Hiya from Wiltshire, UK
 

Hello all.

My name's Nic, or Nicola, and I'm originally from Wales, but now live in a village called Wootton Bassett in Swindon.

I went to art school, and did a degree in Fine Arts, and then after that I stopped painting for a while. It wasn't the kind of course where you're taught how to use materials, but thankfully did have some life drawing classes.

I started painting again about three years ago, and find people the most interesting things to paint, and after giving my work a good going over, could see that I really need to improve it, colour-wise, paint handling, you name it.

I've read a great many posts already in this forum and I am amazed at the stuff I've learned just from doing that.I've also ditched cadmiums after reading Mr Mattelsons post on it, and found it to be a great help in getting a good skin tone (although I had already painted the portrait I posted before I read that - duh).Maybe one day I'll go back to using them but I think I've got a good way to go yet.

I prefer to paint people who don't look 'normal' for want of a better word, and will be aiming for that market if I can.

That's about it really, except I'm not married, I have no pets, but I do have a really supportive partner, which is quite nice really (I'm not sure this is good form but I have to say thank you to John Zeissig for the help with this one originally)

Hi Nic,
 

These guys really don't look normal!

Welcome to the forum.

Thanks very much
:)

Hi Nicola,

Welcome to the forum, I like your work. We have a couple of things in common.I'm originally from the UK and I also like to paint interesting looking people, I prefer the wrinkly type though. Do you think it's something to do with living in England? :)

Happy painting!

Lyn.

It must be! Thanks Lyn :)

I know this is going to sound like a stupid question, but do you find much difference in the general publics attitude to art in France than in the UK?

After reading through everything I could get my monitor on in here, from what I can gather, portrait painting isn't regarded the same way in the UK as it appears to be in the USA. It might be the old British reserve happening, and the general misunderstandings of what art is worth, and how it's practiced ( especially with the media jumping on conceptual art so much ).

Hi Nic! What an interesting portrait that is. I can't wait to see more of your work. Welcome to the forum, I hope it is as helpful to you as it is to me!

Nicola,

You have to remember that I am in Brittany, it's not typical of the rest of France, more like Wales is to England, it's also very rural. There are lots of galleries and exhibition spaces and from what i have seen they are very willing to give everyone a chance.

As for the attitude to portrait painting , I would have to say it is very much like the English attitude, and not really something that is widely popular, I think they have the same kind of reserve that you mentioned.

Thank you Mary, it's already been a huge help, haven't stopped reading through practically every thread yet

Carolyn, thanks for that, I wondered

UK too
 

Hi Nicola, very engaging painting, specially him having his eyes closed!

As an Italian I LOVE British attitude toward portraits, or maybe London attitude ( I understood here everything is different from the rest of the country). There is such an open mind about portraits, style, etc., I am looking forward the RSPP exhibition in two weeks time and BP portrait award in June to see what big portrait painters are up to.

Ilaria

Thank you llaria.

I think it's more London attitude than British, but the open-mind thing I agree with.

The last few years it seems to be large ( 6ft by 4 ft at least) portraits with only the head. I suppose it makes the fiddly little bits easier to do..
Side note - my mother's Italian, I think their attitude to art is much better, it isn't a surprise to them the way it is here I think - course, I could be completely wrong, but that's my impression.