Face Forward project: A lesson in paying attention

We asked Helen and Diana how they had found the portrait sitting experience.

Helen said: “It is a rare treat to visit a place as charismatic as Rayrigg Hall. Walking down past the gardener and in between trees on a cool spring morning, I had to remind myself that it was my job to pay attention to my portrait sitter, and not get carried away by this romantic Lakeland spot.

“Diana met me by the front door and led me inside her home to find a good place to create her portrait. We wandered past huge dark wood chairs, milk pales hanging on the wall, along with paintings and great lacquered turtle shells.

“She was a wonderful sitter. It makes great sense to me that Diana was chosen to be the High Sheriff of Cumbria. A key part of that role, as she explained to me, was being hospitable to important visitors to the county and it was obvious how good a conversationalist Diana was. She was a wonderful storyteller and listener.

“Being a painter, or a draughtsman, is a bit like being a good listener - but this time with your eyes. It is a lesson in paying attention - so while she had organised her time to make room for me, I had pushed out all the interesting distractions I could have included on this page to make room for her. It’s quite a skill, I now know, to decide that, from all the millions of things in the world, you are going to focus all your attention on one person for a sustained time, but how wonderful when two people resolve to do this.

“My drawing was simply Diana in the window light of her drawing room. The light there caught her features really well - as well as her engaged expression. I hope the painting does those mornings justice.”

Diana had two sittings, each lasting three hours. She said: “It was all very professional. Helen is great. She’s very chatty and friendly which makes it an enjoyable and fascinating experience.

“I’m not used to sitting still so that was good to do that for a while.”

Diana was fascinated to learn that Helen leaves the painting of her subject’s face until last, completing the rest of the portrait first. She also picked up tips about the importance of getting the correct distance between the chin, the nose and the mouth.

After the sittings Diana was able to see Helen’s pencil sketches, which will be used as the basis for the portrait: “The initial drawing is very good. It looks like me.

“It will be interesting to see how the painting develops when she works with the oils.

“I had no idea that she paints the face in oils last. It makes sense, it’s just something I hadn’t realised before.

“I look forward to seeing how the project progresses. It’s very nice that Armstrong Watson has been doing these things and I hope it achieves all they want to achieve.”

<center><b>Click on the pictures below to see the completed portraits:</b></center>