Thursday 11 April 2019

Portrait painting.



This new portrait of Prince Charles has just recently been unveiled. I like it; he looks relaxed and reasonably wise. It flatters just enough. I'd like to be able to paint as well as this.

The work is by Irish painter Gareth Reid, a good 'safe pair of hands' in the world of portraiture. Reid studied in Ireland, Scotland, and Italy, and now works in Glasgow. Below is another of his works, a simple charcoal sketch of a woman.


I admire hugely the work of such people, and would have liked to have studied portraiture myself. I have, of course, painted plenty of portraits, but would never consider myself a 'portrait painter'.

My own favourite portrait was of the wife of a good friend; unfortunately I have no photo of it, just of the rough preparatory sketch (below). A couple of years after the painting was delivered to the client, it was stolen and has not been seen since.
                                             

Reid's charcoal sketch reminded me of my 'difficult' sitter. I wonder where her portrait is now?

26 comments:

  1. I do like the portrait of Prince Charles.

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    1. Much better than many of the more formal, and stiff, official portraits. He looks quite relaxed in this one.

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  2. A wonderful talent. As a traditional draftsman I produced very good technical drawings, but the creative spark always eluded me.

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    1. Technical drawing is an art in itself. Most 'daubers' wouldn't have a clue!

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  3. I really like the portrait of Prince Charles ..... I think that Reid has really captured him as he is today. I like the other two as well. Do you watch Portrait Artist of the Year Cro ? XXXX

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    1. I haven't heard of that; it sounds either fun or dreadful. I'll look out for it.

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    2. I love it but I’m not an artist ! It’s on Sky Arts on a Tuesday evening. Hosted by Joan Bakewell and Stephen Mangan. Judges are Tai-Shan Schierenberg, Kate Bryan and Kathleen Spriano. It’s filmed at The Wallace Collection and the artists have famous people as their sitters. I think this is about the seventh series now. They also do Landscape Artist of the Year. The prize is a £10,000 commission of someone famous which, when completed, is hung in a famous gallery relative to the sitter. The competitors are a mixture of professional and really good amateur artists. I think that you would like it. XXXX

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    3. Unfortunately I don't have Sky Arts, but I have seen a programme about landscape painting with amateurs, which wasn't very inspirational. I think it was on BBC.

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    4. This one is in a different league I think !!!!!! Shame you can’t get it. XXXX

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  4. The portrait of the Prince is quite flattering. Preferable to those formal photos where he looks rather pompass.
    Delightful post yesterday about Billy and your mornings together by the way.

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    1. It's a nice relaxed look at him, and sitting in a Lloyd Loom chair too.

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  5. I think it is difficult to not make boring portraits. I suppose it is a big risk in portraiture. Just over the road from me there are several huge Gainsborough portraits. He was good!. I think the master was Velazquez. He captured the innermost character.

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    1. This is why I admire 'good' portrait painters. It's so difficult doing a decent job.

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  6. I find the background landscape a bit weird.

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    1. I imagine it's some topiary at Highgrove.

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    2. Gainsborough didn't give a fuck about backgrounds. If you look closely you think you need glasses.

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  7. I like this portrait of Prince Charles very much. The painter has, for me at any rate, captured something of his inner character - not always evident in portraits.
    Did you see the BBC programme on Sean Scully? I would be interested to hear what you thought both of the programme and the painter and his work.

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    1. No, I didn't see it. Rachel wrote about him recently (after the programme). I do like his work, and I also like his work ethic. I did make a comment on Rachel's page about the size of his work, which is important.

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  8. Charles' eyes annoy me. They are too close set, attract my immediate attention, and I think 'piggy eyes'. This portrait completely overrides that problem, and the man looks fit to be the king of England.

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    1. A portrait should always flatter; but not too much.

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  9. Yes I like the Charles portrait
    Do you watch the best portrait painter on the tv? Like bake off with oils... very good

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    1. No, I think it's on a channel that I don't receive. Pity.

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  10. I like the painting very much and wish I could paint like this. I am a flat design artist. I am ver intrigued by the background. I love it just interesting enough not to over power the subject.

    cheers, parsnip

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    1. It's a good overall painting, as well as a good portrait. Just what one wants.

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  11. It flatters enough...but it has his hands right..quite important

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