Duncan Shoosmith
Artists & Illustrators|September 2019

The newly-crowned Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year opens up about his unlikely passage into portraiture and why painting Sir Tom Jones is not unusual. Interview: RACHAEL FUNNELL

Duncan Shoosmith
Why did you enter Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Year?

I had never watched the TV show and I didn’t really know what I was getting in to, but my godson is a big fan and he nagged me to enter. I didn’t think it would come to anything – I thought that I’d be rejected before the filmed rounds.

What were the benefits of entering the competition?

Well, the obvious benefit is exposure. Suddenly, after winning the competition, thousands of complete strangers knew something of my work. Exposure is very important for artists trying to get commissions. There are a lot of people out there who would like to buy or commission a piece of art, but who are either unaware of how to go about it or haven’t found an artist whose style they like. Programmes such as Portrait Artist of the Year act like creative menus for anyone looking to get a portrait painted.

What did you learn from the experience?

Comfort zones are well and truly smashed on the programme, as every aspect of your practice is scrutinised, filmed and interrupted. I came out the other end a better painter. The process, stress and restraints of the series made me cut some of the chaff from my technique and I became a less ponderous painter as a result.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة September 2019 من Artists & Illustrators.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة September 2019 من Artists & Illustrators.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

المزيد من القصص من ARTISTS & ILLUSTRATORS مشاهدة الكل
Still life IN 3 HOURS
Artists & Illustrators

Still life IN 3 HOURS

Former BP Portrait Award runner-up FELICIA FORTE guides you through a simple, structured approach to painting alla prima that tackles dark, average and light colours in turn

time-read
5 mins  |
March 2022
Movement in composition
Artists & Illustrators

Movement in composition

Through an analysis of three masterworks, landscape painter and noted author MITCHELL ALBALA shows how you can animate landscape composition with movement

time-read
6 mins  |
March 2022
Shane Berkery
Artists & Illustrators

Shane Berkery

The Irish-Japanese artist talks to REBECCA BRADBURY about the innovative concepts and original colour combinations he brings to his figurative oil paintings from his Dublin garden studio

time-read
7 mins  |
March 2022
The Working Artist
Artists & Illustrators

The Working Artist

Something old, something new... Our columnist LAURA BOSWELL has expert advice for balancing fresh ideas with completing half-finished work

time-read
2 mins  |
March 2022
Washes AND GLAZES
Artists & Illustrators

Washes AND GLAZES

Art Academy’s ROB PEPPER introduces an in-depth guide to incorporating various techniques into your next masterpiece. Artwork by STAN MILLER, CHRIS ROBINSON and MICHELE ILLING

time-read
7 mins  |
March 2022
Hands
Artists & Illustrators

Hands

LAURA SMITH continues her new four-part series, which encourages you to draw elements of old master paintings, and this month’s focus is on capturing hands

time-read
7 mins  |
March 2022
Vincent van Gogh
Artists & Illustrators

Vincent van Gogh

To celebrate The Courtauld’s forthcoming landmark display of the troubled Dutch master’s self-portraits, STEVE PILL looks at the stories behind 10 of the most dramatic works on display

time-read
6 mins  |
March 2022
BRING THE drama
Artists & Illustrators

BRING THE drama

Join international watercolour maestro ALVARO CASTAGNET in London’s West End to paint a dramatic street scene

time-read
7 mins  |
March 2022
Serena Rowe
Artists & Illustrators

Serena Rowe

The Scottish painter tells STEVE PILL why time is precious, why emotional responses to colour are useful, and how she finds focus every day with the help of her studio wall

time-read
8 mins  |
March 2022
Bill Jacklin
Artists & Illustrators

Bill Jacklin

Chatting over Zoom as he recovers from appendicitis, the Royal Academician tells STEVE PILL about classic scrapes in New York and his recent experiments with illustration

time-read
8 mins  |
March 2022