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Painters-Online Team

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Is anyone watching this series on Channel 5? What do you think of it so far?

Alan Bickley

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I’ve watched one episode a week or so ago. I wasn’t overly impressed generally, I thought that the standard of work, even after taking into consideration that they’re all amateur artists, was slightly below par!

Colin Berwick

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I'd like a bit more about painting and a lot less of the presenter.  Do we need to have repeated ad nauseam the age and background of the painters and the same clip of them 'doing their thing' at home?   It simply wastes time which could be better spent (for the viewer) exploring style and technique  It's interesting to see the different results they achieve, but I'd like to know more about what they 'see' and feel, and how they translate it into marks on paper.  And why make it a contest, other than to introduce unnecessary tension for the viewer? 'And this week's winner is.......' Dramatic pause!  Art is subjective and whilst I liked several of the paintings. I didn't always agree with the expert's choice. Fair enough.  But watching the first week, I was left with the feeling that as 'so and so' won yesterday, it's someone else's turn today.  Sadly, for me, it is just another wallpaper programme along the lines of Bake Off, Sew Off, Master Cook Off, Pot Off etc.  And of course, everything is 'Amazing!' 5 out of 10.   Sorry.

Denise Cat

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I watch it for the first time yesterday evening, I'm an amateur and I know 3 hours isn't a long time and even taking into consideration the pressure of TV, I totally agree with Alan. If I couldn't produce something I was happy with, I would rip it up in front of the cameras, oh the drama.

Linda Drury

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 I totally agree with Alan and Colin, I also think 3 hours is quite long enough for a watercolour, not watched all of them but the Goatland railway I watched last night, what was that girl doing? How she has a fine art degree beats me!!
With Sarah, Phil, Ellen, Rose the dentist, and the granddaughter whose name I forget.

Robert Jones, NAPA

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Haven't watched it - I realize that television has certain requirements to make it interesting to the average viewer, and just showing people painting isn't quite the thrill for most people that one might hope; but I do not like competitions - whether for baking or for painting.  We all know that a painting either works or it doesn't - just as a soufflé can rise or fall - so the idea that one of these competitors will emerge as the best, or even really needs to, isn't realistic. Still, if it gives a few hopeful artists a boost - as I know similar programmes have - and maybe launches them on a career, is a good thing: for them, at least: just a pity about the "losers". Fine arts degrees, Linda - well, I haven't got one, and I could be a touch sour-grapey about it: but I don't think they mean, frankly, anything. 

Norrette Moore

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I watched the Goathland one and have set to record the others.  I agree with most comments above, it was becoming cringeworthy when I could hear the presenter scrabbling for some words to pad out the time. In some ways they are too kind to the artists in the early stages,  with watercolour you have to commit early on, its difficult to receive criticism once you've passed the point of no return. (No mention of "to gouache or not to gouache" with respect to the steam) A section on sketching would be good and transferring that to the intended paper.  Noticed they all used pans and not tubes, and quite a range of colours. However, I agreed with the final choice. Which I do with only about 70% of the SkyArts Landscape series. Better critics on there imho.

Frank Bingley

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I have recorded the series, but haven’t watched any yet, and this conversation has got me inquisitive, so I’ll have a look. I’m just hoping that this programme is not another of those that keep having recaps to pad out the programme, meaning that we get to see the same clips over and over. Portrait Artist of the Year on the other hand was exceptionally good, though I didn’t always agree with the judges, who seemed to me to favour lack lustre work and gimmicks.