An artist from Toxteth featured in the 2023 Sky Arts Portrait of the Year was “so happy” to paint two well known stars.
Anna-Louise Loy has been painting since she was a child and is inspired by the work of Vincent Van Gogh. Painting for Anna-Louise is something she uses to express herself and a form of therapy.
The 26-year-old applied for the Sky Arts Portrait of the Year by submitting a self-portrait. She sent in further work showcasing her style of painting, answering some questions before getting through to the televised heats from over a thousand applicants.
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Anna-Louise told the ECHO: "In my heat I painted Fleur East, she was absolutely stunning. I was so happy when I found out she was the one I was going to be painting in each heat.
"There are nine artists selected per heat and eight heats all together. During the heat, you're given four hours to finish your painting, that is not a lot of time.
"I usually give myself at least 20 hours plus to finish a painting. Leading up to the heats I would practise everyday trying to complete a portrait within four hours.
"I was lucky enough to win my heat. Fleur East chose my artwork to take home with her”.
Anna-Louise went on to the semi-final where she was given ex Spice Girl Emma Bunton to do her portrait. Aged 25 at the time of the competition she did not make it to the final which was won by Wendy Barratt.
Portraits are Anna-Louise's preferred thing to paint. The feedback received from both Fleur East and Emma Bunton was inspiring for her.
Fleur East told her she "made her feel the painting". Emma Bunton said she "really put life into the painting".
Anna-Louise said: "This experience gave me a lot more confidence in myself as an artist to apply for other competitions, such as the Royal Portrait Society. I will be applying at the end of January.
“I've grown my social media pages on TikTok and Instagram and I'm really grateful that my art is being recognised. I've just finished a commission for the Royal Liverpool hospital and it will be exhibited very soon".
Anna-Louise recently finished studying classical trombone at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. She has plans to study a Masters Degree and currently works at the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic.
She said: "Ideally, I'd love to find a way to incorporate my love for art and love for music in some type of career. I would love to be a professional musician".
Anna-Louise has over 60,000 followers via Tik Tok and Instagram with her paintings clocking up millions of likes. People request portraits of their pets but she prefers to paint people.
She said: "I've always been drawn to the human form and faces. It's more than just being able to look at someone in the painting but to really capture who they are.
"I've been painting and drawing since I was a child. It's always been something I've used as not only a way to express myself but as a form of therapy as well.
"I started by drawing cartoons and fairies and then as I got older I started drawing real people. I've always been drawn to the impressionist movement, in particular Vincent Van Gogh and how he uses colour.
"I love how impressionist artists like Van Gogh are able to use the brush strokes and colour to create their paintings. I enjoy experimenting with different artists' techniques and taking what works for me and incorporating it into my own art style."
For information visit Tik Tok HERE or Instagram HERE
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