Conclusion

I have always been mainly interested in painting portraiture myself so I am well accustomed with the challenges that it presents and often research new artists in that area. The difficulty in balancing reality and abstract ideas was something I always struggled with, often getting distressed and annoyed when the end result didn't reach my expectations. therefore research into this exhibition really opened my eyes into all the possibilities portraiture holds, that it can be as expressive as the artist wishes it to be, down to even the medias used.
The main thing I have noticed from looking into the exhibition pieces is that the work is extremely personal, mostly something the artist is highly interested in or delving into the most personal side of the subject themselves. This changed my view that a portrait is simply a painting of another person, the best are the ones that have something extra; this I will carry with me into my future work, not only in portraiture but in all my artwork.
The realisation that the final piece doesn't have to physically resemble the subject at all, it can be as warped or abstract as the artist wishes, makes the thought of doing portraiture in the future much more enjoyable and fun.
I have also come to notice that I don't give much thought to the media I use in my work apart from what I feel comfortable using. From looking at the artists in the exhibition has encouraged me to experiment with more media, not only to create the desired look but also to support the thoughts behind the piece.
In order to fit in with the contemporary art scene, portraiture has had to adopt some of its themes, such as: more thought about the ideas behind the image and figuring out ways of being unique and standing out. I think it is these adaptations that has radically changed portraiture for the better in my eyes and I am anticipating seeing what future artists have to offer.