My Domestika Course!
In November 2022, my Domestika course – ‘Portrait Painting with Oil: Explore Light and Shade’ – was launched. In it I share my method for painting oil portraits from scratch. You can learn how to create vibrant artwork, using color and value mixing techniques. You can also learn to paint the likeness of your subject by experimenting with light and shade. Click on the image below to find out more and to purchase.
The CBPP Exhibition 2022
It was a great honour to have work included in the Contemporary British Portrait Painting Exhibition 2022. I had sixteen of my 100 Head paintings on display as well as my ‘Seventies Self-Portrait’. The exhibition ran from 11-18 June 2022 and was Downstairs at the Department Store, Brixton, London. Here is a description of the exhibition written by the organisers:
“The CBPP collective are proud to share this major new exhibition of work from some of the most recognisable and cutting-edge names in contemporary portraiture. Our group, founded in 2018 offers a platform for the mutual support and promotion of artists. We are proud to live in an era where painted likenesses are no longer the exclusive preserve of the wealthy or privileged. Our show proves that portraiture can reflect all aspects of society, expressing diversity, vibrance and shared community.”
One Hundred Heads Exhibition 2022
Starting on Monday 13th September 2021, I began a portrait painting project called ‘One Hundred Heads’. I completed all one hundred portraits within six months and you can now view them all here on my website! The portraits are all painted on 20cm x 20cm stretched canvas – or canvas board – and depict a variety of different faces/heads. The majority of the portraits are for sale at £500 each. This price is for the original oil painting plus a bespoke, solid wood black frame. Signed Giclee Prints are also available for £50 each. Click on the Paintings/Prints for Sale link if you’re interested in purchasing.
From 19th June until 2nd July 2022, I had an exhibition of all 100 portraits at the Art Space, Cass Art, Islington, London. It was great to be able to see all the pieces together on the walls and I had lots of visitors and positive comments. Thanks to everyone who helped set up the exhibition and who came along to see me and of course the work!
Portrait Artist of the Year 2021
I appeared on Episode 8 of ‘Portrait Artist of the Year 2021’ and I painted Ian Hislop! Unfortunately I didn’t get through to the semi-final but Ian chose my painting to take home and I was shortlisted by the judges to be in the final three artists of the Heat!
The series started on 13th October 2021 and was available to view for free to anyone in the UK on Sky Arts (Freeview Channel 11 or Freesat Channel 147). It is also streamed on NOW TV in the UK – and I believe it can be viewed in other countries via Apple TV.
I was so excited – and a little nervous – when I received the phone call telling me I’d been selected back in February. The day of filming the Heat was in April and it was such a great experience. Due to Covid restrictions there was no audience as such – but there seemed to be plenty of people watching as you paint…judges/presenters, camera/sound operators, production team, other artists etc. It was a 12-hour day in total as there were lots of times when you had to be filmed or interviewed – however, we really did only have a total of four hours to paint our sitter.
Since appearing on the show, I’ve had such a huge amount of positive responses about my work and some great feedback about the show. I’ve also had a lot of requests for commissions! There was a great review of the episode on the ‘Making a Mark’ Art blog by Katherine Tyrrell. (Thanks Katherine!)
’Meet the Artist’ – Painting Live!
On Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th December 2021 I will be painting ‘live’ at Cass Art Islington, London. If you are interested in meeting me and watching me paint, then do come along! I will be there from 12-2pm and then from 3-5pm on both days.
Click on the image below to find out more!
Rosemary & Co Brushes
I’ve been a fan of Rosemary & Co Brushes for some time and I’ve been recommending them to others because I think they not only hold the paint really well but they also keep their shape perfectly and – if cared for properly – can last for many months (if not years!)
They have recently launched an affiliate programme and have accepted me as an affiliate, which means that if you purchase anything from them after following a link that has my affiliate code in (like the banner shown on this page) then I will receive a small commission.
So if you want to buy the brush that I use for just about everything – the Ivory Short Flat – and help me out at the same time, then you can just click here and make your purchase! (I use the Size 2/0 for the drawing stage and then Sizes 2, 4 and 6 for the painting stages. I would also recommend the long handle). If you can only afford one brush – then just buy Size 4 😉
Don’t forget to enter the code JANEFRENCHARTIST – where prompted – when checking out!
In case you’re wondering, they ship internationally!
Portraits in Isolation
I’m showing three portraits painted during lockdown at the Contemporary British Portrait Painters’ group show ‘Portraits in Isolation’ at the Old Fire Station in Oxford. This is a very unusual show in that it will hang in an empty gallery for only one visitor. ‘Portraits in Isolation’ reflects the physical and emotional distance placed between us in Lockdown. BBC Arts correspondent, Will Gompertz will be the sole attendee and will present the show by video tour. It is available to view virtually from 31st March 2021.
Royal Society of Portrait Painters Annual Exhibition 2020
My portrait of Mark Gatiss was selected to be part of the Royal Society of Portrait Painters Annual Exhibition 2020 – at the Mall Galleries, London from 16th to 26th September 2020.
I met with Mark late last year to discuss the possibility of a portrait. I wanted to include some sort of narrative and after a number of considerations, we agreed that it would be interesting to pay homage to John Minton. In 2018, Mark made a documentary about Minton (1917-57) because he has a fascination for both his life and work. One of his favourite pieces was a painting of the art critic, Neville Wallis, sitting looking at an artwork and surrounded by other works and images. It is available to view at Brighton Museum and Art Gallery.
My painting is inspired by the painting of Neville Wallis. Mark is peering at a self portrait by Minton and is surrounded by a selection of images that are relevant to him or that refer to his other interests. Mark very generously provided me with postcards or prints that were special to him. He handed over a bundle of items (not all of which I used) and one of them was a postcard of an early work by Rembrandt – ‘The Anatomy Lesson of Dr Nicolaes Tulp’ (1632). I particularly like Rembrandt’s paintings and so decided to feature this one quite prominently in my portrait. There are a total of twenty-four portraits in this painting of Mark!
Portraits for NHS Heroes
In March 2020 the government locked the country down to restrict the spread of Covid-19. Fellow portrait artist, Tom Croft, made an announcement on Instagram that he would like to paint a free portrait to the first NHS Key Worker that contacted him. He also suggested that other portrait artists might like to offer one too. Jane completed three NHS portraits in total. Her portrait of Jo Habben was included in a virtual exhibition organised by The Net Gallery displayed at the Fitzrovia Chapel, London – and, it has also been featured on the front cover of a book published by Bloomsbury – now available to order!
Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Week
During the Covid-19 lockdown in April and May 2020, Jane joined in with the Sky Arts Portrait Artist of the Week #PAOTY project. Every Sunday morning for nine weeks, a celebrity sitter posed for four hours whilst artists all over the world had a go at painting them.
