Visit to The National Portrait Gallery

Dame Edith Evans (Dame Edith Mary Booth)by Henry Glintenkampoil on canvas, 192232 in. x 26 1/8 in. (813 mm x 662 mm)

David Hockney ('Self-Portrait with Charlie')by David Hockneyoil on canvas, 200572 in. x 36 in. (1829 mm x 914 mm)

Mike Leighby Stuart Pearson Wrightoil on canvas, 200328 in. x 19 7/8 in. (710 mm x 506 mm)

A study of a portrait painting

Doris Zinkeisenby Doris Clare Zinkeisenoil on canvas, exhibited 192942 1/4 in. x 34 1/8 in. (1072 mm x 866 mm)

This was my favourite painting at the National gallery. It was in the interwar room between the contemporary art collection and the Victorian collection thus making it easier to compare against the two styles: modern and archaic . Unlike the Victorian work this portrait had a much more relaxed composition and uses bold colours in the foreground to stand out and catch the attention of the viewer, this is similar to the more contemporary section of the gallery and so the painting can be seen as a mark displaying the progression of art into the ‘modern’ era. I particularly like the large pattern on the kimono and is the first thing noticed when you look at the painting. it is a clear symbol of the art deco period it was painted in.

Self portraits Geoffrey Beasley undertook a BA in fine art at Ravensbourne college of art and design and went to study at the Royal Academy Schools and Nottingham Trent University. The portrait is of the artists son, who while living with his parents, was able to pose throughout the creation of this painting which is made from life. Beasley has painted both his sons, finding it easier to achieve a level of intimacy with them than other models.

This painting uses a variety of muted colours, especially greys to create a sense of calm and tranquillity. This was one of the main reasons I liked it as well as the simplicity of it, allowing the viewer to look closely at the various tones making up the face, creating shadow and a sense of three dimensionality. I decided to create my self portraits in this style so that I could work closely on the tones of the face.

Eddy in the morning by Geoffrey BeasleyOil on canvas

Project Evaluation I found this project extremely challenging as I do not often enjoy painting, particularly portraits, or working on canvas due to a lack of experience. I felt that I would have struggled less had the brief

been to draw using pencil, pen or charcoal. However the project did allow me to develop my painting skills through observational painting and also by conducting a series of studies. I am most pleased

with the studies as I had to mix colours in order to copy the original, and this has been useful practise as sometimes I do not mix colours correctly. I took a while developing my self portrait, I found it

extremely difficult to mix the colours that made up the face and all the different tone sit took to make it appear three dimensional and have depth and so it took me several attempts to paint the faces of

both portraits. If I had to re-do the project I think that perhaps I would have picked the style of another artist, such as one whose portrait I copied , as I feel that the studies I conducted had more

colour an pattern expressing the style of the artist as well as reflecting on the personality of the sitter. I think that I still need to improve in my painting to try and find mu own style as I am not able to paint

realistically and so I would like to attempt a more abstract way of creating a portrait using the same media.