Katella, I also enjoyed the easiness between artist and sitter. You could see that quality in particular, with the painting she did of her betrothed. Wishing them both a blissful union.
I was so exited about Morag, but this portrait doesn't convince me at all. I don't see the person in it. All I thought was: That's not him. She didn't capture the warmth of his personality.
I don't think she captured ANYTHING about him, his warmth, his character his likeness , his generosity in not showing that he was in anyway disappointed, as I would think he must have been.
Need a change in judges. The caliber of artists they turned down in order to get an unfinished painting is mind blowing. Yes she has talent to paint caricature etc. This is unfinished and doesn’t look like him. Not surprised with these upity judges that would rather talk word salad than to find the best artist. This guy should be mad at this painting but he will continue to be nice.
Was disappointed in the portrait, didn't do him justice in ANY WAY, he was a perfect gentleman about it but I think he must have been disappointed. I don't know what it is that the judges saw in her work, I thought there were several more deserving artists that would have done a much better portrait. Is it that the judges are part of the production so can't be replaced ? I LIKE the judges but am generally not happy with their choices, different judges would be appreciated.
I am a retired illustrator, mainly fsshion. In art school i saw countless life drawings that were approached without anchoring the figure via a chair, box etc. The judges spoke as if this was some mind blowing technique. They were all fine drawings with the exception of all of the likenesses. But that all they were in my opinion. The artist couldn't be any lovlier but i think she may have been a victim of hype.
She was not ready yet. Sorry bur this was not a good decision by the judges. They hyped her but she could not deliver a portrait with enough likeness. And that's on the judges!
Morag seems like a nice person and pleasant to interact with, but inevitably unable to create a portrait with any likeness. Ok for gallery shows, but not to document and portray someone to share with future generations who visit the museum.
I don't want to sound mean, but I would classify this as an intermediate student painting. It's flat, lifeless, and the likeness isn't there. I could excuse it, had she painted it in the four hour competition, but she had weeks to create this. It's so disappointing. I'd love to be a fly on the wall to hear other people's opinion at the unveiling.
The poor girl. Everyone is politely congratulatory but I think she’s well aware that she wasn’t equal to the task! The three stooges have egg on their faces and spout even more word salad than usual 🤢
Every study portrait she did didn’t have a face. And the actual portrait doesn’t look like him at all. Just like her other portraits. She might as well of left the face off again.
To paint a portrait isn’t always about capturing likeness. Sometimes it’s about the essence of a person. It’s hard for me to understand why others can’t understand that concept. Art is not constrained that way.
@@8nin827 I saw NOTHING of that interesting man in that portrait. It could have been. ANYONE, it certainly bore no likeness to the vibrant man she was painting.
I came here to see comments thinking, is it just me? I couldn't believe the superb artists who were passed over for this one...her portraits all look out of context to me - human forms floating in air; they say nothing at all about the subject. Seems she's avoiding faces & backgrounds. They look like the quick drawings we did in high school commercial art class. That's her style, fine, but I don't think it's of the caliber for a prestigious gallery.
What an amazing portrait. Lenny looks like he’s deep in thought, thinking about his next project. Next time I’m in London I will definitely be going to the Portrait Gallery to see it for myself.
Morag said she's "been taking it easy" because she obviously doesn't seem to be concerned with perfecting any technique to give a little more recognizability to her portrait of him. She should have been sketching and photographing as much as possible
This person is selfless. He is like a mirror, he reflects the other person and gives this person what he is of himself . Or gives what the other person aspires for, without any additional action, it comes from a platform of comfort
As I saw Morag's first portrait some time ago. I thought she is something wonderful. All her portraits are magnificent. Wow ! Congratutations Morag. Such a sensitive, a bit timid artist of them all. ❤❤❤
It's strange how the judges sort of pushed Morag through. She's become like Shanjela on drag race...bringing her back as if they had something to gain in her winning. Did they buy some of her paintings and want them to increase in value? Are they friends outside of the show?
My grandma always said, " if you don't have anything good to say...", something good, hum... anything good . Well, she painted him sitting on a .... stick? At least he's not floating in the air.
The painting is good, but while I see Lenny’s posture, I don’t see his likeness in the portrait at all. I wouldn’t have recognized him. I think that a portrait has to look like the person to some degree, or it really isn’t a portrait.
@@CromeLF2 She is a fine artist and her pieces are intriguing. BUT She never gets the face right, not even in the piece about her boyfriend which indeed was her best piece in the show. Her pictures are studies in pose and clothes but for a piece for the National Portrait Gallery I'd want more. Every piece I saw from her looked unfinished regardless how much time she had for them. That's her style, and nothing wrong with that, I just don't think she was the best painter of the season. Her work reminds me of Egon Schiele a lot and I am not a fan of his work either so I might be biased of course. But we don't have to agree!
Morag comes across as such a gentle soul and her paintings reflect that. I just wish that she’d have had a more interesting and dynamic sitter than Lenny Henry as I have to admit that he doesn’t excite me. I love the way that there’s an enigmatic, almost sketchy quality about Morag’s work because of what she chooses to exclude rather than filling the whole of the canvas- she avoids overuse of technology and thus,her results are very pure leaving plenty of room for the imagination. I really loved her final piece and I hope she goes far in her chosen art.
@@janespond922 Maybe because many artists prefer to be free to choose their own subjects to paint and being expected to form an immediate bond and a chemistry with their sitter is not always going to happen and can be pretty overwhelming. Morag is quite obviously a shy, introverted character but that doesn’t get in the way of her sensitivity or ability to produce what are, in my opinion,beautiful portraits.
Thank You very mutch for this session. It was so nice to se the meetings of this two beautiful people and how well they where working together. The result was so different from ordinary portraits, but so great. Looking forward to following her and to see more of her work.❤
This confirms my opinion that the winner is chosen with the final commission in mind. As Sir Lenny says he likes her style particularly and they seem to get on, it would seem that the judges are actually looking for an appropriate artist.
Congrats to you, Morag Kester! I disagree with those that don't think you captured Lenny Henry's likeness. He so wanted you to capture the person he is when relaxed and at ease, not dominated by being entertaining and you did. As his sister Sharon relayed her thoughts that, you perfectly captured her brother Len, at home and relaxed, not Lenny the entertainer, ready to put on a show. I love the painting because you, Morag saw deeper than the surface person that the general public observes. You captured more than a likeness, you captured Len's essence, which is far harder.
Sad that there are so many comments who totaly dislike her work... l think she did quite good eve if she might not manage to get is absolute likness... Her style might not be to everyones taste and the jures might have been wrong in picking her, but this was their choice... We do not know if her sitter is really pleased or being polite BUT l think he was pleased and they had a kind of relationship... My thought was that she had done better paintings before, BUT she is young and that was her biggest challenge yet... l wish them all well and hope they all have a great future ahead of them. .. There are so many great artists in Britan l would find it hard to exclude so many in all these challenges, because so many of all the artists either selfttaught or professional are so good and talented in their own way... So to me there is anyway not the only one the winner... All the partisipants in these shows are winners to me... and many more yet unknown talents are out there...
@@almutstarke1344 she was commissioned to paint a PORTRAIT. PORTRAITS are supposed to be LIKENESSES of the subject. That's why they're called PORTRAIT PAINTINGS. Geez.
Very disappointing. When chosen , given her style , what did the judges expect. Don’t misunderstand, her artistic is admirable but not museum quality .
I got a title for this piece: This wallet is killing my ass.... That line by Lenny Henry was hilarious and I liked it way better than Morag's jaggedy outline which she focused way too much on so failed to see the extraordinary person sitting in front of her.... I feel bad for Lenny Henry because this portrait was a real disappointment and he could have been Truly Honored by any of the other highly talented artists who competed for this privilege....
It is absolutely him. But it is not only about likeness. It is capturing the person on so many levels. The Lenny Henry now. It is extraordinary. She is an extraordinary artist. The emphasis on artist, she is not just a painter.
What exactly did she capture on so many levels? This portrait tells us zero about the subject. It could be a guy sitting on a subway train or in the dentist's waiting room.
