Landscape Artist of the Year

This is an inspirational TV program that reveals a lot about art (and urban sketching).

I spend a bit of time watching videos on YouTube about painting and drawing. By chance, I found this TV program made by Sky Arts in the UK, and it is both engaging and compelling. Over the Christmas break, I found it on Binge, so I binged. For 7 or more years, Sky Arts has created an on location painting competition, 'Landscape Artist of the Year' for those so inclined like me, effectively urban sketching. There is also a portrait version which is equally fantastic.

https://www.skyartsartistoftheyear.tv/

Most competitors are oil or acrylic painters, although some use lino-cutting, pen and ink, pencil and charcoal amongst other media. The structure of the program follows a consistent sequence. There are 6 to 8 artists who arrive (in groups) at a remarkable urban or natural landscape. A couple of series included spectacular stately homes and gardens of the National Trust, including Fountains Abbey. The artists are given a covered deck to work on spread in a gentle arc looking at the view. They have 4 hours to complete an artwork.

There are three judges and two hosts, one if which is a comedian. The hosts and judges are all engaging and regularly talk to the competitors to see what they are doing and how they approach their work. These conversations are fascinating.

The judges make a shortlist of three and then one is selected to go to the semi-final. At the semi-final, there is a shortlist of three for the final and the winner is awarded a commission to paint a beautiful and remarkable place, like Snowdonia, or Venice. The standard is very high as each competitor is pretty accomplished. Most are professional artists.

One of the more interesting parts of the show is each heat also has 50 wildcard artists who set up in a field nearby. One of those is chosen each episode and after all the heats, one of the wild cards is given a place in the semi-final. While the main competitors are given elevated and sheltered work space, the wildcards need to battle the English weather and that can change form sun to wind, light and heavy rain within the four hours. This can be very entertaining and makes you admire the tenacity of the artist in all weather.

Talking about art practice

It is fascinating to hear the three judges and the comperes talk about artists and their work. There is a belief that each artist needs to have a defined style. In fact, the artist and their work is not really understood until they can pin down the style. They can spend some time to debate this. However, there is also a desire for the painter to take risks and show growth through the series, but not at the expense of their 'style'.

The 2019 winner was a young woman in her early twenties, Fujiko Rose. She is a very talented artist and already seems to have her style worked out with evocative ink drawings and shading with a clever use of masking fluid to get highlights. (see header image and https://www.fujikorose.co.uk/) I find this amazing as I am am almost three times her age and I am still looking for my style. https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/drawinginyourstyle-peter-richards/

In addition there is a belief that there is something about art the transcends the scene. Art needs to express something more, building emotion, atmosphere and texture, often with lines and colours that are not evident. They see that art is not (mere) illustration, but something more. (The word mere is used as a critique). I do have some sympathy with this view about art, but as an urban sketcher, I also find these ideas curious. The use of the word 'mere' strikes me as arrogant and dismissive. I work very hard to illustrate the place as I see it, without any 'artistic license.' I believe this is evident in the mission of urban sketching. I often say that what I do is sketching, (just mere illustration), and not art, but no-one agrees with me. Your work is art, they say.

Make your own conclusions by watching the show. It is great.