Story: Zainab Jama
Local artist Michael Gaskell has reached the final three in the BP Portrait Award at the National Portrait Gallery in London. This is the fourth time he has been a finalist in the competition, this time the subject is his eldest son, Tom.
Have you lived all your life in Sheffield?
I moved to Sheffield in 1986 and lived most of these years in the Burngreave area. Tom actually went to Firshill school when he was younger.
Why did you choose to paint your son?
My inspiration was the Botticelli painting ‘Portrait of a Young Man’ a picture I have always admired. Tom was at the perfect age on the cusp of growing from a boy into a man. I took the opportunity to ask him to sit for me, luckily for me he said ‘yes’.
How long did the painting take?
I had the idea for the portrait 4 years ago when Tom was 17 and have worked on it on and off since then with the bulk of the work done over the last six months.
Did your son sit for the entire portrait?
I work from life and photographs, when he did sit for me I was usually looking really closely at the eye or hairs in his eyebrow, which wasn’t always a comfortable experience for him.
What does your son think of the painting?
He likes it now, but he found it difficult to look at it for a long time. What he has found really interesting is the publicity around it being a finalist in the exhibition.
How do you feel about the painting?
I am pleased to have finished it and I do like it a lot but, like most artists, I am critical of what I do and cannot help scrutinizing my paintings all the time. It was entered into the competition in March so I haven’t had the chance to look at it since then. It will be interesting to see how I feel when I see it in the exhibition.
How does it feel to be in the final three?
It feels really good, it is always a thrill when other people respond so positively to your work. This year there were 1,900 entries and to get down to the last three is a fantastic feeling regardless of what happens.
Have you ever painted anyone famous?
No, but I would like to paint Barry Humphries or Ken Dodd as both have faces with an experienced, lived in quality. I do know that Caroline Quentin has purchased some of my landscape paintings.
What is your next project?
I am working towards my next exhibition which will be this autumn or early spring next year. My paintings are small and detailed. I work slowly and it takes me about a year to complete 8 to 10 pictures. The exhibition will be mostly landscapes, with a portrait of my friend’s father if it is finished.
Michael’s painting will be part of a free exhibition in the National Portrait Gallery in London from 18 June to 20 September, following the announcement of the winner of the £25,000 prize on 16th June.