Mark Fennell RBSA

News and events

tagged portraitpainter

Artlife studio, still life workshop.

It's a real pleasure to be working with Sarah and Richard Thomas at Artlife studio near Amersham.
This was my first workshop for them, the first two images show my still life demonstration painted in oils over three stages during the day.
My next workshop here will be an introduction to Portrait painting in oils or acrylics on thursday 5th October 2023.
https://www.artlifestudio.co.uk

Portrait painting workshop in Chorleywood.

Here i am again with Rickmansworth art society, running a portrait painting in oils and acrylics workshop with a nice group of talented artists.
https://rickyart.co.uk/

The Artist magazine.

My article - Exploring the Zorn palette in the July 2023 issue of The Artist magazine. In this article i demonstrate how i paint an alla prima portrait in oils using the Zorn colour palette, just three colours plus white.
https://www.painters-online.co.uk

Zoom Portrait painting demonstration.

Here's a few frames from a Zoom portrait painting demonstration i did for Arun art society in oils with a limited colour palette (Zorn palette).
I spent a little time after the demonstration tickling this one up as you can see in the final image.

http://www.arunartsociety.co.uk/

Portrait painting demonstration.

Here's a few snapshots of a 2 hour zoom portrait painting demonstration i did for Frimley and Camberley society of artists. I did this one in oils with the Zorn palette, just three colours - cadmium red, ivory black and yellow ochre plus titanium white.
https://fcsaonline.org.uk/

Portrait painting course in Stroud.

Here i am again at Pegasus art in Stroud, running a portrait painting in oils and acrylics workshop with a nice group of talented artists.
https://www.pegasusart.co.uk/classes-workshops.irs

Winners of the TALP Open Artist exhibition awards 2021.

Very pleased to be exhibiting at Patchings Art Centre as one of the eight winners or the Artist magazine 2021 exhibition awards. As well as attending the private view of the exhibition we had a nice inspirational walk around The Artists Trail in their grounds.

Portrait painting workshop in the Slad valley.

My first painting workshop for Chez Helene at their great new studio in the Cotswolds.
Looking forward to more workshops here and Lake Annecy next year.

https://chez-helene.co.uk/

Portrait of Franco Luxardo.

My recent portrait of Franco Luxardo President of the Girolamo Luxardo Italian liqueur and spirits business. Luxardo is one of the oldest European firms producing liqueurs and spirits and is famous for it's Maraschino cherry liqueur.
This one was quite a challenge as it was commissioned as a suprise gift for Franco and i had to work from supplied images rather than meet Franco in person and take my own reference images.
I was commissioned by Martin Watts, pictured with Franco above. Martin presented Franco with the portrait in Torreglia as a thank you for their long standing business relationship.
A quote from Martin -
"Tears were shed by both sides as memories of our personal relationship which dates back to the early 1980’s, unfolded. Quite interestingly, Franco earlier had proudly shown me a portrait of his grandfather, dated from around the 1920’s which he had found in a museum in Zara (the original site in Dalmatia of the company), and which he persuaded the museum to part with. Whilst in a different, more formal, style to your portrait of Franco, they will take pride of place in the new corporate museum that they are opening in the Autumn."
https://www.luxardo.it/

The Artist Magazine.

My article in the January issue of The Artist magazine, portrait painting in oils with palette knives.

Painting workshops in the cotswolds.

I ended my year of workshops in the Cotswolds at Pure Artwork studio.
Looking forward to teaching there again next year!

Portrait drawing demonstration.

It was really nice to be invited back to Pinner Sketch Club for another demonstration, this time it was portrait drawing in charcoal.
https://www.pinnersketchclub.co.uk/

Portrait painting workshops in Cornwall.

Another two very enjoyable portrait painting workshops at Truro Arts Company.
This was my first one at their fantastic shop in Truro city centre, next year i should be teaching back at their coachouse studio in the heart of the Cornish countryside just outside Truro.
So nice to get down to St Agnes afterwards!

Zorn palette Portrait painting workshop.

Another very enjoyable portrait painting workshop with Pegasus Art in Stroud.
It was so nice to be painting with a lovely group of artists in Stroud again.
Thanks to Paul for being such a good sitter!

Here’s my third portrait for #portraitsfornhsheroes. This is Theodora, she's a university student who was asked to come and help out in the Covid Intensive Care Units and wards because they were desperate and so understaffed! I painted her portrait as part of the #portraitsfornhsheroes initiative created by fellow Oxford art society member and painter friend Tom Croft.

Portrait painting in acrylics demonstration via Zoom

This is my first Acrylics portrait demonstration on Zoom, Usually i demonstrate in oils so i was under
a bit more pressure to produce something in 2 hours.
Ongar art society were let down by another artist so i jumped in at the last minute to help them out.

"Just wanted to tell you Barbara that Mark Fennell was a great demonstrator.  All our members were so impressed with his ways of explaining what he was doing, talking about his colour palette, brushes, types of mark etc.  So informative.  A really good, easy style of chatting, that made the whole demo very interesting all the way through.  Excellent painting also. "

Great choice, thank you very much

All the best
Loueen

Very pleased to be exhibiting at the Bucks Art Society 100th anniversary Exhibition at the county museum in Aylesbury, the town where I was born and grew up. Also very pleased that the Art curator Mel Czapski chose my portrait of ww2 veteran Len Nixey as one of her five favourite pieces. Unfortunately the museum is closed during lockdown but you can see the great work by all the members and the virtual tour - https://www.buckscountymuseum.org/.../bucks-art-society.../

Portrait painting workshop in Cornwall
Spent an enjoyable couple of days running a portrait painting workshop for Truro arts company.
I painted Chris, the guy in the blue top over 3 demonstrations each lasting approx 30 minutes.

#portraitsfornhsheroes
My portrait for #portraitsfornhsheroes got a little feature in the Bucks Herald and Vale life magazine i was also intervied on Three Counties Radio.
Portrait of nurse Megan Woodman, painted as part of Oxford art society member Tom Croft’s brilliant idea #portraitsfornhsheroes.
Megan works at Chelsea and Westminster hospital in London and has been nursing for only a year and a half. She was transfered to the ITU unit during the Covid19 pandemic.
If you would like to nominate an NHS Hero to be painted, sign into Instagram and search the hashtag #portraitsfornhsheroes to find an artist.

Artists life interview.
I occasionally run art courses at Pegasus art in Stroud and they recently interviewed me for their Artists life blog.
https://www.pegasusart.co.uk/blog/artist-interviews/artist-life-mark-fennell/

Portrait painting demonstration.
I had an enjoyable evening demonstrating portrait painting from life at Virginia Water art society.
As ever it was a challenge with only 2 hours including a tea break.
"This evening Mark Fennell came to Virginia Water Art Society to demonstrate painting in oil the Portait of Anthony one of our members. The likeness was incredible and in less than 2 hours Mark talked us through his process. The evening was very enjoyable and everyone was impressed by the results, thank you Mark"
https://www.virginiawater.org.uk/artsociety/

Portrait painting demonstration.
Another enjoyable portrait painting demo, I felt the pressure on this one painting Patrick from life for Eastcote art society.
I think a backdrop and more dramatic lighting would have helped!
www.eastcoteartsociety.org

Buckinghamshire portrait artist has work selected for The RBA.
My self portrait – The diagnosis has been selected for The Royal Society of British Artists annual open exhibition at The Mall Galleries London.

“I painted this self portrait with palette knives soon after being diagnosed with Lymphoma, I think it reflects how I felt at the time.” Receiving the cancer diagnosis was such a shock, but I felt compelled to paint himself and show how i was feeling. The chemotherapy treatment was successful, and i now feel healthy and well”.

https://www.royalsocietyofbritishartists.org.uk

Portrait painting course.
Had a fun day running a portrait painting workshop with a talented group of artists at Pegasus art in Stroud.
https://www.pegasusart.co.uk/classes-workshops.irs

Portrait painting demonstration.
I was very pleased to be invited back to Pinner sketch club again, this time demonstrating portrait painting in oils with painting knives. https://www.pinnersketchclub.co.uk/

Portrait painting from life demonstration.
I had a fun evening painting Marilyn from life at Wendover art club, with less than 2 hrs to do the job i had work extremely fast.
http://www.wendoverartclub.co.uk/

Portrait painting workshop at Queen’s Park centre in Aylesbury.
Spent an enjoyable day running a portrait painting workshop for Bucks art society at my old junior school which is now Queen’s Park centre in Aylesbury.
Robin George our model for the day was as brilliant as ever!
http://bucksart.co.uk/

Rosemary and co artists brushes.
Just recieved a nice package from Rosemary Thompson @rosemaryandco. A couple of free T-shirts and some sample brushes – Classic and Ivory range for students to use at my workshops.
www.rosemaryandco.com

Painting courses.
Had a great time running a two day portrait painting workshop at Pure Artwork studio in Adderbury, what a great place to work!
https://www.pureartworkstudio.co.uk

My Chemo self portrait series in the news.
Found myself on another online news site i’ve never heard of!
https://www.real-fix.com/general/artist-diagnosed-with-cancer-produces-incredible-series-of-self-portraits-for-every-week-of-his-chemo/

Portrait painting workshop.
Another fun day teaching a lovely group of artists portrait painting with palette knives at Art events in Surrey.
“Thank you for a wonderful wokshop on Saturday. It was a delight to meet you and we all loved working with you on the challenge of the palette knife! Not only are you a fine artist but an excellent tutor and I very much appreciated the preparation you made to ensure the students had all they needed to help them create a good painting. It was huge fun as well! We are already looking forward to the next one and I will send you some dates soon.”
Linda Bywaters

http://www.art-events.co.uk/

Painting course.
Had fun teaching palette knife portrait painting to a great group of artists at Pegasus Art in Stroud.
“I bought Mark’s workshop that was held on Saturday, as a Christmas present for my husband and he learnt so much! He can’t wait to come back on another workshop run by Mark!” Sally Cain.
https://www.pegasusart.co.uk/classes-workshops.irs

Portrait painting course in Oxford.
Enjoyed the weekend teaching palette knife portrait painting to a great bunch of students at Oxford Summer School. Some people decided to stick to working with brushes but still got some impressive results.
http://www.oxfordsummerschool.com/

Art Courses.
My very first workshop with Pure Artwork Studio at Manor barn in Adderbury, what a great place to work!
Had a great bunch of students and the lovely Nadia sitting for us on day one, then worked from photographic references on day two.
https://www.pureartworkstudio.co.uk

Art demonstration.
Really enjoyed a recent acrylics portrait painting demonstration at Berkhamstead art society.
Also nice to have my hair growing back after the chemo!
I didn’t have time to finish it at the demo, so i carried on with it in my studio and here’s the result.

“Our many thanks to Mark, so say all who thoroughly enjoyed his recent demonstration at the
Berkhamsted Art Society when Mark produced, with gusto, a superb portrait painting in acrylic whilst
enlightening us to his way of working. Truly informative, inspiring and entertaining.

This is not the first time that he has demonstrated for our Society and we doubt that it will be the last- Here’s hoping that we can book Mark again for a future demonstration or workshop.
Much appreciated. “
Bob : Programme Secretary – Berkhamsted Art Society

http://berkhamstedartsociety.co.uk/
http://artprofile.co.uk/artist.asp?artist=Mark%20Fennell&alpha=Fennell,%20Mark

Shortlisted for Artist of the year.
I am very pleased to announce that I have been shortlisted again for the Artists and Illustrators, ‘Artist of the Year’ Award. My portrait of Tony AKA Bouders has been chosen for the Artists of the Year Exhibition at the Mall Galleries in London from 25th February to 2nd March 2019.
You will have a chance to vote for it online – http://awards.artistsandillustrators.co.uk/vote-now/

Art demonstration.
I had a fun evening painting Mick from life on my portrait painting demonstration with Rickmansworth Art Society. I was going through chemo at the time, fortunately i was at the end of a cycle so my cell count was up and i was feeling energised.
As usual i was up against the clock with only two hours including a tea break so i used the Zorn palette of ivory black, yellow ochre, cadmium red and titanium to keep things simple.

Bucks Art Weeks.
I am delighted to be exhibiting some of my work at Delphine art studio in Thame for the Bucks Art Weeks, from June 9th – June 24th 2018.
Pictured – Roland Muldoon and Joey sat next to my portrait of Roland and Sid.

The Artist and Leisure painter.
My portrait of Sir Walter has been selected for The Artist and Leisure Painter magazines Patchings exhibition.

Art courses.
I did this 40 minute demonstration at Master Art Workshops
Painting Characters in Oil or Acrylics class, the eyes were put in later in a 15 minute demo.

April 21st 2018
www.masterartworkshops.com

Art demonstrator.
Had a fun evening demonstrating portrait painting from life in oils at Watford and Bushey art society.