Sky Portrait Artist 2020 - the prep!

'Brass Neck' - oil on linen, self portrait, Julie Douglas

Self portraits aren't really my thing. But when you enter a competition, and they ask for a self portrait, there is no option... I only had two weeks to complete it so had to decide very quickly on a composition that might attract the judges eye, and work round the clock, between classes, to get it done. I used to play the Euphonium when I was at school and was borrowing one from a local brass band, so decided to get a few distortions going in...

I happily admit that when I got the phone call from Sky saying I had a got through to the televised heats, I was slightly in shock. Oh yes! Oh NO!!! The challenge is to paint a portrait in 4 hours, while being filmed constantly, with a live audience, and popping outside at regular intervals to be interviewed...

So I had about 6 weeks to practice painting portraits, in 10% of the time I would usually spend on a painting. I would like to thank everyone who so kindly modelled for me. Most sat for me in the studio, some let me take a reference photo. I really enjoyed the process and all the sitters ejoyed it too, saying they were surprised at how relaxing it was for them. I can't say it was 'relaxing' from my side of the easel, but I learnt a great deal. I managed to complete 15 speed-paintings before the programme was recorded, of David, David, Claire, Conor, Ben (three different ways!), Catherine, Rachel, Ken, Amanda, Alison, Rory, Clive and Jonny. You are all beautiful and much more beautiful than I managed to capture in the limited time available. Thank you so much.

Here are some of the practice ones - and yes, I ALWAYS did a drawing first, and included that in the 4 hour time limit. Each drawing took around 45 minutes, leaving me 3 hours 15 minutes to paint.

These 7 paintings were all completed over 5 days - bit of a marathon. 

Alison

Conor

Claire

Ben

           

David - I did paint David too, this was the prep drawing

Clive

David

Jonny

Amanda. Amanda was my first sitter, and she is a massive fan of the SKY portrait competition - consequently we laughed and talked too much! So once I got this far I had to chuck her out so I could get ON!!! Ahem. 

Amanda

Ken

I will write another post about the day of filming... 

For info on workshops with me at BARA studios, please emial julie@Juliedouglas.co.uk

Upcoming workshops include Friday Night Life drawing, portrait drawing, two week oils workshop in April 2020 and weekly classes. 

SKY Portrait Artist of the Year, 2020

SKY Portrait Artist of The Year is a much loved programme, a favourite with not only many of my students, but lots of my non-arty friends too. It's a delightful watch, and artists are not judged harshly, but encouraged (and cajoled) by the judges and presenters alike.

The set for filming Sky Portrait Artist of The Year. Who's that in the apron... and, who are those two ladies bottom right... And, who's that in the blue and yellow dress..? All very familiar, just sayin... (this photo is a screen shot from the trailer)

The challenge for artists is to try to complete a portrait in just four hours. Perhaps 'challenge' is the wrong word - 'madness' might be better! If you have never seen the programme, you can watch previous series on many different platforms, including Now TV, Netflix and Youtube. 

The 2020 series is about to start, with the first episode airing on Tuesday 21 January 2020. If you watch on Tuesday 28th January, you may see someone you recognise...! (or perhaps several people you recognise!)

I'm not allowed to say more now, but instead I will show you this painting, which was one of 15 practice paintings I did, to work out how to complete a head in just four hours. Considering that most of my artorks take around 40 hours, 4 hours is very short. 

Drawing and painting completed in 4 hours - a marathon

For info on workshops and weekly classes, please email julie@juliedouglas.co.uk

Upcoming workshops include Friday Night Life drawing, portrait drawing, and an oils week.

David Gray, still life workshop 1 - 5 September 2020 at BARA

I am delighted to announce that internationally renowned artist David Gray is returning to Belfast, in 2020, to deliver a still life oil painting workshop. David's paintings are exquisite, and he is a great teacher. His teaching style is exact, kind and thorough. He teaches all over America and Europe. 

In this workshop, David will take you step by step through the process he uses in creating his professional works. From the initial under-drawing through to final glazes, learn to build your painting in a series of layers that will help you effectively create an elegant and refined still life. 

Each phase of the process will be covered in detail. Daily demos will be given and you will apply the lessons on your own canvas. Personal attention will be given to each student.  

David Gray is an award winning oil painter known for his still life and human subject paintings rendered in a style reminiscent of the French Neoclassical painters Jacque-Louis David and his student Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres. 

Please join David for five days of intense study, of learning techniques and concepts for painting from life, as well as camaraderie, and hopefully a little fun, too.

This is how David presents his workshops, in his own words:

In my workshops I teach the application of the painting medium as I apply it in my own professional work. Though I strive to keep the class fun and upbeat, we move fast and cover a LOT of material in a short amount of time. Note taking is highly recommended. If you are totally new to oil painting this probably isn’t the class for you. It’s really going to benefit the student who has a fairly firm grasp of drawing and oil painting basics. If you are really new you will learn a lot, to be sure, but a lot of it will be over your head, too. I will teach principles as I demonstrate on my own piece. You will also have the opportunity (and be expected) to apply the lessons on your own painting.  Regardless of subject matter the schedule generally follows this sequence:

​

Day 1 — Underdrawing. I teach methods and thought processes of how to construct the underlying drawing of your subject on your painting support (your canvas or panel).

Day 2 -- Color Study and Underpainting. We will discuss some basic color theory and mixing. We will create a color poster study to help us work out our major color concerns before launching into our portrait. We will also apply a thin layer of oil color onto the drawing in preparation for day three.

Day 3 — Overpainting — This is the real business of painting where I show you how to paint your subject region by region; bringing each area to a finish before moving on. Among other things we will discuss paint handling, basic color mixing and turning form.

Day 4 — Glazing and Continuing the Overpainting. On this day I will show you how to glaze and make minor adjustments as necessary. We will also continue to work on the overpainting.

In addition students are encouraged to ask any other questions applicable to the art making process. In past workshops we have discussed other items such as: composition, how to take good photo reference material, the importance of drawing/painting from life, personal art making philosophy, and many other related topics.

You can see more of David's paintings at his website here; https://www.davidgrayart.com

Your host, Julie Douglas, has 25 years experience teaching drawing, painting, and illustration, and runs Belfast Academy of Realist Art (BARA), which offers termtime drawing and painting workshops, as well as year-round workshops with visiting artists, including Michael John Angel (founder of The Angel Academy of Art, Florence), David Gray, Paul Foxton and Colleen Barry. Julie is a combination of enthusiasm, Irish hospitality, and fun; she will welcome you warmly and think of everything you need before you do. If you've been looking for an arty guardian angel, you have found her! 

David's five-day workshop is fully tutored. The day runs from 10am - around 5pm with a break at lunch time. There are cafes and deli's nearby, and students may go out for their break or bring lunch to eat in the studio, which is large and roomy. Refreshments are provided. 

The BARA easels studio comfortably fits 16 students each with their own dedicated lighting, wall space, chair/stool, and shelves. The second studio has large tables for flat work, tracing and cutting, with space for students to eat as well as a comfy seating area ('the parlour').

Cost: £700 to include instruction, tea/coffee, and some materials. A list of materials will be sent upon booking.
Deposit of 50% is required upon booking to hold your place.

To book a place on David Gray''s workshop please email julie@juliedouglas.co.uk

Terms & Conditions:
A 50% non-refundable deposit is required to hold your place. Full payment must be received by 1st May 2020. If booking after 1st May, full payment is due at time of booking. 
Minimum number of students is 15.

COST: £700 to include instruction, tea/coffee and some materials. A list of materials will be sent upon booking a place. 

Not included:
Accommodation, flights, transport, and all other personal costs.  Fees are non-refundable unless the course is cancelled for any reason. 
If traveling, it is recommended that you take out insurance to cover costs in the unlikely event of cancellation etc. 
If necessary, we reserve the right to replace the tutor in an emergency. 

Materials. 

Details of accommodation near the studio will be provided upon booking. 


For booking information and all enquiries please email julie@juliedouglas.co.uk 

Belfast is a vibrant city with a warm, friendly atmosphere. If you are traveling for this course, you will find lots of things in the city to enjoy in the days before or after the workshop. 

https://www.discovernorthernireland.com/belfast/

Graphite study for portrait commission

I always like to do a pencil study before I start a final piece of artwork. It helps familiarise me with the subject, and when it's a commission, it allows the client to see what the finishes item will look like, and gives them the chance to alter things. When it's a portrait, this is the time to decide if the likeness is true (and that means true to how the client 'sees' that person, not how I see them). 

I decided to show the finished study first, then you can scroll down to see the stages in reverse! In this case I drew a map of the face, then worked tonally from the eyes outwards. 

The whole thing took around 10 hours. 

For info on classes or portrait commissions, please email julie@juliedouglas.co.uk

Rose Painting Workshop with Kathleen Speranza, Belfast, Northern Ireland, 9th - 13th June 2020

I am delighted to be hosting a Rose Painting Workshop by the esteemed artist Kathleen Speranza in June 2020.

Garden roses are some of the most beautiful forms of the botanical world. They have been cultivated for centuries and bear little resemblance to the stiff generic varieties that are commonly available. In this intensive workshop, painters will have an opportunity to study their complex geometry and exquisite colour subtlety. The course will include an indirect method of painting and the introduction of a specific limited palette. A brief slide lecture on the hostory of the genre will inspire us as we explore this timeless motif. Previous painting experience is encouraged. 

Kathleen Speranza is an artist with more than 30 years of painting and teaching experience. She maintains a studio in Lynn, Massachusetts where she lives, and teaches workshops around the world. Ms Speranza is also on the faculty at Rhode Island School of Design and teaches Painting and Drawing to sophomores in the Illustration Department there. You can see more of her beautiful work here: https://kathleensperanza.com


Your host, Julie Douglas, has 25 years experience teaching drawing, painting, and illustration, and runs Belfast Academy of Realist Art (BARA), which offers termtime drawing and painting workshops, as well as year-round workshops with visiting artists, including Michael John Angel (founder of The Angel Academy of Art, Florence), David Gray, Paul Foxton and Colleen Barry. Julie is a combination of enthusiasm, Irish hospitality, and fun; she will welcome you warmly and think of everything you need before you do. If you've been looking for an arty guardian angel, you have found her!


This five-day workshop is fully tutored. The day runs from 10am - around 5pm with a break at lunch time. There are cafes and deli's nearby, and students may go out for their break or bring lunch to eat in the studio, which is large and roomy. Refreshments are provided. 

The BARA easels studio comfortably fits 16 students each with their own dedicated lighting, wall space, chair/stool, and shelves. The second studio has large tables for flat work, tracing and cutting, with space for students to eat as well as a comfy seating area ('the parlour').

Cost: £700 to include instruction, tea/coffee, and some materials. A list of materials will be sent upon booking.
Deposit of 50% is required upon booking to hold your place.

To book a place on Kathleen Speranza's workshop please email julie@juliedouglas.co.uk

Terms & Conditions:
A 50% non-refundable deposit is required to hold your place. Full payment must be received by 1st May 2020. If booking after 1st May, full payment is due at time of booking. 
Minimum number of students is 15.

COST: £700 to include instruction, tea/coffee and some materials. A list of materials will be sent upon booking a place. 

Not included:
Accommodation, flights, transport, and all other personal costs.  Fees are non-refundable unless the course is cancelled for any reason. 
If traveling, it is recommended that you take out insurance to cover costs in the unlikely event of cancellation etc. 
If necessary, we reserve the right to replace the tutor in an emergency. 

Details of accommodation near the studio will be provided upon booking. 


For booking information and all enquiries please email julie@juliedouglas.co.uk 

Belfast is a vibrant city with a warm, friendly atmosphere. If you are traveling for this course, you will find lots of things in the city to enjoy in the days before or after the workshop. 

https://www.discovernorthernireland.com/belfast/

New season, new YOU!

Summer is always very busy in the studio, with week-long and two-week-long workshops allowing students the opportunity to attend a more intensive class. Great fun. In August I held a Drawing and Oils workshop, which was folowed by two weeks with Maestro M John Angel, from the Angel Academy of art, Florence, teaching methods of the Old Masters.

Maestro, M John Angel, during one of his demonstrations at BARA

September sees the new academic term, and I am taking bookings for my regular weekly classes. These will resume mid September and I have some spaces available. The times are:

Tuesday mornings (10.30 - 1pm)Wednesday 11.30 - 2pm, Wednesday evening 7.30 - 10pm Thursday 10.30 - 2.30 and Thursday evening 7.30 - 10pm. 

Lovely little oil study by student May during the oils workshop

If you have booked a place already, you do not need to contact me, your place is reserved.

I will be resuming Friday Night Life on 20th and 27th September. These sessions are one-offs but must be booked in advance. 
If you have been meaning to commit to regular classes, I encourage you to jump in and join a class. They are friendly, challenging and designed to help you improve very quickly. 

Gennie, with a little paint on herself! 

For all info please email julie@juliedouglas.co.uk 

Drawings of skulls, student artworks.

When two of your students tell you they have a collection of skulls at home, the sun comes out, and you ask very nicely if you can borrow them...

Strong and dramatic as a subject, they are interesting to draw and provide great shapes and negative spaces.

Marie, work in progress

Marina using charcoal for the first time! 

Marina's lovely drawing, completed

Lesley's drawing, with a touch of white coloured pencil on the brightest areas

Rosejane's drawing - this was a very small skull and a lovely study. 

Marie's drawing complete after two sessions. Wonderful!

Back row: Edel, Eve, Ann, Cathy, Lesley, Rosejane and Julie.
Seated: Ciara and Marie

Upcoming workshops: Weekly classes resume in September as well as Friday Night Life drawing classes. For info please email julie@juliedouglas.co.uk

All classes are held in Belfast Academy of Realist Art studios.

Portrait commission, graphite.

'Ben', size A3, graphite. 

I have just finished this portrait commission - the first of several commissions on my list. I have a portrait workshop coming up on 22 - 26th July. Please email for info julie@juliedouglas.co.uk

Portrait drawing and colour study, 'Christie, graphite pencil.

One of the most important parts of my painitng practice is the preparatory drawing stage. If I skip this  step and go straight to paint, I am always sorry. And in many instances I will put the painting on hold, and complete a drawing study before returning to the painting. 

Why would you bother?? Because 'drawing' is 'information gathering'. 'Drawing' is familiarising your eye with the subject, both in shapes and in tonal variations, and on a subconscious level it helps you make ALL the decisions that you will have to make during the painting stage - but minus the colour. The better your drawing, the better your painting will be. Bearing in mind the millions of decisions being taken while producing a painting or drawing, it is NOT quicker to sidestep the drawing stage. Instead, it is more painful, as all the decisions are being made at once. 

These photos show stages of my drawing of my son Christie. A very handsome fellow, I know! 

The drawing took many hours over several weeks. The fabric took the longest time! I drew using 2H, and F pencils, on A3 cartridge paper. The next stage is the colour study, and this is the BEST fun! 

The point of a colour study is just that - it's not a mimiature version of the final artwork. This little painting, around 6 inches x 3 inches, took about 45 minutes of blobby heaven, and is much more detrailed than need be. I showed it to Christie, who thought he looked like he'd been stung by lots of Bees. Well, perish that thought! This is straight to paint, no drawing, just mixing colour and setting it down, keeping planes clean, and separate from each other. 

With all that preparation I am sorry to say that I have started the final painting twice, which is one time too many!! I oredered linen, but it was thickly toothy and I didn't like it. I put down an under layer, which took about 3 hours, but decided to stop. It's so much better to listen to your own gut - and quicker to start again early in the proceedings, than torture yourself for days before conceding. 

Upcoming workshops- portrait drawing and painting 22 - 26 July

Oil painting 22 - 26 August

Life Drawing Friday evening 19 July

Life Drawing weekend - Fri 26 & Sat 27 July

For info email julie@juliedouglas.co.uk

Friday Night Life, BARA Belfast.

Students at work while Jeff poses

It's not every day that models come along in two's, but tha'ts exactly what happens with Jeff and Debbie! This lovely couple have been life modelling for ages, and are great to work with. Based in central Ireland, they travel all over the place to model for artist and students.

Lovely study by Sarah M

 They came to BARA for the first time in May, and we drew Jeff, and Debbie joined in with the class to do some drawing, for the first time ever! (She is second from the right in the top photo)

A selection of student's drawings 

Wonderful colourful chalk studies by CMW - these are always the envy of the studio!

 The second visit later in May was Debbie's turn to model, see some drawings above and below.

A snap of some of the class, with Debbie bottom left

 I'm delighted that they will be returning in July. If you are looking for a model (or two!) lifemodelsireland.blogspot.com

 they can be contacted via their blog

Friday 19th July 6 - 8pm, drawing Jeff.

Friday 26th July 6 - 8pm and Saturday 27th July 10 - 4pm Drawing Debbie.

For more info email julie@juliedougals.co.uk