Hiya from Wiltshire, UK

[Mary Sparrow]

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!

[Carolyn Bannister]

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.

[Nicola Scott]

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

[Ilaria Rosselli Del Turco]

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

[Nicola Scott]

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.

[Ilaria Rosselli Del Turco]

In Italy the tradition of portrait and especially its teaching are totally lost, I think the best teacher is an Englishman who works in Florence...

Anyhow, I was on your site, I really enjoyed your work
I.

[Nicola Scott]

Thank you very much

I had a look at yours too, I like that you can see really big versions of your stuff - I like looking at brushwork, and the little bits you miss when you look at digital reproductions sometimes.

And..."undeservingly descending"? nope...

[Alexandra Tyng]

Nic,

Your portrait of the couple is fascinating, original, and quirky! I can't tear my eyes away from it. You make these people come alive! Thanks for posting it.

Alex

[Nicola Scott]

Thank you Sergio, I really really like your firemen painting, love the expressions, the directness of their gazes. Thank you for the welcome

And thank you too Alex