Most artists know that painting a portrait in a tradition where colour and form appear realistic takes years of training where trial and error play an important part.
This is part 2 of my interview with leading portrait painter Paul Newton. He makes the analogy of a painter being like a cook and it's an appropriate one. And like a celebrity chef printing his secret recipes in a cookbook, Paul shares in this episode many of the lessons he's learnt through his years of experience.

In the first of this two part conversation, Paul spoke with me about how he became an artist and the stories behind several of his stunning portraits. In this episode, we talk more about the creation of his paintings. 

Amongst other things, we talk at length about colour, he shares the pitfalls when using photographic references, the challenges of painting backgrounds and he shares an interesting approach on how to see work with fresh eyes, something crucial for portraitists painting in a realistic style.

Paul is a fifteen-time Archibald finalist (including twice People's Choice and Packing Room Prize winner), has 6 works in the National Portrait Gallery's collection and has painted dozens of commissions of notable people from politicians to movie stars.

Although there are already some video clips of Paul talking with me on the Talking with Painters Instagram and Facebook pages, I’ll  be publishing a longer video on the YouTube channel in coming weeks.

To hear the podcast episode click 'play' beneath the above photo.
Links

Click here for the TWP website if listening through your podcast app
Hear Part 1 of this conversation here
Paul Newton's website
Paul Newton on Instagram
Paul Newton on Facebook
Robert Hannaford
John Singer Sargent
Diego Velazquez
'Pope Innocent X' by Diego Velazquez, Doria Pamphilj Gallery
'Lady Agnew of Lochnaw' (hi-res), John Singer Sargent, National Galleries of Scotland
Graeme Inson 



'Self portrait 2022', oil on linen, 35.5cm x 36cm



The palette sheet Paul refers to at the beginning of the episode.

‘Portrait of Hugh Jackman and Deborra-Lee Furness’oil on linen, 215 x 142.2cmFinalist Archibald Prize, Art Gallery of NSW, 2022



'Self portrait in lockdown, 2021'

Finalist, Darling Portrait Prize 2022



‘Maggie Tabberer 1999’
Oil on canvas, 213.5 x 106.5cm


'Our Lady of the Southern Cross - Help of Christian’
oil on Belgian linen
2011, 200 x 80cm
Domus Australia chapel Rome

'St Mary of the Cross Mackillop', 2010
oil on Belgian linen
235 x 180cm, Domus Australia chapel, Rome


Beethoven death mask study