  Review: Episode v of Portrait Artist of the Year 2018

• passport photograph approach to her self-portrait which provided personality equally good equally a clear indication of an mightiness to pigment good in addition to consistently - equally is also evidenced past times her website. Her self portrait charmed the Judges.
  
  Observations included:
  
  • disturbing in addition to brilliantly off - "but I recall that's why nosotros liked it" - nigh Salvatore's large self -portrait
  • "lovely to have got somebody working alongside watercolour inwards a dissimilar way". I idea this was an odd comment. It assumed watercolour is alone painted inwards 1 way. I felt similar sending the Judges on a watercolour appreciation course!
  • a tondo inside a foursquare was a really odd composition which caught the eye.
  
  

  The Sitters

  
  The sitters were
  
  • Sophie Ellis Bextor - a British singer, songwriter in addition to model in addition to multi-platinum selling recording creative somebody - who has an absolutely fascinating human face upwards
  • Adrian Lester - an Olivier Award winning participant on cinema in addition to inwards television receiver dramas. He's also a director, in addition to writer.
  • Nitin Sawhney CBE CBE is a British Indian musician, producer in addition to composer - who writes songs in addition to music for film. In 2017 he received the Ivor Novello Lifetime Achievement award
  
  

  Discussions in addition to Observations

  
  

  Getting likeness past times one-half way

  
  The Judges evidently appreciate the creative somebody who finds a likeness in addition to they are less appreciative of those who never honour 1 and/or lose it after they've found it.
  
  
  
  Some artists who tend to focus on figurative piece of occupation are less bothered past times achieving a likeness, whereas those who do commissions appreciate the importance. It occurs to me that artists who piece of occupation to committee know that they don't tend to acquire paid if the customer isn't happy. It's a keen way of learning how to capture likenesses!
  
  It's begun to strike me that those who have got established a likeness past times one-half way are to a greater extent than than halfway to the shortlist.  Judges volition live on keeping a closer oculus on them inwards the 2d half.
  
  

  Avoiding over-working paintings

  
  There was a fair flake of tidings nigh the amount of piece of occupation required - in addition to how to consummate the paradigm but avoid over-working. This is a perennial theme.
  
  • some knew the penalties of over-working
  • some alongside (I think) rather less sense were totally overwhelmed past times how much piece of occupation was required in addition to the fact they didn't have got plenty fourth dimension - in addition to would have got welcomed the chance to worry nigh over-working!
  • Others were (I think) really much thrown past times the fact that the estrus does non genuinely supply 4 hours. Yup - it's a total fiction folks. 
  Practising paradigm people inwards 3 hours is a jolly skilful exercise for those artists who have got been selected for the upcoming Heats who desire to train. You can't overwork if yous know yous tin give the axe pigment a skilful caput inwards 3 hours. You simply demand to know when to position your brushes down.
  
  

  To dress or non to clothe

  
  There's an interesting fence to live on had nigh how much of the body in addition to wearable people should paint. Proper portraits involve a lot of wearable - yet we're simply non seeing people paradigm wearable for the most business office - because most stick to the rubber caput shot.
  
  For my business office I recall it's keen if people tin give the axe demonstrate they tin give the axe pigment to a greater extent than than a head. Knowing how to pigment dissimilar textures inwards damage of wearable is a flake similar knowing how to pigment dissimilar pilus styles - yous alone acquire skilful at it past times lots of practice.
  
  If I always got the chance to rewrite the rules I'd desire them to:
  
  • require them to do an upper body to include both wearable in addition to hands
  • either inwards the Heats - which would demand to live on longer
  • or equally the self-portrait
  (I have got a wicked smile on my human face upwards equally I write - but I know we'd acquire ameliorate results if nosotros did this). 
  
  

  The benefits of the large brush

  
  I wondered how many artists endeavor using dissimilar sized brushes. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 lot of them could speed upwards significantly if they used bigger brushes.  They don't lay inwards alongside large brushes in addition to and then refine alongside smaller brushes - they endeavor in addition to do the whole paradigm alongside smaller brushes - in addition to that simply takes forever!
  
  When I run across people using small-scale brushes to pigment (i.e. non draw) I simply desire to accomplish into the concealment in addition to have got it off them. Either that or shipping them on a course of written report using large chunky pastel sticks - which is where I learned non to run small-scale when yous motion onto tones in addition to colour.
  
  My persuasion is that a lot of painters could do goodness from learning how to run bigger brushes at the commencement in addition to inwards laying inwards initial layers - in addition to cut back the size of the brush used over time.
  
  I loved seeing the brush alongside the huge body of pilus which was going to live on used past times Jixuan Chen to pigment the eyelashes. It had an incredibly long tip alongside a fine point!
  
  
  

  Splitting the Judges

  
  This estrus was marked past times Judges beingness quite separate nigh dissimilar people. Frankly I was pleased to run across this. I don't hear when they all have got the same persuasion (as me!) but sometimes I recall they demand to explicate to a greater extent than why they liked people in addition to why they disagreed.
  
  In this episode they did - in addition to it was much ameliorate for it. If yous didn't hear it sentinel it again.
  
  

  

  The Judges summarise the pros in addition to cons of each artist
  

  
  

  Decision Time

  
  

  Sitters direct portrait to have got home

  
  
  • Sophie Ellis Bextor chose the paradigm past times Ellie Preston - equally the 1 she could run across inwards her mother's house
  • Adrian Lester was 'gobsmacked; when he saw the portraits in addition to took a spell to speak. He chose the portrait past times Emil Nikolla
  • Nitin Sawhney chose the paradigm past times Sarah Gibson equally beingness the 1 he recognized the most
  
  

  Things the Judges liked

  • artists who honour a likeness
  • being able to sentinel a journeying inwards paradigm - alongside a resolution
  • painters who pigment the body - in addition to non simply the caput - in addition to acquire a likeness inwards damage of posture
  • the way artists position pigment downwards - which is dissimilar in addition to new 
  • using colours intelligently - whether this is bold or sensitive
  • integrating the background i.e. making closed to thoughtful decisions in addition to non simply making it a apartment colour
  
  

  Judges were less impressed with

  • portraits which lack likeness
  • starting good alongside a drawing - but failing to improve when painting
  • cartoon similar qualities
  • unfinished portraits
  • painting equally good large in addition to and then non finishing
  • "weaker" paintings (i.e. ones which await OK until yous position them side past times side to a stronger paradigm of the same sort)
  It seems clearer in addition to clearer to me that if the Judges are choosing 1 of the ways they do this is position those painters who have got painted inwards comparable styles together (eg graphic style) in addition to and then the Judges compare them in addition to pick the 1 they prefer. This way it's pot luck whether yous acquire through. You demand to live on the best of your vogue of paradigm inwards your Heat.
  
  Kathleen Soriano summed it upwards inwards a rapid burn downwards tilt equally follows
  

  ....it's hard for us because we're wrestling alongside thence many things when we're trying to pick winners. We're looking for somebody who is bringing something novel but you're are looking for somebody who knows what they're doing; you're looking for something that is fresh in addition to dissimilar but is non cheesy or cliched - thence there's a lot of dissimilar things we're trying to doing when we're trying to direct winners each week.

  If you're inwards the novel Heats for Portrait Artist of the Year 2020 - starting side past times side calendar month at the Battersea Arts Centre - I propose yous re-create that tilt out in addition to post it somewhere yous tin give the axe run across it every twenty-four lx minutes menstruum until yous attend your heat!
  
  

  The Shortlist in addition to Heat Winner

  
  

  The Shortlist

  
  The Judges chose ii professionals in addition to an amateur who is a graduate of fine fine art who aspires to paradigm total fourth dimension - listed hither inwards alphabetical order:
  
  • Ellie Preston
  • Salvatore Fullam
  • Emil Nikolla
  I liked Rosso Porto's paradigm - but I'm guessing she was competing alongside Emil for a identify on the shortlist.
  
  I recall Sarah Gibson's was on its way. However I'm really firmly of the persuasion that she should have got been working on a much smaller format if she was going to exit thence much of the sheet untouched. It simply leaves it looking  equally if it comes into the category of "nice paradigm but should have got tried harder". It's insubstantial.  This is non a preliminary written report in addition to you're going to pigment to a greater extent than afterwards - this is it - yous MUST endeavor in addition to scope a finished paradigm - equally all the shortlisted artists did.
  
  The chap using watercolour had got a skilful likeness inwards the drawing but was nowhere nigh finished inwards damage of painting. It's a lesson inwards what happens if yous don't practice.
  
  I recall Salvatore got shortlisted inwards business office because of
  
  • his self-portrait where he painted himself top to toe alongside wearable in addition to peel in addition to hands! (see my betoken before nigh clothing)
  • the fact he painted a body in addition to got the likeness of the private through posture 
  • finished his estrus paradigm (i.e. all sheet covered!)

  

  Self portrait in addition to estrus portrait past times Salvatore Fullam

  
  

  

  Self portrait in addition to estrus portrait past times Ellie Preston

  
  I'm non that keen on the portrait of Sophie Ellis Bextor - but Ellie likely had the worst seat for paradigm somebody who has such a really rigid in addition to angular jaw line. I idea it was a ameliorate paradigm for the actual laying on of pigment rather than the likeness. However I liked the self-portrait a lot in addition to idea that was really good.
  
  
  

  

  Self portrait in addition to estrus portrait past times Emil Nikolla

  These await similar portraits past times a mature painter who has been paradigm people for a long time. This is a human being who has worked at his paradigm in addition to has got results. His are also the most naturalistic paintings of all those who painted this week.
  
  
  
  He's the variety of chap yous committee to do a portrait in addition to you'd know inwards advance you'd acquire a portrait that genuinely looked similar the somebody - in addition to that yous in addition to the sitter volition never always live on disappointed.
  
  
  I recall those people inwards southward E London who have got the chance to do classes alongside Emil are really lucky!
  

  
  

  The Final Decision

  
  

  

  Waiting to hear the Final Decision

  
  

  Episode 6 Winner

  
  The Judges chose Emil Nikolla equally the Heat Winner. 
  
  

  

  Add caption

  
  This is the video of him paradigm the Heat Portrait speeded up
  
  
  EMIL NIKOLLA: Time-lapse paradigm on Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year 2019 from N9 Design on Vimeo.
  
  

  and finally.....

  
  It may come upwards equally no surprise to yous that the actual heats are non televised inwards the fellowship they are filmed in. That's to brand certain they spread out the skilful ones in addition to the non do skilful ones
  
  I'm non proverb which episodes they cropped upwards inwards but ii of the finalists have got been identified equally Heat Winners inwards ii of Heats 1 to 6 - which way (big hint) - that the 3rd finalist comes from either Episode 7 or 8.
  
  We'll all honour out inwards 3 weeks fourth dimension - at the terminate of the semi-finals - after they have got identified the finalists.
  
  I'm soundless looking forwards to the betoken after the Final when I tin give the axe finally present yous what a Final genuinely looks like!
  
  
  

  More Learning Points re. Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year

  
  PLUS below are my weblog posts from in conclusion yr which contains lots of learning points nigh paradigm inwards this competitor for those aspiring to compete this year.
  
  
  

  Learning Points re the 2019 competition

  Review: Episode 6 of Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year 2018

• passport photograph approach to her self-portrait which provided personality equally good equally a clear indication of an mightiness to pigment good in addition to consistently - equally is also evidenced past times her website. Her self portrait charmed the Judges.
  
  Observations included:
  
  • disturbing in addition to brilliantly off - "but I recall that's why nosotros liked it" - nigh Salvatore's large self -portrait
  • "lovely to have got somebody working alongside watercolour inwards a dissimilar way". I idea this was an odd comment. It assumed watercolour is alone painted inwards 1 way. I felt similar sending the Judges on a watercolour appreciation course!
  • a tondo inside a foursquare was a really odd composition which caught the eye.
  
  

  The Sitters

  
  The sitters were
  
  • Sophie Ellis Bextor - a British singer, songwriter in addition to model in addition to multi-platinum selling recording creative somebody - who has an absolutely fascinating human face upwards
  • Adrian Lester - an Olivier Award winning participant on cinema in addition to inwards television receiver dramas. He's also a director, in addition to writer.
  • Nitin Sawhney CBE CBE is a British Indian musician, producer in addition to composer - who writes songs in addition to music for film. In 2017 he received the Ivor Novello Lifetime Achievement award
  
  

  Discussions in addition to Observations

  
  

  Getting likeness past times one-half way

  
  The Judges evidently appreciate the creative somebody who finds a likeness in addition to they are less appreciative of those who never honour 1 and/or lose it after they've found it.
  
  
  
  Some artists who tend to focus on figurative piece of occupation are less bothered past times achieving a likeness, whereas those who do commissions appreciate the importance. It occurs to me that artists who piece of occupation to committee know that they don't tend to acquire paid if the customer isn't happy. It's a keen way of learning how to capture likenesses!
  
  It's begun to strike me that those who have got established a likeness past times one-half way are to a greater extent than than halfway to the shortlist.  Judges volition live on keeping a closer oculus on them inwards the 2d half.
  
  

  Avoiding over-working paintings

  
  There was a fair flake of tidings nigh the amount of piece of occupation required - in addition to how to consummate the paradigm but avoid over-working. This is a perennial theme.
  
  • some knew the penalties of over-working
  • some alongside (I think) rather less sense were totally overwhelmed past times how much piece of occupation was required in addition to the fact they didn't have got plenty fourth dimension - in addition to would have got welcomed the chance to worry nigh over-working!
  • Others were (I think) really much thrown past times the fact that the estrus does non genuinely supply 4 hours. Yup - it's a total fiction folks. 
  Practising paradigm people inwards 3 hours is a jolly skilful exercise for those artists who have got been selected for the upcoming Heats who desire to train. You can't overwork if yous know yous tin give the axe pigment a skilful caput inwards 3 hours. You simply demand to know when to position your brushes down.
  
  

  To dress or non to clothe

  
  There's an interesting fence to live on had nigh how much of the body in addition to wearable people should paint. Proper portraits involve a lot of wearable - yet we're simply non seeing people paradigm wearable for the most business office - because most stick to the rubber caput shot.
  
  For my business office I recall it's keen if people tin give the axe demonstrate they tin give the axe pigment to a greater extent than than a head. Knowing how to pigment dissimilar textures inwards damage of wearable is a flake similar knowing how to pigment dissimilar pilus styles - yous alone acquire skilful at it past times lots of practice.
  
  If I always got the chance to rewrite the rules I'd desire them to:
  
  • require them to do an upper body to include both wearable in addition to hands
  • either inwards the Heats - which would demand to live on longer
  • or equally the self-portrait
  (I have got a wicked smile on my human face upwards equally I write - but I know we'd acquire ameliorate results if nosotros did this). 
  
  

  The benefits of the large brush

  
  I wondered how many artists endeavor using dissimilar sized brushes. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 lot of them could speed upwards significantly if they used bigger brushes.  They don't lay inwards alongside large brushes in addition to and then refine alongside smaller brushes - they endeavor in addition to do the whole paradigm alongside smaller brushes - in addition to that simply takes forever!
  
  When I run across people using small-scale brushes to pigment (i.e. non draw) I simply desire to accomplish into the concealment in addition to have got it off them. Either that or shipping them on a course of written report using large chunky pastel sticks - which is where I learned non to run small-scale when yous motion onto tones in addition to colour.
  
  My persuasion is that a lot of painters could do goodness from learning how to run bigger brushes at the commencement in addition to inwards laying inwards initial layers - in addition to cut back the size of the brush used over time.
  
  I loved seeing the brush alongside the huge body of pilus which was going to live on used past times Jixuan Chen to pigment the eyelashes. It had an incredibly long tip alongside a fine point!
  
  
  

  Splitting the Judges

  
  This estrus was marked past times Judges beingness quite separate nigh dissimilar people. Frankly I was pleased to run across this. I don't hear when they all have got the same persuasion (as me!) but sometimes I recall they demand to explicate to a greater extent than why they liked people in addition to why they disagreed.
  
  In this episode they did - in addition to it was much ameliorate for it. If yous didn't hear it sentinel it again.
  
  

  

  The Judges summarise the pros in addition to cons of each artist
  

  
  

  Decision Time

  
  

  Sitters direct portrait to have got home

  
  
  • Sophie Ellis Bextor chose the paradigm past times Ellie Preston - equally the 1 she could run across inwards her mother's house
  • Adrian Lester was 'gobsmacked; when he saw the portraits in addition to took a spell to speak. He chose the portrait past times Emil Nikolla
  • Nitin Sawhney chose the paradigm past times Sarah Gibson equally beingness the 1 he recognized the most
  
  

  Things the Judges liked

  • artists who honour a likeness
  • being able to sentinel a journeying inwards paradigm - alongside a resolution
  • painters who pigment the body - in addition to non simply the caput - in addition to acquire a likeness inwards damage of posture
  • the way artists position pigment downwards - which is dissimilar in addition to new 
  • using colours intelligently - whether this is bold or sensitive
  • integrating the background i.e. making closed to thoughtful decisions in addition to non simply making it a apartment colour
  
  

  Judges were less impressed with

  • portraits which lack likeness
  • starting good alongside a drawing - but failing to improve when painting
  • cartoon similar qualities
  • unfinished portraits
  • painting equally good large in addition to and then non finishing
  • "weaker" paintings (i.e. ones which await OK until yous position them side past times side to a stronger paradigm of the same sort)
  It seems clearer in addition to clearer to me that if the Judges are choosing 1 of the ways they do this is position those painters who have got painted inwards comparable styles together (eg graphic style) in addition to and then the Judges compare them in addition to pick the 1 they prefer. This way it's pot luck whether yous acquire through. You demand to live on the best of your vogue of paradigm inwards your Heat.
  
  Kathleen Soriano summed it upwards inwards a rapid burn downwards tilt equally follows
  

  ....it's hard for us because we're wrestling alongside thence many things when we're trying to pick winners. We're looking for somebody who is bringing something novel but you're are looking for somebody who knows what they're doing; you're looking for something that is fresh in addition to dissimilar but is non cheesy or cliched - thence there's a lot of dissimilar things we're trying to doing when we're trying to direct winners each week.

  If you're inwards the novel Heats for Portrait Artist of the Year 2020 - starting side past times side calendar month at the Battersea Arts Centre - I propose yous re-create that tilt out in addition to post it somewhere yous tin give the axe run across it every twenty-four lx minutes menstruum until yous attend your heat!
  
  

  The Shortlist in addition to Heat Winner

  
  

  The Shortlist

  
  The Judges chose ii professionals in addition to an amateur who is a graduate of fine fine art who aspires to paradigm total fourth dimension - listed hither inwards alphabetical order:
  
  • Ellie Preston
  • Salvatore Fullam
  • Emil Nikolla
  I liked Rosso Porto's paradigm - but I'm guessing she was competing alongside Emil for a identify on the shortlist.
  
  I recall Sarah Gibson's was on its way. However I'm really firmly of the persuasion that she should have got been working on a much smaller format if she was going to exit thence much of the sheet untouched. It simply leaves it looking  equally if it comes into the category of "nice paradigm but should have got tried harder". It's insubstantial.  This is non a preliminary written report in addition to you're going to pigment to a greater extent than afterwards - this is it - yous MUST endeavor in addition to scope a finished paradigm - equally all the shortlisted artists did.
  
  The chap using watercolour had got a skilful likeness inwards the drawing but was nowhere nigh finished inwards damage of painting. It's a lesson inwards what happens if yous don't practice.
  
  I recall Salvatore got shortlisted inwards business office because of
  
  • his self-portrait where he painted himself top to toe alongside wearable in addition to peel in addition to hands! (see my betoken before nigh clothing)
  • the fact he painted a body in addition to got the likeness of the private through posture 
  • finished his estrus paradigm (i.e. all sheet covered!)

  

  Self portrait in addition to estrus portrait past times Salvatore Fullam

  
  

  

  Self portrait in addition to estrus portrait past times Ellie Preston

  
  I'm non that keen on the portrait of Sophie Ellis Bextor - but Ellie likely had the worst seat for paradigm somebody who has such a really rigid in addition to angular jaw line. I idea it was a ameliorate paradigm for the actual laying on of pigment rather than the likeness. However I liked the self-portrait a lot in addition to idea that was really good.
  
  
  

  

  Self portrait in addition to estrus portrait past times Emil Nikolla

  These await similar portraits past times a mature painter who has been paradigm people for a long time. This is a human being who has worked at his paradigm in addition to has got results. His are also the most naturalistic paintings of all those who painted this week.
  
  
  
  He's the variety of chap yous committee to do a portrait in addition to you'd know inwards advance you'd acquire a portrait that genuinely looked similar the somebody - in addition to that yous in addition to the sitter volition never always live on disappointed.
  
  
  I recall those people inwards southward E London who have got the chance to do classes alongside Emil are really lucky!
  

  
  

  The Final Decision

  
  

  

  Waiting to hear the Final Decision

  
  

  Episode 6 Winner

  
  The Judges chose Emil Nikolla equally the Heat Winner. 
  
  

  

  Add caption

  
  This is the video of him paradigm the Heat Portrait speeded up
  
  
  EMIL NIKOLLA: Time-lapse paradigm on Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year 2019 from N9 Design on Vimeo.
  
  

  and finally.....

  
  It may come upwards equally no surprise to yous that the actual heats are non televised inwards the fellowship they are filmed in. That's to brand certain they spread out the skilful ones in addition to the non do skilful ones
  
  I'm non proverb which episodes they cropped upwards inwards but ii of the finalists have got been identified equally Heat Winners inwards ii of Heats 1 to 6 - which way (big hint) - that the 3rd finalist comes from either Episode 7 or 8.
  
  We'll all honour out inwards 3 weeks fourth dimension - at the terminate of the semi-finals - after they have got identified the finalists.
  
  I'm soundless looking forwards to the betoken after the Final when I tin give the axe finally present yous what a Final genuinely looks like!
  
  
  

  More Learning Points re. Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year

  
  PLUS below are my weblog posts from in conclusion yr which contains lots of learning points nigh paradigm inwards this competitor for those aspiring to compete this year.
  
  
  

  Learning Points re the 2019 competition

  Review: Episode 7 of Portrait Artist of the Year 2018

• passport photograph approach to her self-portrait which provided personality equally good equally a clear indication of an mightiness to pigment good in addition to consistently - equally is also evidenced past times her website. Her self portrait charmed the Judges.
  
  Observations included:
  
  • disturbing in addition to brilliantly off - "but I recall that's why nosotros liked it" - nigh Salvatore's large self -portrait
  • "lovely to have got somebody working alongside watercolour inwards a dissimilar way". I idea this was an odd comment. It assumed watercolour is alone painted inwards 1 way. I felt similar sending the Judges on a watercolour appreciation course!
  • a tondo inside a foursquare was a really odd composition which caught the eye.
  
  

  The Sitters

  
  The sitters were
  
  • Sophie Ellis Bextor - a British singer, songwriter in addition to model in addition to multi-platinum selling recording creative somebody - who has an absolutely fascinating human face upwards
  • Adrian Lester - an Olivier Award winning participant on cinema in addition to inwards television receiver dramas. He's also a director, in addition to writer.
  • Nitin Sawhney CBE CBE is a British Indian musician, producer in addition to composer - who writes songs in addition to music for film. In 2017 he received the Ivor Novello Lifetime Achievement award
  
  

  Discussions in addition to Observations

  
  

  Getting likeness past times one-half way

  
  The Judges evidently appreciate the creative somebody who finds a likeness in addition to they are less appreciative of those who never honour 1 and/or lose it after they've found it.
  
  
  
  Some artists who tend to focus on figurative piece of occupation are less bothered past times achieving a likeness, whereas those who do commissions appreciate the importance. It occurs to me that artists who piece of occupation to committee know that they don't tend to acquire paid if the customer isn't happy. It's a keen way of learning how to capture likenesses!
  
  It's begun to strike me that those who have got established a likeness past times one-half way are to a greater extent than than halfway to the shortlist.  Judges volition live on keeping a closer oculus on them inwards the 2d half.
  
  

  Avoiding over-working paintings

  
  There was a fair flake of tidings nigh the amount of piece of occupation required - in addition to how to consummate the paradigm but avoid over-working. This is a perennial theme.
  
  • some knew the penalties of over-working
  • some alongside (I think) rather less sense were totally overwhelmed past times how much piece of occupation was required in addition to the fact they didn't have got plenty fourth dimension - in addition to would have got welcomed the chance to worry nigh over-working!
  • Others were (I think) really much thrown past times the fact that the estrus does non genuinely supply 4 hours. Yup - it's a total fiction folks. 
  Practising paradigm people inwards 3 hours is a jolly skilful exercise for those artists who have got been selected for the upcoming Heats who desire to train. You can't overwork if yous know yous tin give the axe pigment a skilful caput inwards 3 hours. You simply demand to know when to position your brushes down.
  
  

  To dress or non to clothe

  
  There's an interesting fence to live on had nigh how much of the body in addition to wearable people should paint. Proper portraits involve a lot of wearable - yet we're simply non seeing people paradigm wearable for the most business office - because most stick to the rubber caput shot.
  
  For my business office I recall it's keen if people tin give the axe demonstrate they tin give the axe pigment to a greater extent than than a head. Knowing how to pigment dissimilar textures inwards damage of wearable is a flake similar knowing how to pigment dissimilar pilus styles - yous alone acquire skilful at it past times lots of practice.
  
  If I always got the chance to rewrite the rules I'd desire them to:
  
  • require them to do an upper body to include both wearable in addition to hands
  • either inwards the Heats - which would demand to live on longer
  • or equally the self-portrait
  (I have got a wicked smile on my human face upwards equally I write - but I know we'd acquire ameliorate results if nosotros did this). 
  
  

  The benefits of the large brush

  
  I wondered how many artists endeavor using dissimilar sized brushes. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 lot of them could speed upwards significantly if they used bigger brushes.  They don't lay inwards alongside large brushes in addition to and then refine alongside smaller brushes - they endeavor in addition to do the whole paradigm alongside smaller brushes - in addition to that simply takes forever!
  
  When I run across people using small-scale brushes to pigment (i.e. non draw) I simply desire to accomplish into the concealment in addition to have got it off them. Either that or shipping them on a course of written report using large chunky pastel sticks - which is where I learned non to run small-scale when yous motion onto tones in addition to colour.
  
  My persuasion is that a lot of painters could do goodness from learning how to run bigger brushes at the commencement in addition to inwards laying inwards initial layers - in addition to cut back the size of the brush used over time.
  
  I loved seeing the brush alongside the huge body of pilus which was going to live on used past times Jixuan Chen to pigment the eyelashes. It had an incredibly long tip alongside a fine point!
  
  
  

  Splitting the Judges

  
  This estrus was marked past times Judges beingness quite separate nigh dissimilar people. Frankly I was pleased to run across this. I don't hear when they all have got the same persuasion (as me!) but sometimes I recall they demand to explicate to a greater extent than why they liked people in addition to why they disagreed.
  
  In this episode they did - in addition to it was much ameliorate for it. If yous didn't hear it sentinel it again.
  
  

  

  The Judges summarise the pros in addition to cons of each artist
  

  
  

  Decision Time

  
  

  Sitters direct portrait to have got home

  
  
  • Sophie Ellis Bextor chose the paradigm past times Ellie Preston - equally the 1 she could run across inwards her mother's house
  • Adrian Lester was 'gobsmacked; when he saw the portraits in addition to took a spell to speak. He chose the portrait past times Emil Nikolla
  • Nitin Sawhney chose the paradigm past times Sarah Gibson equally beingness the 1 he recognized the most
  
  

  Things the Judges liked

  • artists who honour a likeness
  • being able to sentinel a journeying inwards paradigm - alongside a resolution
  • painters who pigment the body - in addition to non simply the caput - in addition to acquire a likeness inwards damage of posture
  • the way artists position pigment downwards - which is dissimilar in addition to new 
  • using colours intelligently - whether this is bold or sensitive
  • integrating the background i.e. making closed to thoughtful decisions in addition to non simply making it a apartment colour
  
  

  Judges were less impressed with

  • portraits which lack likeness
  • starting good alongside a drawing - but failing to improve when painting
  • cartoon similar qualities
  • unfinished portraits
  • painting equally good large in addition to and then non finishing
  • "weaker" paintings (i.e. ones which await OK until yous position them side past times side to a stronger paradigm of the same sort)
  It seems clearer in addition to clearer to me that if the Judges are choosing 1 of the ways they do this is position those painters who have got painted inwards comparable styles together (eg graphic style) in addition to and then the Judges compare them in addition to pick the 1 they prefer. This way it's pot luck whether yous acquire through. You demand to live on the best of your vogue of paradigm inwards your Heat.
  
  Kathleen Soriano summed it upwards inwards a rapid burn downwards tilt equally follows
  

  ....it's hard for us because we're wrestling alongside thence many things when we're trying to pick winners. We're looking for somebody who is bringing something novel but you're are looking for somebody who knows what they're doing; you're looking for something that is fresh in addition to dissimilar but is non cheesy or cliched - thence there's a lot of dissimilar things we're trying to doing when we're trying to direct winners each week.

  If you're inwards the novel Heats for Portrait Artist of the Year 2020 - starting side past times side calendar month at the Battersea Arts Centre - I propose yous re-create that tilt out in addition to post it somewhere yous tin give the axe run across it every twenty-four lx minutes menstruum until yous attend your heat!
  
  

  The Shortlist in addition to Heat Winner

  
  

  The Shortlist

  
  The Judges chose ii professionals in addition to an amateur who is a graduate of fine fine art who aspires to paradigm total fourth dimension - listed hither inwards alphabetical order:
  
  • Ellie Preston
  • Salvatore Fullam
  • Emil Nikolla
  I liked Rosso Porto's paradigm - but I'm guessing she was competing alongside Emil for a identify on the shortlist.
  
  I recall Sarah Gibson's was on its way. However I'm really firmly of the persuasion that she should have got been working on a much smaller format if she was going to exit thence much of the sheet untouched. It simply leaves it looking  equally if it comes into the category of "nice paradigm but should have got tried harder". It's insubstantial.  This is non a preliminary written report in addition to you're going to pigment to a greater extent than afterwards - this is it - yous MUST endeavor in addition to scope a finished paradigm - equally all the shortlisted artists did.
  
  The chap using watercolour had got a skilful likeness inwards the drawing but was nowhere nigh finished inwards damage of painting. It's a lesson inwards what happens if yous don't practice.
  
  I recall Salvatore got shortlisted inwards business office because of
  
  • his self-portrait where he painted himself top to toe alongside wearable in addition to peel in addition to hands! (see my betoken before nigh clothing)
  • the fact he painted a body in addition to got the likeness of the private through posture 
  • finished his estrus paradigm (i.e. all sheet covered!)

  

  Self portrait in addition to estrus portrait past times Salvatore Fullam

  
  

  

  Self portrait in addition to estrus portrait past times Ellie Preston

  
  I'm non that keen on the portrait of Sophie Ellis Bextor - but Ellie likely had the worst seat for paradigm somebody who has such a really rigid in addition to angular jaw line. I idea it was a ameliorate paradigm for the actual laying on of pigment rather than the likeness. However I liked the self-portrait a lot in addition to idea that was really good.
  
  
  

  

  Self portrait in addition to estrus portrait past times Emil Nikolla

  These await similar portraits past times a mature painter who has been paradigm people for a long time. This is a human being who has worked at his paradigm in addition to has got results. His are also the most naturalistic paintings of all those who painted this week.
  
  
  
  He's the variety of chap yous committee to do a portrait in addition to you'd know inwards advance you'd acquire a portrait that genuinely looked similar the somebody - in addition to that yous in addition to the sitter volition never always live on disappointed.
  
  
  I recall those people inwards southward E London who have got the chance to do classes alongside Emil are really lucky!
  

  
  

  The Final Decision

  
  

  

  Waiting to hear the Final Decision

  
  

  Episode 6 Winner

  
  The Judges chose Emil Nikolla equally the Heat Winner. 
  
  

  

  Add caption

  
  This is the video of him paradigm the Heat Portrait speeded up
  
  
  EMIL NIKOLLA: Time-lapse paradigm on Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year 2019 from N9 Design on Vimeo.
  
  

  and finally.....

  
  It may come upwards equally no surprise to yous that the actual heats are non televised inwards the fellowship they are filmed in. That's to brand certain they spread out the skilful ones in addition to the non do skilful ones
  
  I'm non proverb which episodes they cropped upwards inwards but ii of the finalists have got been identified equally Heat Winners inwards ii of Heats 1 to 6 - which way (big hint) - that the 3rd finalist comes from either Episode 7 or 8.
  
  We'll all honour out inwards 3 weeks fourth dimension - at the terminate of the semi-finals - after they have got identified the finalists.
  
  I'm soundless looking forwards to the betoken after the Final when I tin give the axe finally present yous what a Final genuinely looks like!
  
  
  

  More Learning Points re. Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year

  
  PLUS below are my weblog posts from in conclusion yr which contains lots of learning points nigh paradigm inwards this competitor for those aspiring to compete this year.
  
  
  

  Learning Points re the 2019 competition

  Review: Episode 8 of Portrait Artist of the Year 2018

• passport photograph approach to her self-portrait which provided personality equally good equally a clear indication of an mightiness to pigment good in addition to consistently - equally is also evidenced past times her website. Her self portrait charmed the Judges.
  
  Observations included:
  
  • disturbing in addition to brilliantly off - "but I recall that's why nosotros liked it" - nigh Salvatore's large self -portrait
  • "lovely to have got somebody working alongside watercolour inwards a dissimilar way". I idea this was an odd comment. It assumed watercolour is alone painted inwards 1 way. I felt similar sending the Judges on a watercolour appreciation course!
  • a tondo inside a foursquare was a really odd composition which caught the eye.
  
  

  The Sitters

  
  The sitters were
  
  • Sophie Ellis Bextor - a British singer, songwriter in addition to model in addition to multi-platinum selling recording creative somebody - who has an absolutely fascinating human face upwards
  • Adrian Lester - an Olivier Award winning participant on cinema in addition to inwards television receiver dramas. He's also a director, in addition to writer.
  • Nitin Sawhney CBE CBE is a British Indian musician, producer in addition to composer - who writes songs in addition to music for film. In 2017 he received the Ivor Novello Lifetime Achievement award
  
  

  Discussions in addition to Observations

  
  

  Getting likeness past times one-half way

  
  The Judges evidently appreciate the creative somebody who finds a likeness in addition to they are less appreciative of those who never honour 1 and/or lose it after they've found it.
  
  
  
  Some artists who tend to focus on figurative piece of occupation are less bothered past times achieving a likeness, whereas those who do commissions appreciate the importance. It occurs to me that artists who piece of occupation to committee know that they don't tend to acquire paid if the customer isn't happy. It's a keen way of learning how to capture likenesses!
  
  It's begun to strike me that those who have got established a likeness past times one-half way are to a greater extent than than halfway to the shortlist.  Judges volition live on keeping a closer oculus on them inwards the 2d half.
  
  

  Avoiding over-working paintings

  
  There was a fair flake of tidings nigh the amount of piece of occupation required - in addition to how to consummate the paradigm but avoid over-working. This is a perennial theme.
  
  • some knew the penalties of over-working
  • some alongside (I think) rather less sense were totally overwhelmed past times how much piece of occupation was required in addition to the fact they didn't have got plenty fourth dimension - in addition to would have got welcomed the chance to worry nigh over-working!
  • Others were (I think) really much thrown past times the fact that the estrus does non genuinely supply 4 hours. Yup - it's a total fiction folks. 
  Practising paradigm people inwards 3 hours is a jolly skilful exercise for those artists who have got been selected for the upcoming Heats who desire to train. You can't overwork if yous know yous tin give the axe pigment a skilful caput inwards 3 hours. You simply demand to know when to position your brushes down.
  
  

  To dress or non to clothe

  
  There's an interesting fence to live on had nigh how much of the body in addition to wearable people should paint. Proper portraits involve a lot of wearable - yet we're simply non seeing people paradigm wearable for the most business office - because most stick to the rubber caput shot.
  
  For my business office I recall it's keen if people tin give the axe demonstrate they tin give the axe pigment to a greater extent than than a head. Knowing how to pigment dissimilar textures inwards damage of wearable is a flake similar knowing how to pigment dissimilar pilus styles - yous alone acquire skilful at it past times lots of practice.
  
  If I always got the chance to rewrite the rules I'd desire them to:
  
  • require them to do an upper body to include both wearable in addition to hands
  • either inwards the Heats - which would demand to live on longer
  • or equally the self-portrait
  (I have got a wicked smile on my human face upwards equally I write - but I know we'd acquire ameliorate results if nosotros did this). 
  
  

  The benefits of the large brush

  
  I wondered how many artists endeavor using dissimilar sized brushes. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 lot of them could speed upwards significantly if they used bigger brushes.  They don't lay inwards alongside large brushes in addition to and then refine alongside smaller brushes - they endeavor in addition to do the whole paradigm alongside smaller brushes - in addition to that simply takes forever!
  
  When I run across people using small-scale brushes to pigment (i.e. non draw) I simply desire to accomplish into the concealment in addition to have got it off them. Either that or shipping them on a course of written report using large chunky pastel sticks - which is where I learned non to run small-scale when yous motion onto tones in addition to colour.
  
  My persuasion is that a lot of painters could do goodness from learning how to run bigger brushes at the commencement in addition to inwards laying inwards initial layers - in addition to cut back the size of the brush used over time.
  
  I loved seeing the brush alongside the huge body of pilus which was going to live on used past times Jixuan Chen to pigment the eyelashes. It had an incredibly long tip alongside a fine point!
  
  
  

  Splitting the Judges

  
  This estrus was marked past times Judges beingness quite separate nigh dissimilar people. Frankly I was pleased to run across this. I don't hear when they all have got the same persuasion (as me!) but sometimes I recall they demand to explicate to a greater extent than why they liked people in addition to why they disagreed.
  
  In this episode they did - in addition to it was much ameliorate for it. If yous didn't hear it sentinel it again.
  
  

  

  The Judges summarise the pros in addition to cons of each artist
  

  
  

  Decision Time

  
  

  Sitters direct portrait to have got home

  
  
  • Sophie Ellis Bextor chose the paradigm past times Ellie Preston - equally the 1 she could run across inwards her mother's house
  • Adrian Lester was 'gobsmacked; when he saw the portraits in addition to took a spell to speak. He chose the portrait past times Emil Nikolla
  • Nitin Sawhney chose the paradigm past times Sarah Gibson equally beingness the 1 he recognized the most
  
  

  Things the Judges liked

  • artists who honour a likeness
  • being able to sentinel a journeying inwards paradigm - alongside a resolution
  • painters who pigment the body - in addition to non simply the caput - in addition to acquire a likeness inwards damage of posture
  • the way artists position pigment downwards - which is dissimilar in addition to new 
  • using colours intelligently - whether this is bold or sensitive
  • integrating the background i.e. making closed to thoughtful decisions in addition to non simply making it a apartment colour
  
  

  Judges were less impressed with

  • portraits which lack likeness
  • starting good alongside a drawing - but failing to improve when painting
  • cartoon similar qualities
  • unfinished portraits
  • painting equally good large in addition to and then non finishing
  • "weaker" paintings (i.e. ones which await OK until yous position them side past times side to a stronger paradigm of the same sort)
  It seems clearer in addition to clearer to me that if the Judges are choosing 1 of the ways they do this is position those painters who have got painted inwards comparable styles together (eg graphic style) in addition to and then the Judges compare them in addition to pick the 1 they prefer. This way it's pot luck whether yous acquire through. You demand to live on the best of your vogue of paradigm inwards your Heat.
  
  Kathleen Soriano summed it upwards inwards a rapid burn downwards tilt equally follows
  

  ....it's hard for us because we're wrestling alongside thence many things when we're trying to pick winners. We're looking for somebody who is bringing something novel but you're are looking for somebody who knows what they're doing; you're looking for something that is fresh in addition to dissimilar but is non cheesy or cliched - thence there's a lot of dissimilar things we're trying to doing when we're trying to direct winners each week.

  If you're inwards the novel Heats for Portrait Artist of the Year 2020 - starting side past times side calendar month at the Battersea Arts Centre - I propose yous re-create that tilt out in addition to post it somewhere yous tin give the axe run across it every twenty-four lx minutes menstruum until yous attend your heat!
  
  

  The Shortlist in addition to Heat Winner

  
  

  The Shortlist

  
  The Judges chose ii professionals in addition to an amateur who is a graduate of fine fine art who aspires to paradigm total fourth dimension - listed hither inwards alphabetical order:
  
  • Ellie Preston
  • Salvatore Fullam
  • Emil Nikolla
  I liked Rosso Porto's paradigm - but I'm guessing she was competing alongside Emil for a identify on the shortlist.
  
  I recall Sarah Gibson's was on its way. However I'm really firmly of the persuasion that she should have got been working on a much smaller format if she was going to exit thence much of the sheet untouched. It simply leaves it looking  equally if it comes into the category of "nice paradigm but should have got tried harder". It's insubstantial.  This is non a preliminary written report in addition to you're going to pigment to a greater extent than afterwards - this is it - yous MUST endeavor in addition to scope a finished paradigm - equally all the shortlisted artists did.
  
  The chap using watercolour had got a skilful likeness inwards the drawing but was nowhere nigh finished inwards damage of painting. It's a lesson inwards what happens if yous don't practice.
  
  I recall Salvatore got shortlisted inwards business office because of
  
  • his self-portrait where he painted himself top to toe alongside wearable in addition to peel in addition to hands! (see my betoken before nigh clothing)
  • the fact he painted a body in addition to got the likeness of the private through posture 
  • finished his estrus paradigm (i.e. all sheet covered!)

  

  Self portrait in addition to estrus portrait past times Salvatore Fullam

  
  

  

  Self portrait in addition to estrus portrait past times Ellie Preston

  
  I'm non that keen on the portrait of Sophie Ellis Bextor - but Ellie likely had the worst seat for paradigm somebody who has such a really rigid in addition to angular jaw line. I idea it was a ameliorate paradigm for the actual laying on of pigment rather than the likeness. However I liked the self-portrait a lot in addition to idea that was really good.
  
  
  

  

  Self portrait in addition to estrus portrait past times Emil Nikolla

  These await similar portraits past times a mature painter who has been paradigm people for a long time. This is a human being who has worked at his paradigm in addition to has got results. His are also the most naturalistic paintings of all those who painted this week.
  
  
  
  He's the variety of chap yous committee to do a portrait in addition to you'd know inwards advance you'd acquire a portrait that genuinely looked similar the somebody - in addition to that yous in addition to the sitter volition never always live on disappointed.
  
  
  I recall those people inwards southward E London who have got the chance to do classes alongside Emil are really lucky!
  

  
  

  The Final Decision

  
  

  

  Waiting to hear the Final Decision

  
  

  Episode 6 Winner

  
  The Judges chose Emil Nikolla equally the Heat Winner. 
  
  

  

  Add caption

  
  This is the video of him paradigm the Heat Portrait speeded up
  
  
  EMIL NIKOLLA: Time-lapse paradigm on Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year 2019 from N9 Design on Vimeo.
  
  

  and finally.....

  
  It may come upwards equally no surprise to yous that the actual heats are non televised inwards the fellowship they are filmed in. That's to brand certain they spread out the skilful ones in addition to the non do skilful ones
  
  I'm non proverb which episodes they cropped upwards inwards but ii of the finalists have got been identified equally Heat Winners inwards ii of Heats 1 to 6 - which way (big hint) - that the 3rd finalist comes from either Episode 7 or 8.
  
  We'll all honour out inwards 3 weeks fourth dimension - at the terminate of the semi-finals - after they have got identified the finalists.
  
  I'm soundless looking forwards to the betoken after the Final when I tin give the axe finally present yous what a Final genuinely looks like!
  
  
  

  More Learning Points re. Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year

  
  PLUS below are my weblog posts from in conclusion yr which contains lots of learning points nigh paradigm inwards this competitor for those aspiring to compete this year.
  
  
  

  Learning Points re the 2019 competition

  Review: Semi Finals of Portrait Artist of the Year 2018

• passport photograph approach to her self-portrait which provided personality equally good equally a clear indication of an mightiness to pigment good in addition to consistently - equally is also evidenced past times her website. Her self portrait charmed the Judges.
  
  Observations included:
  
  • disturbing in addition to brilliantly off - "but I recall that's why nosotros liked it" - nigh Salvatore's large self -portrait
  • "lovely to have got somebody working alongside watercolour inwards a dissimilar way". I idea this was an odd comment. It assumed watercolour is alone painted inwards 1 way. I felt similar sending the Judges on a watercolour appreciation course!
  • a tondo inside a foursquare was a really odd composition which caught the eye.
  
  

  The Sitters

  
  The sitters were
  
  • Sophie Ellis Bextor - a British singer, songwriter in addition to model in addition to multi-platinum selling recording creative somebody - who has an absolutely fascinating human face upwards
  • Adrian Lester - an Olivier Award winning participant on cinema in addition to inwards television receiver dramas. He's also a director, in addition to writer.
  • Nitin Sawhney CBE CBE is a British Indian musician, producer in addition to composer - who writes songs in addition to music for film. In 2017 he received the Ivor Novello Lifetime Achievement award
  
  

  Discussions in addition to Observations

  
  

  Getting likeness past times one-half way

  
  The Judges evidently appreciate the creative somebody who finds a likeness in addition to they are less appreciative of those who never honour 1 and/or lose it after they've found it.
  
  
  
  Some artists who tend to focus on figurative piece of occupation are less bothered past times achieving a likeness, whereas those who do commissions appreciate the importance. It occurs to me that artists who piece of occupation to committee know that they don't tend to acquire paid if the customer isn't happy. It's a keen way of learning how to capture likenesses!
  
  It's begun to strike me that those who have got established a likeness past times one-half way are to a greater extent than than halfway to the shortlist.  Judges volition live on keeping a closer oculus on them inwards the 2d half.
  
  

  Avoiding over-working paintings

  
  There was a fair flake of tidings nigh the amount of piece of occupation required - in addition to how to consummate the paradigm but avoid over-working. This is a perennial theme.
  
  • some knew the penalties of over-working
  • some alongside (I think) rather less sense were totally overwhelmed past times how much piece of occupation was required in addition to the fact they didn't have got plenty fourth dimension - in addition to would have got welcomed the chance to worry nigh over-working!
  • Others were (I think) really much thrown past times the fact that the estrus does non genuinely supply 4 hours. Yup - it's a total fiction folks. 
  Practising paradigm people inwards 3 hours is a jolly skilful exercise for those artists who have got been selected for the upcoming Heats who desire to train. You can't overwork if yous know yous tin give the axe pigment a skilful caput inwards 3 hours. You simply demand to know when to position your brushes down.
  
  

  To dress or non to clothe

  
  There's an interesting fence to live on had nigh how much of the body in addition to wearable people should paint. Proper portraits involve a lot of wearable - yet we're simply non seeing people paradigm wearable for the most business office - because most stick to the rubber caput shot.
  
  For my business office I recall it's keen if people tin give the axe demonstrate they tin give the axe pigment to a greater extent than than a head. Knowing how to pigment dissimilar textures inwards damage of wearable is a flake similar knowing how to pigment dissimilar pilus styles - yous alone acquire skilful at it past times lots of practice.
  
  If I always got the chance to rewrite the rules I'd desire them to:
  
  • require them to do an upper body to include both wearable in addition to hands
  • either inwards the Heats - which would demand to live on longer
  • or equally the self-portrait
  (I have got a wicked smile on my human face upwards equally I write - but I know we'd acquire ameliorate results if nosotros did this). 
  
  

  The benefits of the large brush

  
  I wondered how many artists endeavor using dissimilar sized brushes. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 lot of them could speed upwards significantly if they used bigger brushes.  They don't lay inwards alongside large brushes in addition to and then refine alongside smaller brushes - they endeavor in addition to do the whole paradigm alongside smaller brushes - in addition to that simply takes forever!
  
  When I run across people using small-scale brushes to pigment (i.e. non draw) I simply desire to accomplish into the concealment in addition to have got it off them. Either that or shipping them on a course of written report using large chunky pastel sticks - which is where I learned non to run small-scale when yous motion onto tones in addition to colour.
  
  My persuasion is that a lot of painters could do goodness from learning how to run bigger brushes at the commencement in addition to inwards laying inwards initial layers - in addition to cut back the size of the brush used over time.
  
  I loved seeing the brush alongside the huge body of pilus which was going to live on used past times Jixuan Chen to pigment the eyelashes. It had an incredibly long tip alongside a fine point!
  
  
  

  Splitting the Judges

  
  This estrus was marked past times Judges beingness quite separate nigh dissimilar people. Frankly I was pleased to run across this. I don't hear when they all have got the same persuasion (as me!) but sometimes I recall they demand to explicate to a greater extent than why they liked people in addition to why they disagreed.
  
  In this episode they did - in addition to it was much ameliorate for it. If yous didn't hear it sentinel it again.
  
  

  

  The Judges summarise the pros in addition to cons of each artist
  

  
  

  Decision Time

  
  

  Sitters direct portrait to have got home

  
  
  • Sophie Ellis Bextor chose the paradigm past times Ellie Preston - equally the 1 she could run across inwards her mother's house
  • Adrian Lester was 'gobsmacked; when he saw the portraits in addition to took a spell to speak. He chose the portrait past times Emil Nikolla
  • Nitin Sawhney chose the paradigm past times Sarah Gibson equally beingness the 1 he recognized the most
  
  

  Things the Judges liked

  • artists who honour a likeness
  • being able to sentinel a journeying inwards paradigm - alongside a resolution
  • painters who pigment the body - in addition to non simply the caput - in addition to acquire a likeness inwards damage of posture
  • the way artists position pigment downwards - which is dissimilar in addition to new 
  • using colours intelligently - whether this is bold or sensitive
  • integrating the background i.e. making closed to thoughtful decisions in addition to non simply making it a apartment colour
  
  

  Judges were less impressed with

  • portraits which lack likeness
  • starting good alongside a drawing - but failing to improve when painting
  • cartoon similar qualities
  • unfinished portraits
  • painting equally good large in addition to and then non finishing
  • "weaker" paintings (i.e. ones which await OK until yous position them side past times side to a stronger paradigm of the same sort)
  It seems clearer in addition to clearer to me that if the Judges are choosing 1 of the ways they do this is position those painters who have got painted inwards comparable styles together (eg graphic style) in addition to and then the Judges compare them in addition to pick the 1 they prefer. This way it's pot luck whether yous acquire through. You demand to live on the best of your vogue of paradigm inwards your Heat.
  
  Kathleen Soriano summed it upwards inwards a rapid burn downwards tilt equally follows
  

  ....it's hard for us because we're wrestling alongside thence many things when we're trying to pick winners. We're looking for somebody who is bringing something novel but you're are looking for somebody who knows what they're doing; you're looking for something that is fresh in addition to dissimilar but is non cheesy or cliched - thence there's a lot of dissimilar things we're trying to doing when we're trying to direct winners each week.

  If you're inwards the novel Heats for Portrait Artist of the Year 2020 - starting side past times side calendar month at the Battersea Arts Centre - I propose yous re-create that tilt out in addition to post it somewhere yous tin give the axe run across it every twenty-four lx minutes menstruum until yous attend your heat!
  
  

  The Shortlist in addition to Heat Winner

  
  

  The Shortlist

  
  The Judges chose ii professionals in addition to an amateur who is a graduate of fine fine art who aspires to paradigm total fourth dimension - listed hither inwards alphabetical order:
  
  • Ellie Preston
  • Salvatore Fullam
  • Emil Nikolla
  I liked Rosso Porto's paradigm - but I'm guessing she was competing alongside Emil for a identify on the shortlist.
  
  I recall Sarah Gibson's was on its way. However I'm really firmly of the persuasion that she should have got been working on a much smaller format if she was going to exit thence much of the sheet untouched. It simply leaves it looking  equally if it comes into the category of "nice paradigm but should have got tried harder". It's insubstantial.  This is non a preliminary written report in addition to you're going to pigment to a greater extent than afterwards - this is it - yous MUST endeavor in addition to scope a finished paradigm - equally all the shortlisted artists did.
  
  The chap using watercolour had got a skilful likeness inwards the drawing but was nowhere nigh finished inwards damage of painting. It's a lesson inwards what happens if yous don't practice.
  
  I recall Salvatore got shortlisted inwards business office because of
  
  • his self-portrait where he painted himself top to toe alongside wearable in addition to peel in addition to hands! (see my betoken before nigh clothing)
  • the fact he painted a body in addition to got the likeness of the private through posture 
  • finished his estrus paradigm (i.e. all sheet covered!)

  

  Self portrait in addition to estrus portrait past times Salvatore Fullam

  
  

  

  Self portrait in addition to estrus portrait past times Ellie Preston

  
  I'm non that keen on the portrait of Sophie Ellis Bextor - but Ellie likely had the worst seat for paradigm somebody who has such a really rigid in addition to angular jaw line. I idea it was a ameliorate paradigm for the actual laying on of pigment rather than the likeness. However I liked the self-portrait a lot in addition to idea that was really good.
  
  
  

  

  Self portrait in addition to estrus portrait past times Emil Nikolla

  These await similar portraits past times a mature painter who has been paradigm people for a long time. This is a human being who has worked at his paradigm in addition to has got results. His are also the most naturalistic paintings of all those who painted this week.
  
  
  
  He's the variety of chap yous committee to do a portrait in addition to you'd know inwards advance you'd acquire a portrait that genuinely looked similar the somebody - in addition to that yous in addition to the sitter volition never always live on disappointed.
  
  
  I recall those people inwards southward E London who have got the chance to do classes alongside Emil are really lucky!
  

  
  

  The Final Decision

  
  

  

  Waiting to hear the Final Decision

  
  

  Episode 6 Winner

  
  The Judges chose Emil Nikolla equally the Heat Winner. 
  
  

  

  Add caption

  
  This is the video of him paradigm the Heat Portrait speeded up
  
  
  EMIL NIKOLLA: Time-lapse paradigm on Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year 2019 from N9 Design on Vimeo.
  
  

  and finally.....

  
  It may come upwards equally no surprise to yous that the actual heats are non televised inwards the fellowship they are filmed in. That's to brand certain they spread out the skilful ones in addition to the non do skilful ones
  
  I'm non proverb which episodes they cropped upwards inwards but ii of the finalists have got been identified equally Heat Winners inwards ii of Heats 1 to 6 - which way (big hint) - that the 3rd finalist comes from either Episode 7 or 8.
  
  We'll all honour out inwards 3 weeks fourth dimension - at the terminate of the semi-finals - after they have got identified the finalists.
  
  I'm soundless looking forwards to the betoken after the Final when I tin give the axe finally present yous what a Final genuinely looks like!
  
  
  

  More Learning Points re. Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year

  
  PLUS below are my weblog posts from in conclusion yr which contains lots of learning points nigh paradigm inwards this competitor for those aspiring to compete this year.
  
  
  

  Learning Points re the 2019 competition

  Review: The Final of Portrait Artist of the Year 2018

How to locomote inwards PAOTY 2020 in addition to how to sentinel if yous don't have got Sky

passport photograph approach to her self-portrait which provided personality equally good equally a clear indication of an mightiness to pigment good in addition to consistently - equally is also evidenced past times her website. Her self portrait charmed the Judges.

Observations included:

• disturbing in addition to brilliantly off - "but I recall that's why nosotros liked it" - nigh Salvatore's large self -portrait
• "lovely to have got somebody working alongside watercolour inwards a dissimilar way". I idea this was an odd comment. It assumed watercolour is alone painted inwards 1 way. I felt similar sending the Judges on a watercolour appreciation course!
• a tondo inside a foursquare was a really odd composition which caught the eye.

The Sitters

The sitters were

• Sophie Ellis Bextor - a British singer, songwriter in addition to model in addition to multi-platinum selling recording creative somebody - who has an absolutely fascinating human face upwards
• Adrian Lester - an Olivier Award winning participant on cinema in addition to inwards television receiver dramas. He's also a director, in addition to writer.
• Nitin Sawhney CBE CBE is a British Indian musician, producer in addition to composer - who writes songs in addition to music for film. In 2017 he received the Ivor Novello Lifetime Achievement award

Discussions in addition to Observations

Getting likeness past times one-half way

The Judges evidently appreciate the creative somebody who finds a likeness in addition to they are less appreciative of those who never honour 1 and/or lose it after they've found it.



Some artists who tend to focus on figurative piece of occupation are less bothered past times achieving a likeness, whereas those who do commissions appreciate the importance. It occurs to me that artists who piece of occupation to committee know that they don't tend to acquire paid if the customer isn't happy. It's a keen way of learning how to capture likenesses!

It's begun to strike me that those who have got established a likeness past times one-half way are to a greater extent than than halfway to the shortlist.  Judges volition live on keeping a closer oculus on them inwards the 2d half.

Avoiding over-working paintings

There was a fair flake of tidings nigh the amount of piece of occupation required - in addition to how to consummate the paradigm but avoid over-working. This is a perennial theme.

• some knew the penalties of over-working
• some alongside (I think) rather less sense were totally overwhelmed past times how much piece of occupation was required in addition to the fact they didn't have got plenty fourth dimension - in addition to would have got welcomed the chance to worry nigh over-working!
• Others were (I think) really much thrown past times the fact that the estrus does non genuinely supply 4 hours. Yup - it's a total fiction folks. 

Practising paradigm people inwards 3 hours is a jolly skilful exercise for those artists who have got been selected for the upcoming Heats who desire to train. You can't overwork if yous know yous tin give the axe pigment a skilful caput inwards 3 hours. You simply demand to know when to position your brushes down.

To dress or non to clothe

There's an interesting fence to live on had nigh how much of the body in addition to wearable people should paint. Proper portraits involve a lot of wearable - yet we're simply non seeing people paradigm wearable for the most business office - because most stick to the rubber caput shot.

For my business office I recall it's keen if people tin give the axe demonstrate they tin give the axe pigment to a greater extent than than a head. Knowing how to pigment dissimilar textures inwards damage of wearable is a flake similar knowing how to pigment dissimilar pilus styles - yous alone acquire skilful at it past times lots of practice.

If I always got the chance to rewrite the rules I'd desire them to:

• require them to do an upper body to include both wearable in addition to hands
• either inwards the Heats - which would demand to live on longer
• or equally the self-portrait

(I have got a wicked smile on my human face upwards equally I write - but I know we'd acquire ameliorate results if nosotros did this). 

The benefits of the large brush

I wondered how many artists endeavor using dissimilar sized brushes. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 lot of them could speed upwards significantly if they used bigger brushes.  They don't lay inwards alongside large brushes in addition to and then refine alongside smaller brushes - they endeavor in addition to do the whole paradigm alongside smaller brushes - in addition to that simply takes forever!

When I run across people using small-scale brushes to pigment (i.e. non draw) I simply desire to accomplish into the concealment in addition to have got it off them. Either that or shipping them on a course of written report using large chunky pastel sticks - which is where I learned non to run small-scale when yous motion onto tones in addition to colour.

My persuasion is that a lot of painters could do goodness from learning how to run bigger brushes at the commencement in addition to inwards laying inwards initial layers - in addition to cut back the size of the brush used over time.

I loved seeing the brush alongside the huge body of pilus which was going to live on used past times Jixuan Chen to pigment the eyelashes. It had an incredibly long tip alongside a fine point!

Splitting the Judges

This estrus was marked past times Judges beingness quite separate nigh dissimilar people. Frankly I was pleased to run across this. I don't hear when they all have got the same persuasion (as me!) but sometimes I recall they demand to explicate to a greater extent than why they liked people in addition to why they disagreed.

In this episode they did - in addition to it was much ameliorate for it. If yous didn't hear it sentinel it again.

The Judges summarise the pros in addition to cons of each artist

Decision Time

Sitters direct portrait to have got home

• Sophie Ellis Bextor chose the paradigm past times Ellie Preston - equally the 1 she could run across inwards her mother's house
• Adrian Lester was 'gobsmacked; when he saw the portraits in addition to took a spell to speak. He chose the portrait past times Emil Nikolla
• Nitin Sawhney chose the paradigm past times Sarah Gibson equally beingness the 1 he recognized the most

Things the Judges liked

• artists who honour a likeness
• being able to sentinel a journeying inwards paradigm - alongside a resolution
• painters who pigment the body - in addition to non simply the caput - in addition to acquire a likeness inwards damage of posture
• the way artists position pigment downwards - which is dissimilar in addition to new 
• using colours intelligently - whether this is bold or sensitive
• integrating the background i.e. making closed to thoughtful decisions in addition to non simply making it a apartment colour

Judges were less impressed with

• portraits which lack likeness
• starting good alongside a drawing - but failing to improve when painting
• cartoon similar qualities
• unfinished portraits
• painting equally good large in addition to and then non finishing
• "weaker" paintings (i.e. ones which await OK until yous position them side past times side to a stronger paradigm of the same sort)

It seems clearer in addition to clearer to me that if the Judges are choosing 1 of the ways they do this is position those painters who have got painted inwards comparable styles together (eg graphic style) in addition to and then the Judges compare them in addition to pick the 1 they prefer. This way it's pot luck whether yous acquire through. You demand to live on the best of your vogue of paradigm inwards your Heat.

Kathleen Soriano summed it upwards inwards a rapid burn downwards tilt equally follows

....it's hard for us because we're wrestling alongside thence many things when we're trying to pick winners. We're looking for somebody who is bringing something novel but you're are looking for somebody who knows what they're doing; you're looking for something that is fresh in addition to dissimilar but is non cheesy or cliched - thence there's a lot of dissimilar things we're trying to doing when we're trying to direct winners each week.

If you're inwards the novel Heats for Portrait Artist of the Year 2020 - starting side past times side calendar month at the Battersea Arts Centre - I propose yous re-create that tilt out in addition to post it somewhere yous tin give the axe run across it every twenty-four lx minutes menstruum until yous attend your heat!

The Shortlist in addition to Heat Winner

The Shortlist

The Judges chose ii professionals in addition to an amateur who is a graduate of fine fine art who aspires to paradigm total fourth dimension - listed hither inwards alphabetical order:

• Ellie Preston
• Salvatore Fullam
• Emil Nikolla

I liked Rosso Porto's paradigm - but I'm guessing she was competing alongside Emil for a identify on the shortlist.

I recall Sarah Gibson's was on its way. However I'm really firmly of the persuasion that she should have got been working on a much smaller format if she was going to exit thence much of the sheet untouched. It simply leaves it looking  equally if it comes into the category of "nice paradigm but should have got tried harder". It's insubstantial.  This is non a preliminary written report in addition to you're going to pigment to a greater extent than afterwards - this is it - yous MUST endeavor in addition to scope a finished paradigm - equally all the shortlisted artists did.

The chap using watercolour had got a skilful likeness inwards the drawing but was nowhere nigh finished inwards damage of painting. It's a lesson inwards what happens if yous don't practice.

I recall Salvatore got shortlisted inwards business office because of

• his self-portrait where he painted himself top to toe alongside wearable in addition to peel in addition to hands! (see my betoken before nigh clothing)
• the fact he painted a body in addition to got the likeness of the private through posture 
• finished his estrus paradigm (i.e. all sheet covered!)

Self portrait in addition to estrus portrait past times Salvatore Fullam

Self portrait in addition to estrus portrait past times Ellie Preston

I'm non that keen on the portrait of Sophie Ellis Bextor - but Ellie likely had the worst seat for paradigm somebody who has such a really rigid in addition to angular jaw line. I idea it was a ameliorate paradigm for the actual laying on of pigment rather than the likeness. However I liked the self-portrait a lot in addition to idea that was really good.

Self portrait in addition to estrus portrait past times Emil Nikolla

These await similar portraits past times a mature painter who has been paradigm people for a long time. This is a human being who has worked at his paradigm in addition to has got results. His are also the most naturalistic paintings of all those who painted this week.

He's the variety of chap yous committee to do a portrait in addition to you'd know inwards advance you'd acquire a portrait that genuinely looked similar the somebody - in addition to that yous in addition to the sitter volition never always live on disappointed.

I recall those people inwards southward E London who have got the chance to do classes alongside Emil are really lucky!

The Final Decision

Waiting to hear the Final Decision

Episode 6 Winner

The Judges chose Emil Nikolla equally the Heat Winner. 

Add caption

This is the video of him paradigm the Heat Portrait speeded up


EMIL NIKOLLA: Time-lapse paradigm on Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year 2019 from N9 Design on Vimeo.

and finally.....

It may come upwards equally no surprise to yous that the actual heats are non televised inwards the fellowship they are filmed in. That's to brand certain they spread out the skilful ones in addition to the non do skilful ones

I'm non proverb which episodes they cropped upwards inwards but ii of the finalists have got been identified equally Heat Winners inwards ii of Heats 1 to 6 - which way (big hint) - that the 3rd finalist comes from either Episode 7 or 8.

We'll all honour out inwards 3 weeks fourth dimension - at the terminate of the semi-finals - after they have got identified the finalists.

I'm soundless looking forwards to the betoken after the Final when I tin give the axe finally present yous what a Final genuinely looks like!

More Learning Points re. Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year

PLUS below are my weblog posts from in conclusion yr which contains lots of learning points nigh paradigm inwards this competitor for those aspiring to compete this year.

Learning Points re the 2019 competition

• passport photograph approach to her self-portrait which provided personality equally good equally a clear indication of an mightiness to pigment good in addition to consistently - equally is also evidenced past times her website. Her self portrait charmed the Judges.
  
  Observations included:
  
  • disturbing in addition to brilliantly off - "but I recall that's why nosotros liked it" - nigh Salvatore's large self -portrait
  • "lovely to have got somebody working alongside watercolour inwards a dissimilar way". I idea this was an odd comment. It assumed watercolour is alone painted inwards 1 way. I felt similar sending the Judges on a watercolour appreciation course!
  • a tondo inside a foursquare was a really odd composition which caught the eye.
  
  

  The Sitters

  
  The sitters were
  
  • Sophie Ellis Bextor - a British singer, songwriter in addition to model in addition to multi-platinum selling recording creative somebody - who has an absolutely fascinating human face upwards
  • Adrian Lester - an Olivier Award winning participant on cinema in addition to inwards television receiver dramas. He's also a director, in addition to writer.
  • Nitin Sawhney CBE CBE is a British Indian musician, producer in addition to composer - who writes songs in addition to music for film. In 2017 he received the Ivor Novello Lifetime Achievement award
  
  

  Discussions in addition to Observations

  
  

  Getting likeness past times one-half way

  
  The Judges evidently appreciate the creative somebody who finds a likeness in addition to they are less appreciative of those who never honour 1 and/or lose it after they've found it.
  
  
  
  Some artists who tend to focus on figurative piece of occupation are less bothered past times achieving a likeness, whereas those who do commissions appreciate the importance. It occurs to me that artists who piece of occupation to committee know that they don't tend to acquire paid if the customer isn't happy. It's a keen way of learning how to capture likenesses!
  
  It's begun to strike me that those who have got established a likeness past times one-half way are to a greater extent than than halfway to the shortlist.  Judges volition live on keeping a closer oculus on them inwards the 2d half.
  
  

  Avoiding over-working paintings

  
  There was a fair flake of tidings nigh the amount of piece of occupation required - in addition to how to consummate the paradigm but avoid over-working. This is a perennial theme.
  
  • some knew the penalties of over-working
  • some alongside (I think) rather less sense were totally overwhelmed past times how much piece of occupation was required in addition to the fact they didn't have got plenty fourth dimension - in addition to would have got welcomed the chance to worry nigh over-working!
  • Others were (I think) really much thrown past times the fact that the estrus does non genuinely supply 4 hours. Yup - it's a total fiction folks. 
  Practising paradigm people inwards 3 hours is a jolly skilful exercise for those artists who have got been selected for the upcoming Heats who desire to train. You can't overwork if yous know yous tin give the axe pigment a skilful caput inwards 3 hours. You simply demand to know when to position your brushes down.
  
  

  To dress or non to clothe

  
  There's an interesting fence to live on had nigh how much of the body in addition to wearable people should paint. Proper portraits involve a lot of wearable - yet we're simply non seeing people paradigm wearable for the most business office - because most stick to the rubber caput shot.
  
  For my business office I recall it's keen if people tin give the axe demonstrate they tin give the axe pigment to a greater extent than than a head. Knowing how to pigment dissimilar textures inwards damage of wearable is a flake similar knowing how to pigment dissimilar pilus styles - yous alone acquire skilful at it past times lots of practice.
  
  If I always got the chance to rewrite the rules I'd desire them to:
  
  • require them to do an upper body to include both wearable in addition to hands
  • either inwards the Heats - which would demand to live on longer
  • or equally the self-portrait
  (I have got a wicked smile on my human face upwards equally I write - but I know we'd acquire ameliorate results if nosotros did this). 
  
  

  The benefits of the large brush

  
  I wondered how many artists endeavor using dissimilar sized brushes. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 lot of them could speed upwards significantly if they used bigger brushes.  They don't lay inwards alongside large brushes in addition to and then refine alongside smaller brushes - they endeavor in addition to do the whole paradigm alongside smaller brushes - in addition to that simply takes forever!
  
  When I run across people using small-scale brushes to pigment (i.e. non draw) I simply desire to accomplish into the concealment in addition to have got it off them. Either that or shipping them on a course of written report using large chunky pastel sticks - which is where I learned non to run small-scale when yous motion onto tones in addition to colour.
  
  My persuasion is that a lot of painters could do goodness from learning how to run bigger brushes at the commencement in addition to inwards laying inwards initial layers - in addition to cut back the size of the brush used over time.
  
  I loved seeing the brush alongside the huge body of pilus which was going to live on used past times Jixuan Chen to pigment the eyelashes. It had an incredibly long tip alongside a fine point!
  
  
  

  Splitting the Judges

  
  This estrus was marked past times Judges beingness quite separate nigh dissimilar people. Frankly I was pleased to run across this. I don't hear when they all have got the same persuasion (as me!) but sometimes I recall they demand to explicate to a greater extent than why they liked people in addition to why they disagreed.
  
  In this episode they did - in addition to it was much ameliorate for it. If yous didn't hear it sentinel it again.
  
  

  

  The Judges summarise the pros in addition to cons of each artist
  

  
  

  Decision Time

  
  

  Sitters direct portrait to have got home

  
  
  • Sophie Ellis Bextor chose the paradigm past times Ellie Preston - equally the 1 she could run across inwards her mother's house
  • Adrian Lester was 'gobsmacked; when he saw the portraits in addition to took a spell to speak. He chose the portrait past times Emil Nikolla
  • Nitin Sawhney chose the paradigm past times Sarah Gibson equally beingness the 1 he recognized the most
  
  

  Things the Judges liked

  • artists who honour a likeness
  • being able to sentinel a journeying inwards paradigm - alongside a resolution
  • painters who pigment the body - in addition to non simply the caput - in addition to acquire a likeness inwards damage of posture
  • the way artists position pigment downwards - which is dissimilar in addition to new 
  • using colours intelligently - whether this is bold or sensitive
  • integrating the background i.e. making closed to thoughtful decisions in addition to non simply making it a apartment colour
  
  

  Judges were less impressed with

  • portraits which lack likeness
  • starting good alongside a drawing - but failing to improve when painting
  • cartoon similar qualities
  • unfinished portraits
  • painting equally good large in addition to and then non finishing
  • "weaker" paintings (i.e. ones which await OK until yous position them side past times side to a stronger paradigm of the same sort)
  It seems clearer in addition to clearer to me that if the Judges are choosing 1 of the ways they do this is position those painters who have got painted inwards comparable styles together (eg graphic style) in addition to and then the Judges compare them in addition to pick the 1 they prefer. This way it's pot luck whether yous acquire through. You demand to live on the best of your vogue of paradigm inwards your Heat.
  
  Kathleen Soriano summed it upwards inwards a rapid burn downwards tilt equally follows
  

  ....it's hard for us because we're wrestling alongside thence many things when we're trying to pick winners. We're looking for somebody who is bringing something novel but you're are looking for somebody who knows what they're doing; you're looking for something that is fresh in addition to dissimilar but is non cheesy or cliched - thence there's a lot of dissimilar things we're trying to doing when we're trying to direct winners each week.

  If you're inwards the novel Heats for Portrait Artist of the Year 2020 - starting side past times side calendar month at the Battersea Arts Centre - I propose yous re-create that tilt out in addition to post it somewhere yous tin give the axe run across it every twenty-four lx minutes menstruum until yous attend your heat!
  
  

  The Shortlist in addition to Heat Winner

  
  

  The Shortlist

  
  The Judges chose ii professionals in addition to an amateur who is a graduate of fine fine art who aspires to paradigm total fourth dimension - listed hither inwards alphabetical order:
  
  • Ellie Preston
  • Salvatore Fullam
  • Emil Nikolla
  I liked Rosso Porto's paradigm - but I'm guessing she was competing alongside Emil for a identify on the shortlist.
  
  I recall Sarah Gibson's was on its way. However I'm really firmly of the persuasion that she should have got been working on a much smaller format if she was going to exit thence much of the sheet untouched. It simply leaves it looking  equally if it comes into the category of "nice paradigm but should have got tried harder". It's insubstantial.  This is non a preliminary written report in addition to you're going to pigment to a greater extent than afterwards - this is it - yous MUST endeavor in addition to scope a finished paradigm - equally all the shortlisted artists did.
  
  The chap using watercolour had got a skilful likeness inwards the drawing but was nowhere nigh finished inwards damage of painting. It's a lesson inwards what happens if yous don't practice.
  
  I recall Salvatore got shortlisted inwards business office because of
  
  • his self-portrait where he painted himself top to toe alongside wearable in addition to peel in addition to hands! (see my betoken before nigh clothing)
  • the fact he painted a body in addition to got the likeness of the private through posture 
  • finished his estrus paradigm (i.e. all sheet covered!)

  

  Self portrait in addition to estrus portrait past times Salvatore Fullam

  
  

  

  Self portrait in addition to estrus portrait past times Ellie Preston

  
  I'm non that keen on the portrait of Sophie Ellis Bextor - but Ellie likely had the worst seat for paradigm somebody who has such a really rigid in addition to angular jaw line. I idea it was a ameliorate paradigm for the actual laying on of pigment rather than the likeness. However I liked the self-portrait a lot in addition to idea that was really good.
  
  
  

  

  Self portrait in addition to estrus portrait past times Emil Nikolla

  These await similar portraits past times a mature painter who has been paradigm people for a long time. This is a human being who has worked at his paradigm in addition to has got results. His are also the most naturalistic paintings of all those who painted this week.
  
  
  
  He's the variety of chap yous committee to do a portrait in addition to you'd know inwards advance you'd acquire a portrait that genuinely looked similar the somebody - in addition to that yous in addition to the sitter volition never always live on disappointed.
  
  
  I recall those people inwards southward E London who have got the chance to do classes alongside Emil are really lucky!
  

  
  

  The Final Decision

  
  

  

  Waiting to hear the Final Decision

  
  

  Episode 6 Winner

  
  The Judges chose Emil Nikolla equally the Heat Winner. 
  
  

  

  Add caption

  
  This is the video of him paradigm the Heat Portrait speeded up
  
  
  EMIL NIKOLLA: Time-lapse paradigm on Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year 2019 from N9 Design on Vimeo.
  
  

  and finally.....

  
  It may come upwards equally no surprise to yous that the actual heats are non televised inwards the fellowship they are filmed in. That's to brand certain they spread out the skilful ones in addition to the non do skilful ones
  
  I'm non proverb which episodes they cropped upwards inwards but ii of the finalists have got been identified equally Heat Winners inwards ii of Heats 1 to 6 - which way (big hint) - that the 3rd finalist comes from either Episode 7 or 8.
  
  We'll all honour out inwards 3 weeks fourth dimension - at the terminate of the semi-finals - after they have got identified the finalists.
  
  I'm soundless looking forwards to the betoken after the Final when I tin give the axe finally present yous what a Final genuinely looks like!
  
  
  

  More Learning Points re. Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year

  
  PLUS below are my weblog posts from in conclusion yr which contains lots of learning points nigh paradigm inwards this competitor for those aspiring to compete this year.
  
  
  

  Learning Points re the 2019 competition

  Call for Entries: Portrait Artist of the Year 2020

• passport photograph approach to her self-portrait which provided personality equally good equally a clear indication of an mightiness to pigment good in addition to consistently - equally is also evidenced past times her website. Her self portrait charmed the Judges.
  
  Observations included:
  
  • disturbing in addition to brilliantly off - "but I recall that's why nosotros liked it" - nigh Salvatore's large self -portrait
  • "lovely to have got somebody working alongside watercolour inwards a dissimilar way". I idea this was an odd comment. It assumed watercolour is alone painted inwards 1 way. I felt similar sending the Judges on a watercolour appreciation course!
  • a tondo inside a foursquare was a really odd composition which caught the eye.
  
  

  The Sitters

  
  The sitters were
  
  • Sophie Ellis Bextor - a British singer, songwriter in addition to model in addition to multi-platinum selling recording creative somebody - who has an absolutely fascinating human face upwards
  • Adrian Lester - an Olivier Award winning participant on cinema in addition to inwards television receiver dramas. He's also a director, in addition to writer.
  • Nitin Sawhney CBE CBE is a British Indian musician, producer in addition to composer - who writes songs in addition to music for film. In 2017 he received the Ivor Novello Lifetime Achievement award
  
  

  Discussions in addition to Observations

  
  

  Getting likeness past times one-half way

  
  The Judges evidently appreciate the creative somebody who finds a likeness in addition to they are less appreciative of those who never honour 1 and/or lose it after they've found it.
  
  
  
  Some artists who tend to focus on figurative piece of occupation are less bothered past times achieving a likeness, whereas those who do commissions appreciate the importance. It occurs to me that artists who piece of occupation to committee know that they don't tend to acquire paid if the customer isn't happy. It's a keen way of learning how to capture likenesses!
  
  It's begun to strike me that those who have got established a likeness past times one-half way are to a greater extent than than halfway to the shortlist.  Judges volition live on keeping a closer oculus on them inwards the 2d half.
  
  

  Avoiding over-working paintings

  
  There was a fair flake of tidings nigh the amount of piece of occupation required - in addition to how to consummate the paradigm but avoid over-working. This is a perennial theme.
  
  • some knew the penalties of over-working
  • some alongside (I think) rather less sense were totally overwhelmed past times how much piece of occupation was required in addition to the fact they didn't have got plenty fourth dimension - in addition to would have got welcomed the chance to worry nigh over-working!
  • Others were (I think) really much thrown past times the fact that the estrus does non genuinely supply 4 hours. Yup - it's a total fiction folks. 
  Practising paradigm people inwards 3 hours is a jolly skilful exercise for those artists who have got been selected for the upcoming Heats who desire to train. You can't overwork if yous know yous tin give the axe pigment a skilful caput inwards 3 hours. You simply demand to know when to position your brushes down.
  
  

  To dress or non to clothe

  
  There's an interesting fence to live on had nigh how much of the body in addition to wearable people should paint. Proper portraits involve a lot of wearable - yet we're simply non seeing people paradigm wearable for the most business office - because most stick to the rubber caput shot.
  
  For my business office I recall it's keen if people tin give the axe demonstrate they tin give the axe pigment to a greater extent than than a head. Knowing how to pigment dissimilar textures inwards damage of wearable is a flake similar knowing how to pigment dissimilar pilus styles - yous alone acquire skilful at it past times lots of practice.
  
  If I always got the chance to rewrite the rules I'd desire them to:
  
  • require them to do an upper body to include both wearable in addition to hands
  • either inwards the Heats - which would demand to live on longer
  • or equally the self-portrait
  (I have got a wicked smile on my human face upwards equally I write - but I know we'd acquire ameliorate results if nosotros did this). 
  
  

  The benefits of the large brush

  
  I wondered how many artists endeavor using dissimilar sized brushes. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 lot of them could speed upwards significantly if they used bigger brushes.  They don't lay inwards alongside large brushes in addition to and then refine alongside smaller brushes - they endeavor in addition to do the whole paradigm alongside smaller brushes - in addition to that simply takes forever!
  
  When I run across people using small-scale brushes to pigment (i.e. non draw) I simply desire to accomplish into the concealment in addition to have got it off them. Either that or shipping them on a course of written report using large chunky pastel sticks - which is where I learned non to run small-scale when yous motion onto tones in addition to colour.
  
  My persuasion is that a lot of painters could do goodness from learning how to run bigger brushes at the commencement in addition to inwards laying inwards initial layers - in addition to cut back the size of the brush used over time.
  
  I loved seeing the brush alongside the huge body of pilus which was going to live on used past times Jixuan Chen to pigment the eyelashes. It had an incredibly long tip alongside a fine point!
  
  
  

  Splitting the Judges

  
  This estrus was marked past times Judges beingness quite separate nigh dissimilar people. Frankly I was pleased to run across this. I don't hear when they all have got the same persuasion (as me!) but sometimes I recall they demand to explicate to a greater extent than why they liked people in addition to why they disagreed.
  
  In this episode they did - in addition to it was much ameliorate for it. If yous didn't hear it sentinel it again.
  
  

  

  The Judges summarise the pros in addition to cons of each artist
  

  
  

  Decision Time

  
  

  Sitters direct portrait to have got home

  
  
  • Sophie Ellis Bextor chose the paradigm past times Ellie Preston - equally the 1 she could run across inwards her mother's house
  • Adrian Lester was 'gobsmacked; when he saw the portraits in addition to took a spell to speak. He chose the portrait past times Emil Nikolla
  • Nitin Sawhney chose the paradigm past times Sarah Gibson equally beingness the 1 he recognized the most
  
  

  Things the Judges liked

  • artists who honour a likeness
  • being able to sentinel a journeying inwards paradigm - alongside a resolution
  • painters who pigment the body - in addition to non simply the caput - in addition to acquire a likeness inwards damage of posture
  • the way artists position pigment downwards - which is dissimilar in addition to new 
  • using colours intelligently - whether this is bold or sensitive
  • integrating the background i.e. making closed to thoughtful decisions in addition to non simply making it a apartment colour
  
  

  Judges were less impressed with

  • portraits which lack likeness
  • starting good alongside a drawing - but failing to improve when painting
  • cartoon similar qualities
  • unfinished portraits
  • painting equally good large in addition to and then non finishing
  • "weaker" paintings (i.e. ones which await OK until yous position them side past times side to a stronger paradigm of the same sort)
  It seems clearer in addition to clearer to me that if the Judges are choosing 1 of the ways they do this is position those painters who have got painted inwards comparable styles together (eg graphic style) in addition to and then the Judges compare them in addition to pick the 1 they prefer. This way it's pot luck whether yous acquire through. You demand to live on the best of your vogue of paradigm inwards your Heat.
  
  Kathleen Soriano summed it upwards inwards a rapid burn downwards tilt equally follows
  

  ....it's hard for us because we're wrestling alongside thence many things when we're trying to pick winners. We're looking for somebody who is bringing something novel but you're are looking for somebody who knows what they're doing; you're looking for something that is fresh in addition to dissimilar but is non cheesy or cliched - thence there's a lot of dissimilar things we're trying to doing when we're trying to direct winners each week.

  If you're inwards the novel Heats for Portrait Artist of the Year 2020 - starting side past times side calendar month at the Battersea Arts Centre - I propose yous re-create that tilt out in addition to post it somewhere yous tin give the axe run across it every twenty-four lx minutes menstruum until yous attend your heat!
  
  

  The Shortlist in addition to Heat Winner

  
  

  The Shortlist

  
  The Judges chose ii professionals in addition to an amateur who is a graduate of fine fine art who aspires to paradigm total fourth dimension - listed hither inwards alphabetical order:
  
  • Ellie Preston
  • Salvatore Fullam
  • Emil Nikolla
  I liked Rosso Porto's paradigm - but I'm guessing she was competing alongside Emil for a identify on the shortlist.
  
  I recall Sarah Gibson's was on its way. However I'm really firmly of the persuasion that she should have got been working on a much smaller format if she was going to exit thence much of the sheet untouched. It simply leaves it looking  equally if it comes into the category of "nice paradigm but should have got tried harder". It's insubstantial.  This is non a preliminary written report in addition to you're going to pigment to a greater extent than afterwards - this is it - yous MUST endeavor in addition to scope a finished paradigm - equally all the shortlisted artists did.
  
  The chap using watercolour had got a skilful likeness inwards the drawing but was nowhere nigh finished inwards damage of painting. It's a lesson inwards what happens if yous don't practice.
  
  I recall Salvatore got shortlisted inwards business office because of
  
  • his self-portrait where he painted himself top to toe alongside wearable in addition to peel in addition to hands! (see my betoken before nigh clothing)
  • the fact he painted a body in addition to got the likeness of the private through posture 
  • finished his estrus paradigm (i.e. all sheet covered!)

  

  Self portrait in addition to estrus portrait past times Salvatore Fullam

  
  

  

  Self portrait in addition to estrus portrait past times Ellie Preston

  
  I'm non that keen on the portrait of Sophie Ellis Bextor - but Ellie likely had the worst seat for paradigm somebody who has such a really rigid in addition to angular jaw line. I idea it was a ameliorate paradigm for the actual laying on of pigment rather than the likeness. However I liked the self-portrait a lot in addition to idea that was really good.
  
  
  

  

  Self portrait in addition to estrus portrait past times Emil Nikolla

  These await similar portraits past times a mature painter who has been paradigm people for a long time. This is a human being who has worked at his paradigm in addition to has got results. His are also the most naturalistic paintings of all those who painted this week.
  
  
  
  He's the variety of chap yous committee to do a portrait in addition to you'd know inwards advance you'd acquire a portrait that genuinely looked similar the somebody - in addition to that yous in addition to the sitter volition never always live on disappointed.
  
  
  I recall those people inwards southward E London who have got the chance to do classes alongside Emil are really lucky!
  

  
  

  The Final Decision

  
  

  

  Waiting to hear the Final Decision

  
  

  Episode 6 Winner

  
  The Judges chose Emil Nikolla equally the Heat Winner. 
  
  

  

  Add caption

  
  This is the video of him paradigm the Heat Portrait speeded up
  
  
  EMIL NIKOLLA: Time-lapse paradigm on Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year 2019 from N9 Design on Vimeo.
  
  

  and finally.....

  
  It may come upwards equally no surprise to yous that the actual heats are non televised inwards the fellowship they are filmed in. That's to brand certain they spread out the skilful ones in addition to the non do skilful ones
  
  I'm non proverb which episodes they cropped upwards inwards but ii of the finalists have got been identified equally Heat Winners inwards ii of Heats 1 to 6 - which way (big hint) - that the 3rd finalist comes from either Episode 7 or 8.
  
  We'll all honour out inwards 3 weeks fourth dimension - at the terminate of the semi-finals - after they have got identified the finalists.
  
  I'm soundless looking forwards to the betoken after the Final when I tin give the axe finally present yous what a Final genuinely looks like!
  
  
  

  More Learning Points re. Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year

  
  PLUS below are my weblog posts from in conclusion yr which contains lots of learning points nigh paradigm inwards this competitor for those aspiring to compete this year.
  
  
  

  Learning Points re the 2019 competition

  The PAOTY Trek to Battersea Arts Centre

• passport photograph approach to her self-portrait which provided personality equally good equally a clear indication of an mightiness to pigment good in addition to consistently - equally is also evidenced past times her website. Her self portrait charmed the Judges.
  
  Observations included:
  
  • disturbing in addition to brilliantly off - "but I recall that's why nosotros liked it" - nigh Salvatore's large self -portrait
  • "lovely to have got somebody working alongside watercolour inwards a dissimilar way". I idea this was an odd comment. It assumed watercolour is alone painted inwards 1 way. I felt similar sending the Judges on a watercolour appreciation course!
  • a tondo inside a foursquare was a really odd composition which caught the eye.
  
  

  The Sitters

  
  The sitters were
  
  • Sophie Ellis Bextor - a British singer, songwriter in addition to model in addition to multi-platinum selling recording creative somebody - who has an absolutely fascinating human face upwards
  • Adrian Lester - an Olivier Award winning participant on cinema in addition to inwards television receiver dramas. He's also a director, in addition to writer.
  • Nitin Sawhney CBE CBE is a British Indian musician, producer in addition to composer - who writes songs in addition to music for film. In 2017 he received the Ivor Novello Lifetime Achievement award
  
  

  Discussions in addition to Observations

  
  

  Getting likeness past times one-half way

  
  The Judges evidently appreciate the creative somebody who finds a likeness in addition to they are less appreciative of those who never honour 1 and/or lose it after they've found it.
  
  
  
  Some artists who tend to focus on figurative piece of occupation are less bothered past times achieving a likeness, whereas those who do commissions appreciate the importance. It occurs to me that artists who piece of occupation to committee know that they don't tend to acquire paid if the customer isn't happy. It's a keen way of learning how to capture likenesses!
  
  It's begun to strike me that those who have got established a likeness past times one-half way are to a greater extent than than halfway to the shortlist.  Judges volition live on keeping a closer oculus on them inwards the 2d half.
  
  

  Avoiding over-working paintings

  
  There was a fair flake of tidings nigh the amount of piece of occupation required - in addition to how to consummate the paradigm but avoid over-working. This is a perennial theme.
  
  • some knew the penalties of over-working
  • some alongside (I think) rather less sense were totally overwhelmed past times how much piece of occupation was required in addition to the fact they didn't have got plenty fourth dimension - in addition to would have got welcomed the chance to worry nigh over-working!
  • Others were (I think) really much thrown past times the fact that the estrus does non genuinely supply 4 hours. Yup - it's a total fiction folks. 
  Practising paradigm people inwards 3 hours is a jolly skilful exercise for those artists who have got been selected for the upcoming Heats who desire to train. You can't overwork if yous know yous tin give the axe pigment a skilful caput inwards 3 hours. You simply demand to know when to position your brushes down.
  
  

  To dress or non to clothe

  
  There's an interesting fence to live on had nigh how much of the body in addition to wearable people should paint. Proper portraits involve a lot of wearable - yet we're simply non seeing people paradigm wearable for the most business office - because most stick to the rubber caput shot.
  
  For my business office I recall it's keen if people tin give the axe demonstrate they tin give the axe pigment to a greater extent than than a head. Knowing how to pigment dissimilar textures inwards damage of wearable is a flake similar knowing how to pigment dissimilar pilus styles - yous alone acquire skilful at it past times lots of practice.
  
  If I always got the chance to rewrite the rules I'd desire them to:
  
  • require them to do an upper body to include both wearable in addition to hands
  • either inwards the Heats - which would demand to live on longer
  • or equally the self-portrait
  (I have got a wicked smile on my human face upwards equally I write - but I know we'd acquire ameliorate results if nosotros did this). 
  
  

  The benefits of the large brush

  
  I wondered how many artists endeavor using dissimilar sized brushes. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 lot of them could speed upwards significantly if they used bigger brushes.  They don't lay inwards alongside large brushes in addition to and then refine alongside smaller brushes - they endeavor in addition to do the whole paradigm alongside smaller brushes - in addition to that simply takes forever!
  
  When I run across people using small-scale brushes to pigment (i.e. non draw) I simply desire to accomplish into the concealment in addition to have got it off them. Either that or shipping them on a course of written report using large chunky pastel sticks - which is where I learned non to run small-scale when yous motion onto tones in addition to colour.
  
  My persuasion is that a lot of painters could do goodness from learning how to run bigger brushes at the commencement in addition to inwards laying inwards initial layers - in addition to cut back the size of the brush used over time.
  
  I loved seeing the brush alongside the huge body of pilus which was going to live on used past times Jixuan Chen to pigment the eyelashes. It had an incredibly long tip alongside a fine point!
  
  
  

  Splitting the Judges

  
  This estrus was marked past times Judges beingness quite separate nigh dissimilar people. Frankly I was pleased to run across this. I don't hear when they all have got the same persuasion (as me!) but sometimes I recall they demand to explicate to a greater extent than why they liked people in addition to why they disagreed.
  
  In this episode they did - in addition to it was much ameliorate for it. If yous didn't hear it sentinel it again.
  
  

  

  The Judges summarise the pros in addition to cons of each artist
  

  
  

  Decision Time

  
  

  Sitters direct portrait to have got home

  
  
  • Sophie Ellis Bextor chose the paradigm past times Ellie Preston - equally the 1 she could run across inwards her mother's house
  • Adrian Lester was 'gobsmacked; when he saw the portraits in addition to took a spell to speak. He chose the portrait past times Emil Nikolla
  • Nitin Sawhney chose the paradigm past times Sarah Gibson equally beingness the 1 he recognized the most
  
  

  Things the Judges liked

  • artists who honour a likeness
  • being able to sentinel a journeying inwards paradigm - alongside a resolution
  • painters who pigment the body - in addition to non simply the caput - in addition to acquire a likeness inwards damage of posture
  • the way artists position pigment downwards - which is dissimilar in addition to new 
  • using colours intelligently - whether this is bold or sensitive
  • integrating the background i.e. making closed to thoughtful decisions in addition to non simply making it a apartment colour
  
  

  Judges were less impressed with

  • portraits which lack likeness
  • starting good alongside a drawing - but failing to improve when painting
  • cartoon similar qualities
  • unfinished portraits
  • painting equally good large in addition to and then non finishing
  • "weaker" paintings (i.e. ones which await OK until yous position them side past times side to a stronger paradigm of the same sort)
  It seems clearer in addition to clearer to me that if the Judges are choosing 1 of the ways they do this is position those painters who have got painted inwards comparable styles together (eg graphic style) in addition to and then the Judges compare them in addition to pick the 1 they prefer. This way it's pot luck whether yous acquire through. You demand to live on the best of your vogue of paradigm inwards your Heat.
  
  Kathleen Soriano summed it upwards inwards a rapid burn downwards tilt equally follows
  

  ....it's hard for us because we're wrestling alongside thence many things when we're trying to pick winners. We're looking for somebody who is bringing something novel but you're are looking for somebody who knows what they're doing; you're looking for something that is fresh in addition to dissimilar but is non cheesy or cliched - thence there's a lot of dissimilar things we're trying to doing when we're trying to direct winners each week.

  If you're inwards the novel Heats for Portrait Artist of the Year 2020 - starting side past times side calendar month at the Battersea Arts Centre - I propose yous re-create that tilt out in addition to post it somewhere yous tin give the axe run across it every twenty-four lx minutes menstruum until yous attend your heat!
  
  

  The Shortlist in addition to Heat Winner

  
  

  The Shortlist

  
  The Judges chose ii professionals in addition to an amateur who is a graduate of fine fine art who aspires to paradigm total fourth dimension - listed hither inwards alphabetical order:
  
  • Ellie Preston
  • Salvatore Fullam
  • Emil Nikolla
  I liked Rosso Porto's paradigm - but I'm guessing she was competing alongside Emil for a identify on the shortlist.
  
  I recall Sarah Gibson's was on its way. However I'm really firmly of the persuasion that she should have got been working on a much smaller format if she was going to exit thence much of the sheet untouched. It simply leaves it looking  equally if it comes into the category of "nice paradigm but should have got tried harder". It's insubstantial.  This is non a preliminary written report in addition to you're going to pigment to a greater extent than afterwards - this is it - yous MUST endeavor in addition to scope a finished paradigm - equally all the shortlisted artists did.
  
  The chap using watercolour had got a skilful likeness inwards the drawing but was nowhere nigh finished inwards damage of painting. It's a lesson inwards what happens if yous don't practice.
  
  I recall Salvatore got shortlisted inwards business office because of
  
  • his self-portrait where he painted himself top to toe alongside wearable in addition to peel in addition to hands! (see my betoken before nigh clothing)
  • the fact he painted a body in addition to got the likeness of the private through posture 
  • finished his estrus paradigm (i.e. all sheet covered!)

  

  Self portrait in addition to estrus portrait past times Salvatore Fullam

  
  

  

  Self portrait in addition to estrus portrait past times Ellie Preston

  
  I'm non that keen on the portrait of Sophie Ellis Bextor - but Ellie likely had the worst seat for paradigm somebody who has such a really rigid in addition to angular jaw line. I idea it was a ameliorate paradigm for the actual laying on of pigment rather than the likeness. However I liked the self-portrait a lot in addition to idea that was really good.
  
  
  

  

  Self portrait in addition to estrus portrait past times Emil Nikolla

  These await similar portraits past times a mature painter who has been paradigm people for a long time. This is a human being who has worked at his paradigm in addition to has got results. His are also the most naturalistic paintings of all those who painted this week.
  
  
  
  He's the variety of chap yous committee to do a portrait in addition to you'd know inwards advance you'd acquire a portrait that genuinely looked similar the somebody - in addition to that yous in addition to the sitter volition never always live on disappointed.
  
  
  I recall those people inwards southward E London who have got the chance to do classes alongside Emil are really lucky!
  

  
  

  The Final Decision

  
  

  

  Waiting to hear the Final Decision

  
  

  Episode 6 Winner

  
  The Judges chose Emil Nikolla equally the Heat Winner. 
  
  

  

  Add caption

  
  This is the video of him paradigm the Heat Portrait speeded up
  
  
  EMIL NIKOLLA: Time-lapse paradigm on Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year 2019 from N9 Design on Vimeo.
  
  

  and finally.....

  
  It may come upwards equally no surprise to yous that the actual heats are non televised inwards the fellowship they are filmed in. That's to brand certain they spread out the skilful ones in addition to the non do skilful ones
  
  I'm non proverb which episodes they cropped upwards inwards but ii of the finalists have got been identified equally Heat Winners inwards ii of Heats 1 to 6 - which way (big hint) - that the 3rd finalist comes from either Episode 7 or 8.
  
  We'll all honour out inwards 3 weeks fourth dimension - at the terminate of the semi-finals - after they have got identified the finalists.
  
  I'm soundless looking forwards to the betoken after the Final when I tin give the axe finally present yous what a Final genuinely looks like!
  
  
  

  More Learning Points re. Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year

  
  PLUS below are my weblog posts from in conclusion yr which contains lots of learning points nigh paradigm inwards this competitor for those aspiring to compete this year.
  
  
  

  Learning Points re the 2019 competition

  How to sentinel Sky Arts - Portrait Artist of the Year 2018 without subscribingpassport photograph approach to her self-portrait which provided personality equally good equally a clear indication of an mightiness to pigment good in addition to consistently - equally is also evidenced past times her website. Her self portrait charmed the Judges.
  
  Observations included:
  

  • disturbing in addition to brilliantly off - "but I recall that's why nosotros liked it" - nigh Salvatore's large self -portrait
  • "lovely to have got somebody working alongside watercolour inwards a dissimilar way". I idea this was an odd comment. It assumed watercolour is alone painted inwards 1 way. I felt similar sending the Judges on a watercolour appreciation course!
  • a tondo inside a foursquare was a really odd composition which caught the eye.

  
  

  The Sitters

  
  The sitters were
  

  • Sophie Ellis Bextor - a British singer, songwriter in addition to model in addition to multi-platinum selling recording creative somebody - who has an absolutely fascinating human face upwards
  • Adrian Lester - an Olivier Award winning participant on cinema in addition to inwards television receiver dramas. He's also a director, in addition to writer.
  • Nitin Sawhney CBE CBE is a British Indian musician, producer in addition to composer - who writes songs in addition to music for film. In 2017 he received the Ivor Novello Lifetime Achievement award

  
  

  Discussions in addition to Observations

  
  

  Getting likeness past times one-half way

  
  The Judges evidently appreciate the creative somebody who finds a likeness in addition to they are less appreciative of those who never honour 1 and/or lose it after they've found it.
  
  
  
  Some artists who tend to focus on figurative piece of occupation are less bothered past times achieving a likeness, whereas those who do commissions appreciate the importance. It occurs to me that artists who piece of occupation to committee know that they don't tend to acquire paid if the customer isn't happy. It's a keen way of learning how to capture likenesses!
  
  It's begun to strike me that those who have got established a likeness past times one-half way are to a greater extent than than halfway to the shortlist.  Judges volition live on keeping a closer oculus on them inwards the 2d half.
  
  

  Avoiding over-working paintings

  
  There was a fair flake of tidings nigh the amount of piece of occupation required - in addition to how to consummate the paradigm but avoid over-working. This is a perennial theme.
  

  • some knew the penalties of over-working
  • some alongside (I think) rather less sense were totally overwhelmed past times how much piece of occupation was required in addition to the fact they didn't have got plenty fourth dimension - in addition to would have got welcomed the chance to worry nigh over-working!
  • Others were (I think) really much thrown past times the fact that the estrus does non genuinely supply 4 hours. Yup - it's a total fiction folks. 

  Practising paradigm people inwards 3 hours is a jolly skilful exercise for those artists who have got been selected for the upcoming Heats who desire to train. You can't overwork if yous know yous tin give the axe pigment a skilful caput inwards 3 hours. You simply demand to know when to position your brushes down.
  
  

  To dress or non to clothe

  
  There's an interesting fence to live on had nigh how much of the body in addition to wearable people should paint. Proper portraits involve a lot of wearable - yet we're simply non seeing people paradigm wearable for the most business office - because most stick to the rubber caput shot.
  
  For my business office I recall it's keen if people tin give the axe demonstrate they tin give the axe pigment to a greater extent than than a head. Knowing how to pigment dissimilar textures inwards damage of wearable is a flake similar knowing how to pigment dissimilar pilus styles - yous alone acquire skilful at it past times lots of practice.
  
  If I always got the chance to rewrite the rules I'd desire them to:
  

  • require them to do an upper body to include both wearable in addition to hands
  • either inwards the Heats - which would demand to live on longer
  • or equally the self-portrait

  (I have got a wicked smile on my human face upwards equally I write - but I know we'd acquire ameliorate results if nosotros did this). 
  
  

  The benefits of the large brush

  
  I wondered how many artists endeavor using dissimilar sized brushes. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 lot of them could speed upwards significantly if they used bigger brushes.  They don't lay inwards alongside large brushes in addition to and then refine alongside smaller brushes - they endeavor in addition to do the whole paradigm alongside smaller brushes - in addition to that simply takes forever!
  
  When I run across people using small-scale brushes to pigment (i.e. non draw) I simply desire to accomplish into the concealment in addition to have got it off them. Either that or shipping them on a course of written report using large chunky pastel sticks - which is where I learned non to run small-scale when yous motion onto tones in addition to colour.
  
  My persuasion is that a lot of painters could do goodness from learning how to run bigger brushes at the commencement in addition to inwards laying inwards initial layers - in addition to cut back the size of the brush used over time.
  
  I loved seeing the brush alongside the huge body of pilus which was going to live on used past times Jixuan Chen to pigment the eyelashes. It had an incredibly long tip alongside a fine point!
  
  
  

  Splitting the Judges

  
  This estrus was marked past times Judges beingness quite separate nigh dissimilar people. Frankly I was pleased to run across this. I don't hear when they all have got the same persuasion (as me!) but sometimes I recall they demand to explicate to a greater extent than why they liked people in addition to why they disagreed.
  
  In this episode they did - in addition to it was much ameliorate for it. If yous didn't hear it sentinel it again.
  
  

  

  The Judges summarise the pros in addition to cons of each artist
  

  
  

  Decision Time

  
  

  Sitters direct portrait to have got home

  
  

  • Sophie Ellis Bextor chose the paradigm past times Ellie Preston - equally the 1 she could run across inwards her mother's house
  • Adrian Lester was 'gobsmacked; when he saw the portraits in addition to took a spell to speak. He chose the portrait past times Emil Nikolla
  • Nitin Sawhney chose the paradigm past times Sarah Gibson equally beingness the 1 he recognized the most

  
  

  Things the Judges liked

  • artists who honour a likeness
  • being able to sentinel a journeying inwards paradigm - alongside a resolution
  • painters who pigment the body - in addition to non simply the caput - in addition to acquire a likeness inwards damage of posture
  • the way artists position pigment downwards - which is dissimilar in addition to new 
  • using colours intelligently - whether this is bold or sensitive
  • integrating the background i.e. making closed to thoughtful decisions in addition to non simply making it a apartment colour

  
  

  Judges were less impressed with

  • portraits which lack likeness
  • starting good alongside a drawing - but failing to improve when painting
  • cartoon similar qualities
  • unfinished portraits
  • painting equally good large in addition to and then non finishing
  • "weaker" paintings (i.e. ones which await OK until yous position them side past times side to a stronger paradigm of the same sort)

  It seems clearer in addition to clearer to me that if the Judges are choosing 1 of the ways they do this is position those painters who have got painted inwards comparable styles together (eg graphic style) in addition to and then the Judges compare them in addition to pick the 1 they prefer. This way it's pot luck whether yous acquire through. You demand to live on the best of your vogue of paradigm inwards your Heat.
  
  Kathleen Soriano summed it upwards inwards a rapid burn downwards tilt equally follows
  

  ....it's hard for us because we're wrestling alongside thence many things when we're trying to pick winners. We're looking for somebody who is bringing something novel but you're are looking for somebody who knows what they're doing; you're looking for something that is fresh in addition to dissimilar but is non cheesy or cliched - thence there's a lot of dissimilar things we're trying to doing when we're trying to direct winners each week.

  If you're inwards the novel Heats for Portrait Artist of the Year 2020 - starting side past times side calendar month at the Battersea Arts Centre - I propose yous re-create that tilt out in addition to post it somewhere yous tin give the axe run across it every twenty-four lx minutes menstruum until yous attend your heat!
  
  

  The Shortlist in addition to Heat Winner

  
  

  The Shortlist

  
  The Judges chose ii professionals in addition to an amateur who is a graduate of fine fine art who aspires to paradigm total fourth dimension - listed hither inwards alphabetical order:
  

  • Ellie Preston
  • Salvatore Fullam
  • Emil Nikolla

  I liked Rosso Porto's paradigm - but I'm guessing she was competing alongside Emil for a identify on the shortlist.
  
  I recall Sarah Gibson's was on its way. However I'm really firmly of the persuasion that she should have got been working on a much smaller format if she was going to exit thence much of the sheet untouched. It simply leaves it looking  equally if it comes into the category of "nice paradigm but should have got tried harder". It's insubstantial.  This is non a preliminary written report in addition to you're going to pigment to a greater extent than afterwards - this is it - yous MUST endeavor in addition to scope a finished paradigm - equally all the shortlisted artists did.
  
  The chap using watercolour had got a skilful likeness inwards the drawing but was nowhere nigh finished inwards damage of painting. It's a lesson inwards what happens if yous don't practice.
  
  I recall Salvatore got shortlisted inwards business office because of
  

  • his self-portrait where he painted himself top to toe alongside wearable in addition to peel in addition to hands! (see my betoken before nigh clothing)
  • the fact he painted a body in addition to got the likeness of the private through posture 
  • finished his estrus paradigm (i.e. all sheet covered!)

  

  Self portrait in addition to estrus portrait past times Salvatore Fullam

  
  

  

  Self portrait in addition to estrus portrait past times Ellie Preston

  
  I'm non that keen on the portrait of Sophie Ellis Bextor - but Ellie likely had the worst seat for paradigm somebody who has such a really rigid in addition to angular jaw line. I idea it was a ameliorate paradigm for the actual laying on of pigment rather than the likeness. However I liked the self-portrait a lot in addition to idea that was really good.
  
  
  

  

  Self portrait in addition to estrus portrait past times Emil Nikolla

  These await similar portraits past times a mature painter who has been paradigm people for a long time. This is a human being who has worked at his paradigm in addition to has got results. His are also the most naturalistic paintings of all those who painted this week.
  

  
  

  He's the variety of chap yous committee to do a portrait in addition to you'd know inwards advance you'd acquire a portrait that genuinely looked similar the somebody - in addition to that yous in addition to the sitter volition never always live on disappointed.

  
  

  I recall those people inwards southward E London who have got the chance to do classes alongside Emil are really lucky!
  

  
  

  The Final Decision

  
  

  

  Waiting to hear the Final Decision

  
  

  Episode 6 Winner

  
  The Judges chose Emil Nikolla equally the Heat Winner. 
  
  

  

  Add caption

  
  This is the video of him paradigm the Heat Portrait speeded up
  
  
  EMIL NIKOLLA: Time-lapse paradigm on Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year 2019 from N9 Design on Vimeo.
  
  

  and finally.....

  
  It may come upwards equally no surprise to yous that the actual heats are non televised inwards the fellowship they are filmed in. That's to brand certain they spread out the skilful ones in addition to the non do skilful ones
  
  I'm non proverb which episodes they cropped upwards inwards but ii of the finalists have got been identified equally Heat Winners inwards ii of Heats 1 to 6 - which way (big hint) - that the 3rd finalist comes from either Episode 7 or 8.
  
  We'll all honour out inwards 3 weeks fourth dimension - at the terminate of the semi-finals - after they have got identified the finalists.
  
  I'm soundless looking forwards to the betoken after the Final when I tin give the axe finally present yous what a Final genuinely looks like!
  
  
  

  More Learning Points re. Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year

  
  PLUS below are my weblog posts from in conclusion yr which contains lots of learning points nigh paradigm inwards this competitor for those aspiring to compete this year.
  
  
  

  Learning Points re the 2019 competition

  to Sky!

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