The Portrait

Gr 9 Up—In honor of Queen Elizabeth II's 60th year of reign in Great Britain, Canada commissioned a portrait of Her Majesty. Five Canadian artists' portfolios were sent to her for consideration, and she selected Phil Richards. Film director Hubert Davis presents an intimate documentary of Richards as he goes through the step-by-step process of painting the portrait. A montage of historical footage and photographs of the Queen from childhood to the present gives weight to Richards's undertaking. Following on the heels of pop art and minimalism, Richards explains that his evolution as a realist and portrait artist was marred by a constant internal struggle over what an artist could or could not be. His influences, including Piero della Francesca, all placed a strong emphasis on structure. In an effective cinematic technique, Davis films Richards drawing as he moves within a life-size version of the elaborate grid system he uses to create foreground, background, and the illusion of space within his paintings. Viewers watch Richards sculpt and construct small, three-dimensional models of the Queen and the room in which she is portrayed, while he emphasizes the importance of self-discipline and regimented routines. Richards's frank discussion coupled with footage of the arduous journey to completion of the 6' x 9' portrait will be particularly instructional for students considering art as a profession.—Cary Frostick, Mary Riley Styles Public Library, Falls Church, VA