How to Look at a Painting

Season 1

'How to look at a painting' provides viewers with a fresh and exciting perspective on how to truly appreciate and better understand the world of painting. Justin embarks on a highly visual journey of exploration across the painted world to uncover and examine the marvels and mysteries of painting.

Where to Watch How to Look at a Painting • Season 1

12 Episodes

  • ...and Discover a New World
    E1
    ...and Discover a New WorldPaton takes us back to the place where he had his first brush with painting and fell in love with it. He shows how art connects us with the past and how the most important painting in your life is the one you're off to see next.
  • ...of the Body
    E2
    ...of the BodyThrough the ages, artists have had a love affair with the body. But now that painting no longer has the naked body to itself, can painting still get under our skin?
  • ...of a Place
    E3
    ...of a PlaceLandscape painting has the power to capture not only how the scenery looks but also how a place feels. By zeroing in on New Zealand landscapes, Paton shows how artists can paint what we don't see at first.
  • ...and Connect the Old and New
    E4
    ...and Connect the Old and NewDrawing inspiration from the painted past, today's artists can give a fresh lease on life to old works. In the process, they are bridging the gap between the new and the old-in this episode, between New Zealand and old Venice.
  • ...of a Face
    E5
    ...of a FaceWhen it comes to portraits, how can paint compete with pixels? Are painted portraits worth looking at in our digital age? Find out how they can look back in time, at the wider culture, and at us.
  • ...and Take a Leap of Faith
    E6
    ...and Take a Leap of FaithWhat happened to religious art when it came down from the walls of churches and began a new life on gallery walls? We go in search of the answers.
  • ...of Nothing
    E7
    ...of NothingGuiding viewers through the seemingly ‘nothing’ world of abstract art, Justin teaches viewers that paintings which look like nothing at all, always have something to say.
  • ...that Wants to Change the World
    E8
    ...that Wants to Change the WorldArtists, like many of us, are troubled by the issues of the world. Can painting, this seemingly silent medium, get to grips with the world outside and make a difference?
  • ...that Doesn't Look Like a Painting
    E9
    ...that Doesn't Look Like a PaintingJustin blows a hole in the myth that paintings are canvases contained within a frame, hanging on walls. Painting has flopped right off the walls and begun to flirt with other art forms.
  • ...in a Museum
    E10
    ...in a MuseumFor many, visiting galleries and museums can be daunting – all that noise, all those visitors, not enough time. How do we find that intimate moment with a painting in a public space?
  • ...and Start a Collection
    E11
    ...and Start a CollectionJustin explores the world of the art dealer and the people who buy. How fat does your wallet need to be, and is it ok to say “I’m just looking!”
  • ...on your own
    E12
    ...on your own

Cast of Season 1

  • Justin Paton

 

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