Ian McKellen — original acrylic and ink painting by Chris Shopland
Acrylic and ink on A3 sketchbook backing, framed.
I don’t strive for a perfect likeness. I’m much more interested in being inspired by a person and creating a good painting from that starting point. There are so many incredibly skilled artists who can create almost exact likenesses, photo real in fact, or work in a style where you immediately know who you’re looking at. That’s not really what I’m interested in, or least after years of study, realised I have other strengths and lent into them building this art thing around it.
Salvador Dalí famously said, "The reason some portraits don't look true to life is that some people make no effort to resemble their pictures.
I want to create my own version of the human.
I don’t usually paint celebrities, but I felt compelled to paint Ian McKellen on this occasion. I remember watching Portrait Artist of the Year and noticing how kind and encouraging he was towards the contestants, which stayed with me. Plus fan pop Lord of the rings, the opening to fellowship the ring always gets me hooked back in, extended versions and all. Still can’t get past hobbit history in the book however……
This was such a fun painting to make, particularly playing with the texture and layers of paint. Came out quite different to my usual work but again I am not one to follow a style or subject. I wish to paint it all. Rather than focusing on the person you think you know, try looking at the painting itself — the marks, texture, colours and many, many layers that went into creating it. Reminding us we can keep our inner child, after all actors paid millions are paid to pretend. They just happen to do this very well!
Artwork: A3
Framed size: 17.4 × 21.5 inches
Ian McKellen — original acrylic and ink painting by Chris Shopland
Acrylic and ink on A3 sketchbook backing, framed.
I don’t strive for a perfect likeness. I’m much more interested in being inspired by a person and creating a good painting from that starting point. There are so many incredibly skilled artists who can create almost exact likenesses, photo real in fact, or work in a style where you immediately know who you’re looking at. That’s not really what I’m interested in, or least after years of study, realised I have other strengths and lent into them building this art thing around it.
Salvador Dalí famously said, "The reason some portraits don't look true to life is that some people make no effort to resemble their pictures.
I want to create my own version of the human.
I don’t usually paint celebrities, but I felt compelled to paint Ian McKellen on this occasion. I remember watching Portrait Artist of the Year and noticing how kind and encouraging he was towards the contestants, which stayed with me. Plus fan pop Lord of the rings, the opening to fellowship the ring always gets me hooked back in, extended versions and all. Still can’t get past hobbit history in the book however……
This was such a fun painting to make, particularly playing with the texture and layers of paint. Came out quite different to my usual work but again I am not one to follow a style or subject. I wish to paint it all. Rather than focusing on the person you think you know, try looking at the painting itself — the marks, texture, colours and many, many layers that went into creating it. Reminding us we can keep our inner child, after all actors paid millions are paid to pretend. They just happen to do this very well!
Artwork: A3
Framed size: 17.4 × 21.5 inches
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