Isolation Portraits 2020: Lockdown Art in Devon

Unable to visit galleries many people are enjoying the art programmes currently on TV, such as Grayson Perry on a Monday night and the Life Drawing Live! masterclass. And who hasn’t enjoyed some of the creations that have come out of the Getty Museum’s challenge to recreate your own masterpiece with objects lying around your home.

After many years’ absence the lockdown has made me pick up my few ancient brushes to attempt a portrait of one of my sons – although I’ve warned him not to be offended by the result!

The Devon Guild of Craftsmen is running Isolation Portraits 2020 throughout May. The project is open to anyone, whether an artist or not. They’re asking for 20cm x 20cm portraits of someone you’re in lockdown with or someone you can see only on screen. Entries are being shown on their website with some going on display once they re-open. People are being invited to send their works in as soon as possible so they can be shown on social media as they come in. Work can be done in any medium except for portrait photography.

Email your portrait to flora.pearson@crafts.org.uk.

Strange to say but I was feeling pretty nervous about making a start – now I’m really pleased I did. It’s been a great escape.

And just as an aside, there’s a fascinating three-minute video that’s been posted by the Royal Academy showing Picasso at work, shown as part of the Academy’s Picasso and Paper exhibition. Filmed in 1956 it shows the genius behind his painting, Visage: Head of a Faun. Well worth a watch.