ucs

I have been looking at the British Portrait Awards. Looking through one of their exhibition brochures…I once again became fascinated by the differences in style and approach by the various artists. I was particularly impressed by Charlotte Harris…who went on to win the prestigious first prize. As the foreward for the exhibition catalog says “How do we judge a good portrait? By the likeness? By its technique? By the interest and richness of the painted surface? By a telling pose? It goes on to say…”Why, in the age of photography, film and digital images, are we still interested in painted portraits? …Our interest in the difference between photograph’s and paintings is the fascination with the different means of exciting recognition. What distinguishes painting from photography as a record of recognition it the artists personal choice of notation of their observation- and the arrangement of the marks with which they record it”I have done another portrait of the ‘ Man in a Blue Hat’…faces keep pulling me back..and perhaps I should accept that portraiture for now…is my motivation.