Renowned portrait artist Jonathan Yeo believes that portrait painting is still a relevant and important art form in today’s era of selfies. Yeo is best known for his portraits of well-known figures from various fields like entertainment, politics, royalty, and activism. Some of his portraits include Sir David Attenborough, Nicole Kidman, Helena Bonham Carter, and Taron Egerton, among others. Yeo feels that a painted portrait can express more aspects of a sitter’s character than a regular photograph, as it captures different moments and evolves as the artist gets to know the subject.
Yeo’s unorthodox path to success started without any formal training in art school. He developed his unique style and techniques, which ultimately earned him a successful career. In 2013, he had a show dedicated to his work at the National Portrait Gallery, and he has exhibited his work in museums worldwide. Yeo is now using his decades of experience in a new way by recording a series of lessons for BBC Maestro, where experts share their skills.
While painting high-profile figures can have its advantages, Yeo also believes it can be a double-edged sword. Famous people are more accustomed to being scrutinized, and hence may be less awkward at the outset, but painting them can also require artists to dig deeper to reveal their true personality. Yeo mentions some of his best-known subjects, including Tony Blair, Grayson Perry, Jonathan Ive, and Cara Delevingne.
Yeo’s 2015 portraits of Cara Delevingne are some of his most interesting pieces. Delevingne was in a playful mood during the sitting and used costumes and props from Yeo’s studio to make the experience more fun. Yeo also talks of his portraits of Taron Egerton, who he captured while portraying Elton John in the 2019 film “Rocketman,” and Jonathan Ive, chief design officer of Apple at the time. Yeo is confident that portrait painting will continue to hold significance in the years to come.
Yeo’s lessons on portrait painting for BBC Maestro will be released on January 24th, and he hopes to inspire a new generation of artists to take up the art form
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