The Final The Big Painting Challenge


The Final

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Welcome to the grand final.

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Ten brilliant amateur artists, three judges,

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two mentors and 78 paintings have brought us to this point.

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Now we have just four contestants left.

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Suman, David,

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Alan and Jennifer.

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What's really good, this area here...

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With support and coaching from their mentors,

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our finalists have grown and developed,

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and proved they have what it takes to be here.

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If it all goes really badly,

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we could all have a game of Frisbee at the end.

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And with the judges and members of the public determining their fate...

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Life is really the thing that comes out of this painting.

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They have shocked...

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Jennifer, a couple of times I have told you you've produced a dud.

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This isn't one of them.

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..stunned...

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-David, it's a trippy painting, isn't it?

-..and astounded...

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I think you've got a good sense of movement. Well done.

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..their way to success.

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Last week, Jimmy was defeated by dance,

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and Suman won the public vote for the third time.

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Now, just two challenges stand in the way of one of our four finalists

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being crowned champion of The Big Painting Challenge.

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Would you please reveal who our winner is?

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The grand final requires a grand location and this week,

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we're in the Royal Borough of Greenwich,

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following in the footsteps of monarchs.

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Queen's House, Greenwich, is steeped in 400 years of art,

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culture and royal history,

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and this is the setting for our four finalists' penultimate challenge.

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I can't believe I'm actually here. I can't believe I'm in the final.

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It's madness.

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I'm feeling a little bit nervous.

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I'm feeling really proud that I got this far.

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And I'm just hoping that I'm able to do myself justice today.

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Being in the final, what it says

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to me is that you shouldn't be so negative

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about your possibilities,

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and I think I'd probably say that to my kids as well.

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I'm really proud of myself for getting this far.

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I've got into the finals.

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It's like, you know, I couldn't have gone any further,

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so what will be will be today.

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This time, the artists will face two very different challenges.

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It will give them the chance to demonstrate to the judges just how

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far they've progressed over the last six weeks.

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Welcome to the final.

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You've done brilliantly to make it this far.

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Two challenges await for us to

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discover the finest amateur artist of 2017.

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The first is something to which you will be longing to return.

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It's a portrait.

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You'll each have your own very special subject,

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and in a moment or two, you will find out who it is.

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We want you to capture the character of your sitter and we will give you

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a few moments to talk to them before you get started.

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And Jennifer,

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was it the stress that's changed the hair colour

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in our final instalment?

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Yes, yes.

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Anyone else got any other physical changes going on that you

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want to discuss with us?

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I've had a couple of piercings, but maybe not for the camera.

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Your mentors Diana and Pascal will of course be there to help you,

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but not actually while you're on canvas.

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No, during the challenges you're on your own,

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so maybe now is the chance to cluster closely to them

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and soak up their love.

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Off you go.

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Is it going to be Diana and Pascal that we have to paint?

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Is it going to be the other contestants

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that we've been really friendly with?

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Or just some random person?

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I don't know.

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If they want us to capture the emotions that we're feeling,

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I'm working on despair, horror...

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-Hello!

-Hi.

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Throughout the competition,

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Jennifer and Alan have been mentored by art educator,

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curator and artist Diana Ali.

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Brilliant. You're both in the final.

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Really, really proud of you.

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You've come so far. So, portraits.

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Think about your strengths that you've got from all the weeks.

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Remember to keep looking, keep observing.

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So think about your composition -

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could be face, could be the whole thing.

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Think about the background, think about the colours...

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Think about everything!

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You're going to be on your own for this one.

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Just have my voice in your head going, "Do that, do that!"

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But I've got complete confidence in you being independent.

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Being without the mentors is going to be quite tough for me, I think.

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Diana's been a second pair of eyes and she's been absolutely spot-on

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throughout the challenges, so it's going to be quite tough.

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I'm actually really digging portraits now.

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I think this could be my new direction, so...

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Well, we'll see how this challenge goes.

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And guiding David and Suman is Pascal Anson, artist,

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designer, and guest lecturer at the Royal College of Art.

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So we have a portrait for you to do.

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One of the things we talked about

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before is if we can get this triangle

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right between the bottom of the nose and the centre of both the eyes,

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no matter whether it's square on face or three quarter view.

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If you get that right, you can kind of do anything you want

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with the painting.

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You're going to do the best painting you've done so far.

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I'm 100% sure.

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It's going to be nice not to have the pressure of Pascal

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looking over your shoulder saying, "David, David! Come on, wake up!"

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I have a feeling that we're going to have to paint our mentors.

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And if it is him,

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I think I'm probably going to be at risk of making him look like he's a

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sailor or some sort of explorer with this moustache

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just totally exaggerated.

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In this challenge, the artist must showcase all they've learnt in the

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weeks leading up to the final.

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So, no pressure, then.

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They'll be judged on how they've managed to capture the character of

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the sitter in their painting.

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And it's time to find out who their sitters are.

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Artists, here you are to start work on a magnificent portrait.

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But for that of course, you need subjects.

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So, sitters, would you please come in?

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Oh, my God!

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Hi, Mum!

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It's my mummy!

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I've never painted her in my life.

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You're going to be craggy, Dad. How you doing?

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When my dad came in I thought, "Oh, no."

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I just saw a bit of his turban and, like, a bit of his glasses

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and I was like, "You are kidding me."

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I was not expecting Mother.

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I'd better get it right or she will probably slap me.

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You've done your hair!

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Why have I never painted her before?

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I could have been practising for the past couple of weeks.

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Oh, wow.

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If I make him look too old, he's going to...

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There'll be some comeback, won't there?

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How could you do this?!

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Yeah, the pressure just went from there to there.

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OK, sitters, if you wouldn't mind taking your seats, please.

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Oh, Dad.

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Artists, you have to attempt to

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repay the unpayable debt of a parents' unfailing love.

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-So get cracking.

-Good luck.

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The artists have three and a half hours to paint their loved ones.

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I love your face.

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I really don't know how she's going to put my face on the canvas,

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because, like, I'm really no oil painting myself.

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-Are you comfortable?

-Yes.

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You sure?

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I can't believe that my son is in the final.

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I want Alan to win.

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It's my dream. I love him.

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How do you feel about deceiving your only child?

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What she has done and achieved is remarkable.

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I'm really proud of her, to see her in this final.

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Well, I'm surprised David is in the final.

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I did think his paintings were rather good,

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but then, of course, as a parent,

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one might always think that of one's children.

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Painting their parents could end up being more

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of a hindrance than a help for our four finalists.

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The most difficult...to kind of cut off my emotional reaction,

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because inside, I'm so happy to be looking at my mum,

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but I'm trying so hard to break just down the light and dark of the face

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and trying to look at it as shapes instead of,

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"This is a nose. This is an eye."

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This is not the first time we've seen Jennifer being emotional.

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I'm sorry to say, but it's sort of meaningless to me.

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You all right? Don't worry about it.

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Over the course of the competition,

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her abstract style has contributed to her success.

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The artist chosen by the public is...

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-Jennifer.

-Jennifer!

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But hasn't always gone down well.

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I struggle to find good points in this painting.

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They just looked like little lumps.

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A vast improvement in drawing and

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observing has earned her a well deserved

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place in the final.

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The proportions are good,

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I think the sense of movement is good

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and our imaginations are set alight. Well done.

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Jennifer has progressed really, really well.

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She's really listened to rules of painting

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to make the work a lot more convincing.

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I just hope she can do really well for the final now.

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I've noticed in the room there is less tension in the room

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-than normal on the first sitting.

-Yes, interesting, isn't it?

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It's probably because I'm not crying in the corner or having some sort of

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meltdown to distract everyone.

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So who do you most want to impress?

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I mean, is it going to be your mum,

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or is it the judges who you obviously

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need to impressive if you're going to win?

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Always the judges. Always.

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Mum's cool because she's going to say...

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It's either she likes it or it's

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different, in which case, if it's different,

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I know she hates it and that's fine.

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I can deal with that.

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David is feeling intimidated by the subject matter.

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I want to make sure I get a likeness,

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otherwise he's going to get offended.

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Yeah, he's calmer than me, so maybe I can capture some of the calmness.

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Assuming he doesn't... Well, especially if he falls asleep.

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Unlike his father, David is anything but laid-back.

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Argh! It's horrible.

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I'm randomly trying things out and I don't think all of them are working.

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But he's a brave painter and he's

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not afraid to experiment with different techniques.

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It's not the elephants that were on the rampage,

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you've been rampaging through styles.

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How's that going with the palette knife?

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I think it's a motor skill that you need to learn.

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So I'm learning.

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His analytical approach to art means it's sometimes

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been lacking in emotion.

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David's very, very able, but he's removed.

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He paints objectively and I think he needs to engage much more with the

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subject, but also with the practice of being an artist.

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Both Suman and David are sketching rather than painting their sitters.

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Do you know where my painters have gone?

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I can't find them anywhere.

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Because I don't recognise them from what's happening in there.

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For some reason, they've gone back to just getting

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all their reassurance from drawing.

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I think the pressure of the final has, unfortunately,

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made them tighten up and I'm a bit worried for them,

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because I'd like to see them a bit freer than that, and start in a way

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which is kind of loose and painterly.

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David has been sketching his father now for 30 minutes.

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I wasn't happy with the likeness on that one.

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He decides to start again.

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I'm just going to see if I can draw it out more to my satisfaction

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and then go from there and make a decision.

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That's not right at the moment, so I just want to try again.

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-When you're ready.

-Right.

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David's struggle with accuracy isn't unusual when painting a familiar

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face, as judge and portrait painter Daphne Todd knows only too well.

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When you're painting someone you know,

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I think the problem is that you don't see them with a fresh eye.

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You know too much about them.

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They have so much background knowledge

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that seeing what's in front of them can be difficult.

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Along with Daphne, art historian

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Dr David Dibosa and award-winning artist Lachlan Goudie will judge

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their paintings.

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Now that we've reached the final, we want to see our artists

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putting in everything that they have learned so far.

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We need them to use their technical skills to bring out the inner

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character of their sitters.

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We want this to be a painting that not only tells us about the sitter,

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but about their own relationship with that person.

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So it's an emotional exchange between artist and subject.

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Before taking part in this competition,

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most of our amateur artists would produce paintings from a photograph.

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Painting a sitter means that capturing expressions

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is extremely difficult.

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Stop smiling.

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To try and keep up a smile for three and a half hours is

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nigh-on impossible, so I've just let her face rest

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and hopefully I'll get some character in the eyes.

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I'm thinking about the self-portrait that I did.

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Probably going to go that way and see how we get on.

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Alan started out as one of the most inexperienced

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artists in the competition.

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Painting with other people or drawing

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with other people is completely new.

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I've never done anything like this before.

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But his sensitive and emotional approach to painting

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earned him early praise to boost his confidence.

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That sense of impending storminess that's

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just about to break is excellent.

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And he proved himself to be one of the strongest portrait

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painters in week four.

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Alan, I think this is a lovely painting.

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David said it was my best work yet, so I'm absolutely amazed.

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His willingness to listen and learn has got him to the final.

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Alan is brilliant at taking on advice.

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He's really enjoyed the mentoring process.

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It's really complimented his work to the point where Alan can do a

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variety of different techniques now,

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show us something different every week.

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We were very struck by your reaction

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when you saw your mum coming through the door.

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Obviously that was a huge surprise.

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How would you describe your relationship?

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She holds the family together.

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-I love her.

-Oh, I really want my son to say that.

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She's never seen me paint actually, so...

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-What?

-It's such a big deal.

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And you'd never painted her before, then?

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Never painted Mother before.

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I think it's quite relaxing, because we know the sitter so well.

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Well, we've noticed that there is a really palpable difference

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in atmosphere. Normally on the first challenge you're having meltdowns

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and nervous breakdowns and throwing paint brushes around, but not today.

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There's time yet.

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Orange dress is a nightmare.

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It's given my mum a bit of an orange glow around the, kind of,

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jowls for want of a better word.

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It's brilliant that Alan's mother

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has turned up in a bright orange dress,

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because he had had comments that his colours can be quite murky and quite

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drab, which makes the painting look flat,

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so I hope he's really going to go for it with the bright orange.

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They're now halfway through the challenge.

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It's very clearly your dad, isn't it?

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It's making me wonder if perhaps you've painted him before?

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Since I was a kid.

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I remember the first time I drew him.

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A little square for the turban and colour it in

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and then a little U under that and then a little beard.

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Was there something about your dad that you found

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a particularly appealing subject?

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I've always wanted to do the best I could

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and show him that I really love this

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and that I'm good at it and make him proud of me for doing it.

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I just see... I can't look directly at him.

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All right, look, I'll block you, OK?

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He's just really important, really important to me.

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I want to get this right.

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I want to

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get some of the wisdom in the portrait.

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We've seen you at this stage of the game

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look considerably less composed than this.

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Yeah, and grey and washed out.

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Yeah, we don't want him to know that, do we?

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She's always looked very confident.

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-Very, very confident.

-I've seen her do it before.

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Suman's confidence has grown immensely since she first started.

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-Hi.

-Help me!

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She's proved a hit with the public vote,

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winning immunity three weeks running.

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Suman!

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Suman.

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Suman!

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And although she still likes to seek approval,

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her desire to push herself and improve has seen her grow.

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I think with Suman, the next thing for her, really,

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is to understand what it feels like to be an artist and I think that's

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about not worrying about what anyone else feels.

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Yeah, you've got a likeness there. That's good.

0:17:520:17:55

That's really good, though.

0:17:550:17:57

-Bloody hell, David.

-How long have we got, about an hour?

0:17:570:18:00

About an hour.

0:18:000:18:01

Jennifer and Alan, they have become quite expressive.

0:18:040:18:07

I think they can show that vision.

0:18:070:18:10

There's a lot riding on this challenge.

0:18:100:18:12

It is the final. It's really hard not to step in.

0:18:120:18:15

Yeah. I'm just really struggling with this last bit.

0:18:210:18:24

It needs something, and I'm really struggling

0:18:240:18:26

to figure out what it needs.

0:18:260:18:29

I'm feeling all right. I've not really cracked a hair.

0:18:290:18:33

If somebody said, "Is that your dad?"

0:18:360:18:38

I would say, "Yeah, I think it is. To me."

0:18:380:18:40

So, I think I've captured him as I see him.

0:18:400:18:43

Whether the judges recognise him, I don't know.

0:18:430:18:45

Course, he's changed his expression now. He's grimacing.

0:18:470:18:51

You've got a bouffant, dad.

0:18:510:18:53

I've moved. Now your hair...

0:18:530:18:55

-Oh, my hair?

-Never mind, I'm not going to worry about that.

0:18:550:18:57

I can't do much about my hair.

0:18:570:18:59

Actually taking off paint, it looks good.

0:19:010:19:04

Yeah. Yeah, I'm OK. OK.

0:19:040:19:06

Reeling it back in, just taking all the paint off.

0:19:060:19:09

I'm finished now. Yes.

0:19:120:19:13

I think it actually helped, having my dad about.

0:19:150:19:17

If only he was here for the rest of the challenges!

0:19:170:19:20

It's you. It's you.

0:19:210:19:24

Painters, will you please stop painting?

0:19:310:19:33

-It's your daddy!

-It's your best one yet.

0:19:410:19:44

So fresh.

0:19:440:19:47

He's absolutely nailed him.

0:19:470:19:49

Yeah. You all right?

0:19:490:19:53

You look like you're...

0:19:530:19:55

This time around, the judges are not giving you their verdict until

0:19:590:20:02

you've painted your final painting.

0:20:020:20:05

Yes, it's time to get the most important opinion of all.

0:20:050:20:08

The judgment of mums and dads.

0:20:080:20:10

So, Nerendra, would you please step up

0:20:100:20:12

and see what Suman's made of you?

0:20:120:20:14

Oh, yes!

0:20:150:20:18

You've got the look. Everything is there, perfect.

0:20:180:20:21

Really good, well done.

0:20:230:20:25

Well done.

0:20:250:20:27

I can't find any fault in it at all.

0:20:270:20:29

Ooh, that's a first!

0:20:290:20:31

-Cor!

-I think I made you look younger.

0:20:320:20:35

You have, you've flattered me!

0:20:350:20:37

Thank you very much. I am very impressed with that.

0:20:370:20:41

I'm amazed, in fact.

0:20:410:20:42

I've made other people look angry, so at least you're looking smiley.

0:20:420:20:45

Well done.

0:20:450:20:48

Every child likes to get approval from their parents.

0:20:480:20:51

Finally! No...

0:20:530:20:56

Oh, yeah!

0:20:560:20:57

I'm impressed.

0:20:570:20:59

-It's not "different" then?

-No, that's like me.

0:20:590:21:01

I can't believe that. Golly gee whizz...

0:21:010:21:03

Usually when I say "different" you know I mean...

0:21:030:21:06

-Bad different.

-Yeah, but this is different in a good way.

0:21:060:21:09

-Would you put it on the wall?

-Oh, I definitely would.

0:21:090:21:12

That's centre place.

0:21:120:21:14

-That's a first.

-Well done.

0:21:140:21:15

Thanks, Mum.

0:21:150:21:17

This has been the best thing out of the whole competition.

0:21:170:21:20

Even no matter what the judges have said to me, that, today, was just...

0:21:200:21:23

Yeah. That's ticked every single box.

0:21:230:21:26

Wow!

0:21:260:21:28

-What do you think?

-Wow!

0:21:280:21:31

-I can't believe it.

-Do you think it looks like you?

0:21:310:21:34

-That's the real me.

-Would you put it on your wall?

0:21:350:21:38

I will.

0:21:380:21:40

If you let me.

0:21:400:21:42

That last challenge was a pretty emotional one.

0:21:520:21:54

With the next one, we're really pushing the boat out.

0:21:540:21:58

As you may know, Canaletto's famous painting of Greenwich hangs here

0:21:580:22:02

in the Queen's House and the scene we're standing in here

0:22:020:22:05

has basically not changed that much since he painted it in 1750.

0:22:050:22:10

Apart from a few skyscrapers.

0:22:100:22:12

You're going to be looking at exactly that same view,

0:22:120:22:15

but you'll remember the view of Greenwich from the river,

0:22:150:22:18

so I hope you've packed your sea boots,

0:22:180:22:20

because we are putting you on a boat.

0:22:200:22:22

Oh, my God!

0:22:220:22:24

That's not fair!

0:22:240:22:25

A big day ahead of you tomorrow.

0:22:250:22:27

So rush of home, get some sleep and we will see you on board.

0:22:270:22:30

We'll be singing sea shanties tomorrow, won't we?

0:22:350:22:37

LAUGHTER

0:22:370:22:38

We're going to be on a boat and speeding...

0:22:380:22:41

There's no point in trying to emulate Canaletto, is there?

0:22:410:22:44

The final challenge of the competition is upon us...

0:22:500:22:53

..and our four finalists are about to board today's studio space.

0:22:550:22:59

'As they find their sea legs,

0:23:040:23:06

'Diana and Pascal take one last opportunity to give their artists

0:23:060:23:11

'some help and inspiration.'

0:23:110:23:12

Good morning.

0:23:120:23:14

-So, hopefully, this is going to help you master your paintings.

-OK.

0:23:140:23:18

'Diana has tailored her guidance to the needs of the artists.

0:23:180:23:22

'First up, Jennifer.'

0:23:220:23:24

Now, with you, Jennifer, you look at a massive big scene and you go,

0:23:250:23:29

"Wow, there's so much to paint!" and you get overwhelmed.

0:23:290:23:31

This is going to get rid of that overwhelming scene.

0:23:310:23:34

So if you just look over my shoulder, this straight line represents...

0:23:340:23:39

-..this straight line.

-Yeah.

0:23:400:23:42

So, when you're marking out your painting,

0:23:420:23:44

you can measure out the different lengths that you see.

0:23:440:23:47

'Diana marks of the distinguishing features she can see in her view.'

0:23:470:23:51

What I'm seeing is the river.

0:23:510:23:53

-OK.

-OK?

0:23:530:23:54

So, I know the river starts here and then

0:23:540:23:58

the end of the river is just slightly above half.

0:23:580:24:02

'These marks are now transferred to the canvas.

0:24:020:24:05

'Marking these points helps to convey the scale of the landscape

0:24:060:24:10

and kick-start your composition.'

0:24:100:24:12

OK? So, have a go.

0:24:130:24:15

-Over to you, Jen.

-Thanks.

0:24:150:24:17

It's good to have tools in place, so that could help me at some point,

0:24:170:24:21

if I'm struggling with lines.

0:24:210:24:22

Because there's times when I have meltdowns and need something

0:24:220:24:26

more structured to put it into proper painting terms.

0:24:260:24:30

'Outside on deck, Pascal has a parting gift for his artists.'

0:24:300:24:33

So, I've got presents for you!

0:24:350:24:37

So, it's absolutely what you need for this final challenge.

0:24:390:24:42

Oh, it's going to be messy.

0:24:420:24:44

'David and Suman will also be sporting Pascal's signature boiler suit.'

0:24:450:24:49

It's like we're going into some sort of experimental lab.

0:24:490:24:53

-Suman, you are just doing a painting.

-I know.

-OK?

0:24:530:24:55

'Like many painters,

0:24:550:24:56

'they're both used to being very precise and this exercise will

0:24:560:25:00

'encourage them to have a looser approach.'

0:25:000:25:03

You're going to stop painting with these mops, so that's for you...

0:25:040:25:08

I thought, David, you could paint this view, going into the distance here,

0:25:080:25:11

and Suman, I thought this was a good view for you to have here.

0:25:110:25:14

There's always a danger, especially with David and Suman,

0:25:140:25:17

that they're going to resort to tight, narrow, controlled,

0:25:170:25:20

small ways of working, so I wanted to do the opposite of that.

0:25:200:25:22

You've got a mop, a sponge, a decorating brush...

0:25:220:25:27

Normally, Suman's that far away from the canvas with a tiny little brush

0:25:270:25:30

and now she's painting with a mop, so I feel like my job is done now.

0:25:300:25:34

I was there, mopping the floor, basically just thinking,

0:25:410:25:44

how can make as much structured mess as possible, which is fantastic.

0:25:440:25:49

I really like it.

0:25:490:25:50

I'm going to try and be a little bit more free with the work.

0:25:500:25:54

I thought that exercise was great and amusing and going wild with

0:25:560:25:59

-all those brush marks.

-Oh, man!

0:25:590:26:02

Don't get me in that.

0:26:020:26:04

There's a few things I could take forward into the challenge,

0:26:040:26:07

but I think if I took too much of that freedom through,

0:26:070:26:09

it would end up like a Jackson Pollock and then I would get criticised

0:26:090:26:12

for copying another style again.

0:26:120:26:15

It's good fun, making a mess. I don't like...

0:26:150:26:17

This thing.

0:26:170:26:19

Yeah, get rid of it. Get rid of it!

0:26:190:26:20

There's an easy way to get rid of it.

0:26:200:26:23

It's the first time I've ever done anything this messy.

0:26:270:26:29

I've always sat and been really neat.

0:26:290:26:31

Yeah, that's why I wanted you to do it.

0:26:310:26:33

Yeah.

0:26:330:26:34

Alan.

0:26:340:26:35

'Now, what does Diana have in store for Alan?'

0:26:350:26:38

What point has come across over the past few weeks?

0:26:380:26:42

I tend to overwork stuff.

0:26:420:26:44

Probably my mark making gets a bit fuzzy.

0:26:440:26:47

'So she has an exercise in mind which will enable him

0:26:470:26:51

to be more expressive with his work.

0:26:510:26:53

You've got a big brush and a very small canvas.

0:26:530:26:57

OK? There is your view.

0:26:570:26:58

-Yeah.

-You are only allowed to use ten marks...

0:26:580:27:02

-OK.

-..to represent that view and then you have to stop.

0:27:020:27:06

-OK.

-One mark could be...

0:27:060:27:07

OK, that's one, because I've taken the paint brush off.

0:27:100:27:13

Next one could be buildings.

0:27:130:27:14

So you're plotting, but in a very quick way.

0:27:150:27:18

That's two marks. Another mark might be three, four, five, six,

0:27:180:27:22

to represent the skeleton of a building.

0:27:220:27:24

You do work quite small and you tend to go over areas again and again

0:27:240:27:28

with the same pressure, the same marks,

0:27:280:27:30

so this will help you with the variety of marks that you get from

0:27:300:27:32

-something really subtle to something really bold.

-OK.

0:27:320:27:36

I needed to really think about my mark making, so really,

0:27:360:27:38

it's just getting confidence in my brush strokes really,

0:27:380:27:43

and trying to express something in one mark,

0:27:430:27:45

rather than using 20 and muddying everything up.

0:27:450:27:49

'Challenging our artists to paint this spectacular view was inspired

0:27:510:27:56

'by the work of Venetian artist, Canaletto.

0:27:560:27:58

'And Lachlan is in Greenwich to find out more about the original artwork.'

0:28:000:28:04

In the 18th century,

0:28:060:28:07

eligible young aristocrats would regularly undertake a grand tour

0:28:070:28:11

to Italy. They'd tick off the country's cultural hot spots,

0:28:110:28:14

but the place that most of them wanted to be was Venice,

0:28:140:28:18

a sort of 18th-century Las Vegas on the Med.

0:28:180:28:21

And observing all this was a young artist called Giovanni Antonio Canal.

0:28:210:28:26

Canaletto.

0:28:260:28:27

'Young Canaletto started to paint rather theatrical and rose-tinted

0:28:300:28:34

'views of Venice himself

0:28:340:28:35

'and the English aristocrats rolled up to buy them,

0:28:350:28:38

'eager for a painted reminder of their frolics

0:28:380:28:41

'beneath the Doge's Palace.

0:28:410:28:42

'But when wars in Europe deterred the English punters

0:28:450:28:48

'from visiting Venice,

0:28:480:28:49

'Canaletto decided that he would come to them.

0:28:490:28:53

'He uprooted himself to London and began painting views

0:28:530:28:57

'of the British capital.'

0:28:570:28:58

In this canvas of what was then at the Greenwich hospital, we find

0:29:010:29:04

Canaletto's sprinkling and a little bit of his Venetian fairy dust.

0:29:040:29:08

He's transformed the River Thames into a sparkling,

0:29:080:29:12

radiant version of the Grand Canal,

0:29:120:29:15

complete with a sort of pageant-like bustle of barges and boats.

0:29:150:29:19

In the sky, we have a whole stream of pink clouds that suggests this

0:29:270:29:31

is a beautiful summer's evening,

0:29:310:29:33

and those same candy pinks are picked in a river that's so smooth

0:29:330:29:38

and glossy, it acts like a mirror, reflecting the white stone

0:29:380:29:43

of the new Greenwich Hospital.

0:29:430:29:45

This really is a love letter to the Thames, and to Greenwich.

0:29:500:29:54

"Aren't you beautiful, Greenwich", this painting seems to be saying.

0:29:540:29:57

Quite stately. Mighty impressive.

0:29:570:29:59

'Our artists are about to come face-to-face with this impressive view,

0:30:060:30:09

'which they now must paint for their final challenge.'

0:30:090:30:12

We're nearly in position, aren't we?

0:30:130:30:16

Ooh!

0:30:160:30:18

That just looks...

0:30:180:30:20

Oh, man!

0:30:200:30:21

I'm feeling nervous about doing this landscape,

0:30:210:30:23

but I'm trying to get myself into the same sort of head space as I had

0:30:230:30:26

yesterday, so try and just enjoy it and not get too...

0:30:260:30:29

..worried about the situation.

0:30:300:30:32

This is the first time I've been on a boat, in the middle of London,

0:30:320:30:37

painting an amazing building.

0:30:370:30:39

'This view is almost identical to the one Canaletto had in 1750.

0:30:410:30:46

'But our artists have just five hours to create their masterpieces.'

0:30:480:30:52

All right guys, it's the last time you're painting with us.

0:30:540:30:57

So, make it a really, really good painting.

0:30:570:31:01

'Ever changing light, weather,

0:31:150:31:17

'painting a landscape outdoors is no easy feat.

0:31:170:31:21

'But we've upped the ante and added an additional difficulty.

0:31:210:31:24

'The boat is constantly bobbing around,

0:31:260:31:29

'and this part of the Thames is tidal.

0:31:290:31:31

'This means their painting position will be moving

0:31:340:31:36

'from side to side and up and down.'

0:31:360:31:38

This movement is freaking me out.

0:31:410:31:43

I feel I might need a large canvas to get this in.

0:31:450:31:49

'It appears size does matter.

0:31:490:31:51

'All of the artists have opted for the largest canvas available.'

0:31:510:31:55

It's the final. I thought, I've not painted a canvas this big before.

0:31:550:31:58

Daphne's picked up on that.

0:31:580:32:00

I thought, why not? Just go for it.

0:32:000:32:02

I've just got to think about the composition.

0:32:020:32:05

I can't get it all in,

0:32:050:32:06

so I think the two structures in the middle will probably be kind of the

0:32:060:32:10

centre point, a bit off centre, and then I'm just going to go at it.

0:32:100:32:14

I am really trying to push the fact that it's the final out of my head.

0:32:140:32:18

Because if I think that it's the final I'll not be able to cope with that.

0:32:180:32:21

I haven't decided what I'm doing yet,

0:32:220:32:24

but I like the symmetry of the thing.

0:32:240:32:26

So I'm just trying to see if it works as a composition,

0:32:260:32:29

and then I was thinking to make it a little more contemporary,

0:32:290:32:32

putting in one of the boats that went past on the front here.

0:32:320:32:36

I need to break the symmetry in some fashion,

0:32:360:32:38

so that maybe where I place the boat.

0:32:380:32:40

I'm going for a bit of energy.

0:32:400:32:42

I think I've done realistic now.

0:32:420:32:43

I'm testing to see what I want to do the background in.

0:32:450:32:48

I'm well aware I used the same tone when I painted my dad,

0:32:480:32:51

so I don't think it's a good idea doing it again.

0:32:510:32:53

I feel like I need to do something slightly different.

0:32:530:32:58

I just want to be free and have fun.

0:32:580:33:00

'With Diana's advice ringing in his ears,

0:33:140:33:17

'Alan appears to be a lot freer with his mark making.'

0:33:170:33:20

I'm going to let this dry. Quite like these drips.

0:33:210:33:23

It'd be quite nice to see some of the undermarks kind of show through, really.

0:33:230:33:27

'It's not the only guidance he's taken on.'

0:33:270:33:30

I've marked out some of the lines from Jen's masterclass,

0:33:310:33:37

which I was pilfering.

0:33:370:33:39

I am just going to figure out the distances.

0:33:390:33:41

'Rather than drawing out her composition,

0:33:530:33:55

'Jennifer is experimenting with a new technique.'

0:33:550:33:58

I'm literally just cutting off sections of masking tape.

0:33:580:34:01

It's as basic as that, erm...

0:34:020:34:05

just to create some sort of angle.

0:34:050:34:07

Jennifer is plotting the actual sea.

0:34:070:34:09

She's doing it in a very Jennifer way, she's cutting things out.

0:34:090:34:12

She's making the hair into straight lines.

0:34:120:34:15

She's started off really well and really thinking about the technical

0:34:150:34:18

mark making that she needs to do.

0:34:180:34:20

I notice when we see you,

0:34:220:34:23

often you're up close to the cameras with a fine brush, drawing.

0:34:230:34:26

We came out today and there's you with a wider brush,

0:34:260:34:28

really slapping on some paint.

0:34:280:34:30

-That's different.

-It is different.

0:34:300:34:32

Hopefully, the six weeks will have taught me to loosen up,

0:34:320:34:36

and, hopefully, this will be the culmination

0:34:360:34:38

of everything we've learned.

0:34:380:34:39

You've worked your socks off. You know, you've had ups and downs,

0:34:390:34:43

you've had run-ins with the judges, and, you know,

0:34:430:34:46

you've had triumphs and failures.

0:34:460:34:48

What does it mean to you now, at this point in the competition?

0:34:480:34:51

Well, if I mess this up, they can't boot me out, can they? So...

0:34:510:34:55

So you're feeling reckless, really? That's the answer to my question.

0:34:550:34:58

I am feeling a bit reckless.

0:34:580:34:59

I might stand over there and just start throwing stuff,

0:34:590:35:02

-do you know what I mean?

-You're looking relaxed.

0:35:020:35:04

That's a real change I've noticed over the past few weeks,

0:35:040:35:07

is that you're less tense at the picture.

0:35:070:35:09

Yeah, I think so.

0:35:090:35:11

Hopefully, that will come out through the painting, really,

0:35:110:35:14

and just be a bit more gestural.

0:35:140:35:16

I think he's gone a bit cocky, actually.

0:35:160:35:18

-Do you reckon?

-Yeah, I do.

0:35:180:35:19

LAUGHTER

0:35:190:35:21

'It's very rare to see Suman unhappy,

0:35:210:35:23

'but this final task seems to have got the better of her.'

0:35:230:35:28

I hate it already.

0:35:280:35:29

It's too high up. I can't see.

0:35:290:35:32

There's loads of things. I keep moving from here to there.

0:35:320:35:35

It's not working. It's like trying to paint in the dark.

0:35:350:35:38

'And the weather isn't helping.'

0:35:380:35:40

It's really windy. I keep watching the canvas to make sure it doesn't

0:35:410:35:45

fall on top of my head.

0:35:450:35:46

A lot happening on the surface with Jennifer.

0:35:570:35:59

We've got some hair, we have some cut out bits of card and stuff.

0:35:590:36:03

Returned to your tried and trusted techniques.

0:36:030:36:06

Yes, I think just with it being the final,

0:36:060:36:08

it's quite nice to show my processes are still there.

0:36:080:36:11

It's just I'm using them a different way now,

0:36:110:36:14

so I'm trying not to rely on them,

0:36:140:36:16

but I'm just trying to include them because they're part of my, sort of,

0:36:160:36:20

skill and I don't want to lose that.

0:36:200:36:22

You said at the beginning that your worst nightmare would be a landscape

0:36:220:36:28

scene with a building, with lots of lines and an old building at that.

0:36:280:36:33

And look, we've managed to come up with it for you.

0:36:330:36:35

Well, yes, yous have found the exact thing that I hate painting,

0:36:350:36:38

so if I even get some sort of resemblance at the very end of this

0:36:380:36:42

I will be happy.

0:36:420:36:43

I know you talked at the beginning of this process

0:36:590:37:01

-about wanting to do this for your children.

-Yes.

0:37:010:37:04

Is that still something that's still in the front of your mind?

0:37:040:37:07

Yeah, that's what I was approaching yesterday with.

0:37:070:37:09

With an idea of, you know, trying to forget too much

0:37:090:37:12

about the competition, and show them, really it's about having a go.

0:37:120:37:16

You could win the final, David.

0:37:160:37:18

So could all four of us.

0:37:180:37:19

Artists, you're at the halfway point.

0:37:210:37:22

Trying to get a bit more detail in and see where we go from there.

0:37:410:37:43

I'm having to hold the canvas as I'm painting, which isn't ideal.

0:37:430:37:47

HE LAUGHS

0:37:470:37:49

So, yeah, it's tricky.

0:37:490:37:50

'It's not just the wind which is creating unwanted movement onboard.'

0:37:520:37:56

It's the motion I'm really struggling with, because it's...

0:37:560:38:00

Yeah. I'm not...

0:38:000:38:03

I'm not finding the boat an easy thing to be on.

0:38:030:38:06

Erm... I normally don't get motion sickness.

0:38:060:38:09

This is really weird for me.

0:38:090:38:10

The painting keeps moving back-and-forth,

0:38:100:38:12

so I don't want to it to drop off the easel.

0:38:120:38:16

Oh, sorry!

0:38:170:38:19

Like that, for example.

0:38:190:38:20

Whoa!

0:38:220:38:23

The wind's blowing my canvas that way,

0:38:250:38:28

which I guess is kind of par for the course.

0:38:280:38:30

Managed to just rescue it in time.

0:38:300:38:32

Just trying to add a bit more tonal range in it.

0:38:340:38:37

It's not going how I wished it had gone.

0:38:370:38:39

I suppose it's closer than other people's composition,

0:38:390:38:42

cos it's a larger view,

0:38:420:38:44

but that's about the extent of the similarity with the Canaletto.

0:38:440:38:49

Maybe a Cornetto!

0:38:490:38:50

I might actually work into it with my pens, because they're darker.

0:38:570:39:01

I seem to just make decisions in my head very abruptly and go with that,

0:39:010:39:06

and if it works, it works and if it doesn't, it doesn't.

0:39:060:39:09

-Hi Suman.

-Hey.

0:39:210:39:23

How you doing?

0:39:230:39:24

-Coping.

-Have you had a meltdown?

0:39:250:39:28

Several, because I've been on the floor, holding on, putting stuff down.

0:39:280:39:33

So, yeah, I'm happy with my bus.

0:39:330:39:35

It's bolder.

0:39:350:39:36

You seem a more... You always seem composed, but you seem

0:39:360:39:39

more confident now.

0:39:390:39:40

You can see it better, I think, than anyone else.

0:39:400:39:43

You don't tend to see these things yourself.

0:39:430:39:46

You'd be a better judge of that, I think.

0:39:460:39:48

I've got paint on my face, haven't I?

0:40:020:40:05

You look like the Joker.

0:40:050:40:06

-I'm going to be sick.

-OK.

-I need to get water.

0:40:100:40:12

'There's now one hour remaining and the paintings are starting to come together.'

0:40:140:40:18

I've basically just let the paint run down the painting.

0:40:180:40:23

I started off at a bit of pace with the water

0:40:230:40:27

and left some of the marks in and then I tried to replicate that in

0:40:270:40:30

the sky just to give a bit of continuity

0:40:300:40:34

so it didn't look like two paintings, really.

0:40:340:40:36

So, that's what I'm doing.

0:40:360:40:37

Loads still to do but, you know, I'm not going to worry about it.

0:40:370:40:40

Alan's been really loose.

0:40:400:40:41

There's drips going down his canvas,

0:40:410:40:43

there's marks that are all over the place.

0:40:430:40:45

I'm not used to seeing Alan like this, so it's brilliant.

0:40:450:40:48

I finally got things to stay still so I can put some detail in,

0:40:480:40:52

the hints of some details, so that's really good.

0:40:520:40:55

I'm trying to piece together everything I've learnt over the last

0:40:550:40:58

couple of challenges.

0:40:580:41:00

I thought I'd add the boat to give a bit of focus.

0:41:000:41:03

Hopefully, it's my vision of what's in front of me, but...

0:41:040:41:08

You know, I don't know.

0:41:080:41:10

Some of it's working here.

0:41:100:41:12

And some bits of the water,

0:41:140:41:15

but I don't know whether it all hangs together very well,

0:41:150:41:17

that's the problem.

0:41:170:41:19

How are you feeling? You're looking better.

0:41:190:41:21

Yeah, I just feel a bit sick.

0:41:210:41:23

-I won't hug you because you might be sick on me.

-Very sick.

0:41:230:41:25

-You're better now, though?

-Yeah, I've got mint tea.

0:41:250:41:28

Artists, for the final time, I'm afraid time is up.

0:41:490:41:54

Step away from the canvases, put down your brushes.

0:41:540:41:57

Yes, you can do no more.

0:41:570:41:58

From now on it's all in the hands of the judges.

0:41:580:42:01

BOTH: DUN-DUN!

0:42:010:42:02

Come on, team.

0:42:020:42:05

I want a cuddle like this.

0:42:050:42:07

Come on then, gang.

0:42:070:42:08

Aw!

0:42:100:42:11

All over now.

0:42:110:42:12

I know I'll probably miss it at some stage,

0:42:140:42:15

but at the moment I'm glad it's over.

0:42:150:42:18

That wasn't how I intended to finish, to be honest.

0:42:180:42:21

A bit too much stress.

0:42:210:42:23

There's nothing I can do now.

0:42:250:42:26

At least the only thing I can do before I see the judges is mentally

0:42:260:42:31

prepare for the onslaught that is going to be the critique.

0:42:310:42:35

The judges have absolutely put us through the mangler.

0:42:380:42:41

I mean, I thought last week was bad and then they introduced

0:42:410:42:43

seasickness, so we'll see how we get on.

0:42:430:42:47

There's no public.

0:42:470:42:49

So, obviously being the one who's won the most public appreciation,

0:42:520:42:57

it feels odd not having anyone with a safety net to sort of swing in there

0:42:570:43:01

and be, like, "No, she's awesome, give her a shot, she's amazing."

0:43:010:43:06

Where are we going?

0:43:060:43:08

Where is the pier? Is that the pier?

0:43:080:43:10

Ugh! When are we going to dock?

0:43:100:43:13

Well, artists, traditionally vicars are the ones to spoil the party mood

0:43:250:43:29

by talking about judgment and I'm no different.

0:43:290:43:32

It's time for you to face the judges.

0:43:320:43:34

Jennifer, so I like to keep quiet about it, but I love colour.

0:43:480:43:51

And, you know, this is a wonderful rainbow of colour,

0:43:510:43:55

it's cascading down the canvas.

0:43:550:43:58

This portrait is a striking success and I think it sums up, to me,

0:43:580:44:01

that you have enormous potential and that's going to continue to grow.

0:44:010:44:06

Well, Jennifer, what an achievement.

0:44:060:44:08

You've managed to make a perfectly normal looking human being.

0:44:080:44:13

And I think there you've got a lovely sense of the light falling on

0:44:130:44:16

the top and then coming round in a very abstracted way,

0:44:160:44:19

and if you could've carried that through into the smaller details,

0:44:190:44:24

I think it would have been a better painting,

0:44:240:44:27

but it's a pretty good attempt.

0:44:270:44:29

If I can come to the painting of the buildings,

0:44:340:44:37

I think some of your stylistic devices haven't served you well

0:44:370:44:41

to give a sense of the overall composition

0:44:410:44:44

and elegance of this setting.

0:44:440:44:46

I think that you were brave in zooming into this particular detail

0:44:460:44:49

of the composition.

0:44:490:44:50

That might have contributed to your feeling of seasickness

0:44:500:44:53

cos you were so busy concentrating on this tiny thing

0:44:530:44:56

a way off that it was intensifying all the movement.

0:44:560:44:58

Jennifer, you have come an enormous distance since the beginning,

0:44:580:45:02

so push your drawing, but work it in your own way,

0:45:020:45:07

in a way that feels natural.

0:45:070:45:08

Alan we had that breakthrough with the self-portrait

0:45:140:45:17

and I think we're seeing a similar level of breakthrough here.

0:45:170:45:21

This portrait is a great leap forward because what you've

0:45:210:45:25

been able to do is bring out the depth

0:45:250:45:28

to get away from the tendency to flatness in your work.

0:45:280:45:32

I think this is a crowning achievement of your work so far.

0:45:320:45:36

And I think that part of the success has been that she give you this

0:45:360:45:40

wonderful tangerine dress to create the kind of highlights

0:45:400:45:43

and the colour that warms up her face.

0:45:430:45:45

Now we have Greenwich.

0:45:490:45:52

Stately, very well drawn

0:45:520:45:54

with a great attention to all the perspective lines.

0:45:540:45:58

That Dickensian sense of almost grimness about your painting.

0:45:580:46:02

This is a river we're going to dig a body out of, I think, and

0:46:020:46:05

that's definitely a reflection of the Thames that we know

0:46:050:46:09

and were looking at.

0:46:090:46:11

This is a building you would immediately recognise and

0:46:110:46:13

it's got the grandeur.

0:46:130:46:15

You've learned over the weeks and you've used your proportion to

0:46:150:46:18

really make sure that we know that we're small.

0:46:180:46:21

David, as one would expect, you've been brave yet again.

0:46:280:46:31

Here, you've attempted the most difficult thing in a portrait,

0:46:310:46:35

which is a fleeting expression.

0:46:350:46:37

Hardly any great portraits are of smiling people.

0:46:370:46:41

A smile can be very cheesy and I think you've just edged

0:46:410:46:45

to the right side of that.

0:46:450:46:47

You've lightened your touch considerably and I think that

0:46:470:46:51

has helped you to see more.

0:46:510:46:53

So you've got a man who feels large and powerful

0:46:530:46:56

you've got a presence in the painting,

0:46:560:46:58

yet you manage to communicate that with a very thin,

0:46:580:47:01

almost chalky use of paint and then you've given him a smile,

0:47:010:47:05

and he does have this smile.

0:47:050:47:06

Where did all the smile genes go? Because you're always looking...

0:47:060:47:09

LAUGHTER

0:47:090:47:10

..looking so intense!

0:47:100:47:12

But he has this uncanny constant grin.

0:47:120:47:15

-It's my mum's side!

-Oh!

0:47:150:47:16

To get that is really well achieved.

0:47:160:47:19

Coming to the next painting, I enjoy this painting very much.

0:47:240:47:29

You've brought all of the techniques together

0:47:290:47:32

to create an integrated whole.

0:47:320:47:35

It's gentle, it's calm, it's very easy to be with.

0:47:350:47:39

This is a painting that has...

0:47:390:47:40

It's inherited so much from the Canaletto original

0:47:400:47:44

and, most importantly,

0:47:440:47:46

it's that sense of space.

0:47:460:47:47

Suman, I would say this is a commanding portrait.

0:47:550:47:59

Not just because this seems to be an image of a commanding presence,

0:48:000:48:05

also because of the command, I think, you're showing as a painter.

0:48:050:48:11

The marks are very gentle, they're very calm and the colour is muted,

0:48:110:48:16

and yet it describes, very clearly, the presence of this man.

0:48:160:48:22

You can look at this painting on several levels.

0:48:220:48:24

I think your proportions are wonderful,

0:48:240:48:26

I think there's a sense of surface, your detail is lovely.

0:48:260:48:30

I think it's a really successful portrait.

0:48:300:48:32

Thank you.

0:48:320:48:33

Greenwich. We've got colour, we've got boldness, we've got mark making.

0:48:370:48:41

I think that this has got oomph, that...

0:48:410:48:45

When I remember your first still life...

0:48:450:48:47

Oh, a quiet little painting and here we've come!

0:48:470:48:52

I believe this painting, I believe the structures,

0:48:520:48:54

I believe the sense of scale and architecture.

0:48:540:48:57

I love the red bus that, once again,

0:48:570:49:00

is a key point in making me motor my way towards this part of your

0:49:000:49:04

painting. You're telling the viewer what to do.

0:49:040:49:06

You know, from this distance, one's drawn in.

0:49:060:49:09

There's all sorts of detail of light, the darks and shadow.

0:49:090:49:13

There's quite a lot going on and you've kept the sparkle of the sun

0:49:130:49:18

hitting the burnished gold tops to those two parts of the buildings.

0:49:180:49:22

Thank you.

0:49:220:49:23

Judges, thank you very much indeed.

0:49:230:49:25

Can we send you off to deliberate now

0:49:250:49:27

and decide who's going to walk away with the title?

0:49:270:49:30

Yes, please make your way to the deck of decision.

0:49:300:49:33

'And while the judges make their decision,

0:49:420:49:45

'we have a surprise in store for our finalists.'

0:49:450:49:48

OK, now it's time for the public to view your work

0:49:510:49:54

and this week we won't be counting their votes

0:49:540:49:57

and when you see who they are, you'll know why.

0:49:570:49:59

So, artists, would you please welcome...

0:49:590:50:01

your families.

0:50:010:50:02

And will you also please welcome your former team-mates.

0:50:080:50:11

ALL: Oh!

0:50:110:50:13

CHATTER

0:50:160:50:18

Well done, you, for getting this far.

0:50:230:50:26

-She's blown me away.

-They are incredible.

0:50:300:50:33

-He would have spent weeks doing this at home.

-Yeah, he would have done.

0:50:330:50:36

Sketching it all out then doing it.

0:50:360:50:38

I think he did this in a few hours.

0:50:380:50:39

-I think the sky is superb.

-Yeah.

0:50:390:50:41

I particularly like the way she's got the highlights.

0:50:410:50:45

The golds on the top.

0:50:450:50:46

She's put in quite a few bits of detail in there,

0:50:460:50:48

which must have been hard at that speed.

0:50:480:50:51

To come to this and doing these paintings here,

0:50:510:50:55

I couldn't be prouder of her.

0:50:550:50:57

She's done a fantastic job.

0:50:570:50:59

-I think she could win it.

-That is so nice.

-Don't you think so?

0:50:590:51:04

I think so.

0:51:040:51:05

-That is definitely you.

-That's amazing.

-I love it.

0:51:050:51:09

It's amazing.

0:51:090:51:11

Are you proud of Alan?

0:51:110:51:12

-Yeah, of course.

-Yeah, I'm really proud.

0:51:120:51:15

Very proud of him. He's done well, hasn't he?

0:51:150:51:17

He's done really well. Very good one.

0:51:170:51:19

He's captured something and it's very fluent and I think it's a great

0:51:210:51:25

portrait for what he's done, don't you?

0:51:250:51:27

-I like that.

-I just think...

0:51:270:51:29

I don't know David's father but

0:51:290:51:31

I just think it just looks full of love.

0:51:310:51:34

So, here we are at the final and I think

0:51:400:51:43

they've all come such a long way.

0:51:430:51:46

I think it's quite impressive, really.

0:51:460:51:48

I didn't, I didn't expect these artists to develop as much as they have

0:51:480:51:51

and grow in strength and in confidence.

0:51:510:51:54

-It's wonderful to see.

-I personally thought Jennifer had an enormous

0:51:540:51:57

amount of talent and individuality right from the start.

0:51:570:52:00

I think that her sensitivity towards drawing and observation and line

0:52:000:52:05

has crystallised a little more than it was at the beginning.

0:52:050:52:09

And I think that in her portrait today,

0:52:090:52:11

I think she has made a step forward.

0:52:110:52:14

Yes, I think she's got a signature style which came out in the portrait

0:52:140:52:17

of her mother.

0:52:170:52:19

I wasn't quite sure about her painting of Greenwich itself.

0:52:190:52:23

It wasn't Jennifer's best work.

0:52:230:52:25

I suspect she's kicking herself.

0:52:250:52:26

Someone who's excelled themself this time is Alan because

0:52:260:52:31

he struggled, I think, in the early part of the competition.

0:52:310:52:34

All that flatness that we had.

0:52:340:52:35

We kept saying break out, break out, and, here, I felt,

0:52:350:52:38

he really broke through.

0:52:380:52:40

I think he's learnt something in this competition.

0:52:400:52:43

I think that Alan redeemed himself in the final,

0:52:430:52:46

he proved why he was here.

0:52:460:52:47

And he kept his sensitivity.

0:52:470:52:49

That's his real strength,

0:52:490:52:51

that sensitivity of touch and of observation

0:52:510:52:54

and did some of the best work he's done.

0:52:540:52:58

I thought that David, by contrast,

0:52:580:53:00

was being very understated this time.

0:53:000:53:03

Where did this David come from?

0:53:030:53:04

It's like he's been hiding for weeks.

0:53:040:53:07

I think he'd been listening to us and really trying to find a way

0:53:070:53:12

of being able to analyse what was in front of him.

0:53:120:53:15

And maybe the act of painting his dad allowed that to happen because

0:53:150:53:19

he became unguarded, you know.

0:53:190:53:21

He was so committed to the subject that maybe he lost the need

0:53:210:53:25

-for all of that theatre.

-And what about Suman?

0:53:250:53:28

It was a wonderful portrait of her father.

0:53:280:53:31

Very, very sensitive.

0:53:310:53:32

I felt it was a very confident painting.

0:53:320:53:34

I was really taken by the way that Suman painted the architecture,

0:53:340:53:38

the way that she really used texture and paint and colour to make me

0:53:380:53:41

believe in the structure.

0:53:410:53:42

For her, I think that is progression.

0:53:420:53:46

I mean, here's an artist perhaps used to more tentatively,

0:53:460:53:48

sensitively trying things out.

0:53:480:53:50

And after the end of this experience,

0:53:500:53:52

she can throw caution to the wind and boldly, solidly put down colour.

0:53:520:53:56

Well, I've thoroughly enjoyed watching all these artists grow and develop

0:53:580:54:02

and I don't want to have to pick one out from the crowd,

0:54:020:54:06

but we're going to have to.

0:54:060:54:08

The judges have made their decision and will shortly be revealing

0:54:130:54:17

which one of you is to be our winner.

0:54:170:54:20

So, judges, any final comments?

0:54:250:54:27

Well, congratulations to you all for getting here.

0:54:290:54:31

You've continued to create intriguing and engaging paintings

0:54:310:54:34

and I know you're going to continue with that well past this final.

0:54:340:54:39

Well, you've all come so far and every one of you has developed

0:54:390:54:45

as a painter because you've risen to the challenges that have set.

0:54:450:54:50

Every one of you has shown tremendous guts and determination

0:54:500:54:53

to reach the final

0:54:530:54:55

and each one of you has produced work of real beauty.

0:54:550:54:59

You've made us believe in you as artists.

0:54:590:55:02

Thank you.

0:55:020:55:03

David, we can't take the suspense a second longer.

0:55:070:55:10

Will you please reveal who our winner is?

0:55:100:55:13

Suman.

0:55:170:55:18

APPLAUSE

0:55:220:55:24

It's been an amazing journey and I've always said, just go for your dreams,

0:55:280:55:32

just go for your dreams, and in the back of my head throughout this

0:55:320:55:36

whole process, I've been, like, this is right for you,

0:55:360:55:38

this is what you need to do, just believe in yourself,

0:55:380:55:40

believe in yourself, and it's worked!

0:55:400:55:43

You worked hard.

0:55:470:55:48

Suman's a worth winner because week on week she's shown improvement.

0:55:480:55:52

You need that little bit of magic and Suman's able to put that into

0:55:520:55:55

her best paintings and she has the drive to want to keep doing that

0:55:550:55:59

independently in her own work.

0:55:590:56:00

You've done really well. And you've got it in you.

0:56:000:56:02

Suman's got all-round skill.

0:56:020:56:05

She will be able to go out in the world and make a living, I'm quite sure.

0:56:050:56:08

I don't know who to hug first! Thank you so much.

0:56:080:56:11

-Well done.

-Thank you.

0:56:110:56:13

I think Suman can really carry the crown.

0:56:130:56:16

She's a great artist in the making, she's a winner.

0:56:160:56:19

-I'm so proud of you. Well done, well done.

-Thanks.

0:56:190:56:23

Suman, it gives us enormous pleasure to present you

0:56:230:56:27

with this stunning trophy.

0:56:270:56:30

Be very careful because,

0:56:300:56:32

like all of us at the end of these long six weeks, it's very fragile.

0:56:320:56:35

Thank you so much. Thank you.

0:56:380:56:40

Suman deserved it.

0:56:420:56:43

I think she's been pretty consistent all the way through.

0:56:430:56:45

I think this competition has changed where I'm going to go in the future

0:56:450:56:49

with painting. I've definitely progressed.

0:56:490:56:52

Do you know what, from the bottom of my heart,

0:56:530:56:55

I am so happy that Suman got that because her work has been amazing.

0:56:550:56:59

At the end of the day, I'm walking away from this a completely different artist

0:56:590:57:03

from what I was six weeks ago.

0:57:030:57:05

I thought Suman was the prime candidate.

0:57:060:57:09

She's developed so much.

0:57:090:57:10

It's all over now. Excellent!

0:57:120:57:13

It won't be anything I'll ever forget.

0:57:150:57:19

It's like every little part has led to this

0:57:190:57:22

and now I have the confidence to get going and get painting

0:57:220:57:25

and I've learnt so much from the whole process. And it's great.

0:57:250:57:29

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