Don’t follow us into 2012:

• The word ‘ swagger ‘
• Big Brother and American Idol
• Film remakes, prequels, sequels, trilogies
• UK rioting
• Annoying crazes eg. Planking

Hopefully see these things next year:

• less dance euro pop music – much less
• more community outreach schemes
• cheaper London transport
• More people preaching the gospel and not about getting stuff
• loving each other like the brothers an sisters we all are                                                                           

Sitting with Prince Charles though was fascinating in itself. His stories, demeanour and presence don’t make you feel like a subject. It feels more like being with your kind uncle. He talks very passionately and gets quite shy at times. He was very interested in my life an career which was a shock to me and he asked me all types of questions. When he saw the work his reaction was priceless and he was shocked what I noticed about his face. H.R.H. Prince Charles was a pleasure to draw, he didn’t complain once in the periods he sat for and was one of the most gracious an intriguing people I’ve ever met in my life. The sittings where conducted in over 6 months and the work now resides in his home.

Well on that last point I disagree, this portrait shows not only that a painting can stand toe to toe with photography, but I think it goes further as its almost frightening to see that a human hand is capable of such striking detail. It’s a genre of art that stops you and holds your gaze as long as it wants, cause you have that ” wait a minute ” moment when you realise your looking at a painting, which I think is part of the purpose of art..to make us witness the Divine….anyway enough of my preaching lol ; ).

My favourite portrait by far in the exhibition was Louis Smith’s ‘ Holly ‘ which only came second. Somehow the name Holly doesn’t seem to quite fit how monumental this epic portrait is! Then again its a modest simple name for a grandiose portrait which is kinda cool. I mean its like looking at the artists work of a lifetime an its called Holly ?!? Well after I did my double take at the name, I spent the most time standing in front of this scene trying to unravel the story an detail.

What puts this portrait far beyond all the other work is the fact thats its a nod to the Renaissance. The world created by the artist is mysterious, sexual, foreboding and tense the naked woman is breathtaking and looks to me like she’s almost in a trance like state, waiting for the inevitable. Its so beautifully painted this will definitely stay with you once you leave.

The winner of the BP Portrait Award though was Wim Heldens whose portrait ‘ Distracted ‘ is magnificent! The hair detail is definitely a highlight. This portrait is so plane that it shows portraiture at its pure roots, just capturing what the artist sees. It’s almost an anticlimax but it shows everyone who will see it that portraits don’t have to be overcomplicated and worked to perfection cause at the end of the day none of us are perfect, the honesty in the piece is what portraiture should be really about. What a good way to leave the exhibition and a worthwhile message for anyone with a vague interest in art or wanting to do it as a hobby or for a lifetime.

BP Portrait Award 2011 at the National Portrait Gallery, WC2 (020 7306 0055, npg.org.uk) until September 18. Open Sat-Weds, 10am-6pm, Thurs-Fri, 10am-9pm. Admission free.