With some afternoons at home, I’m finishing a new portrait – a second one of Dench – still not quite complete but I’ll finish it when I can and get it up on the art site for general availability, prints etc. Brand new easel too: my old one cost me a few quid from a Bristol Oxfam many years ago – I finally treated myself to a great big easel with a crank and everything – just wonderful.
Dx
"
MARVELLOUS DEAR DERREN!!
About time you treated yourself too!!
I just adore your work!! LOVE EVERY SINGLE ONE.
And I know just how passionate you are about art….. it shows!!
Hope you’re well. And see you soon. XXXXXXXXXX
Wow, that is one fantastic painting, Derren! Such detail in your work. Brilliant.
Just one question…..why do you look so stern? If I was the artist of that painting I’d be grinning like a smug Cheshire cat!
Take care
LC x
Blimey.
That is REALLY good, that really works. Good grief yes.
N
Terrific work, Derren. How do you find the time?!
One word – WOW!!!
How can one man be so talented?!
U amaze me Mr Brown!
xx
I’ve never understood how people manage to paint such large images of something as relatively small as a face. You really need an artist’s eye to translate small features to large patches of colour, I’d imagine. Impressive.
Lovely picture, too.
amazing !! i wish i was even a little bit as gifted.
well done that man! x
how the hell did he get so good at painting?
My Eyes
That is a rather large canvas – I had never really realised how large your paintings are
I love the detail – as much as I love the other version, I think prefer this one
WOW!! I am speechless, you have taken my breath away.
Such detail in the way you fold your arms and intensley look at the camera!
Seriously, your art is INTRICATELY AMAZING, I wonder if you are self taught?
PS Can I buy your old easel, including all frustrated paint splats, brush strokes and tea spills on it !
Wow
You’re amazing ^^ ♥
Lovelyyyey!…where are the video/clips with you, explaining your painting techniques and all? Can´t wait…pls/ey?
though deárren,… you should not smile so much, people might think you enjoy yourself …
Xx
Seriously,who has the patience to paint something on that scale? (well, Derren obviously lol)
That’s truly amazing. My Dad bought me the Portrait Book for my birthday last month
x
You look awfy serious there DB.
Oh!! PPS I forgot to say TALENT TALENT TALENT TALENT and erm TALENT
Best Wishes Jo x
I like it. I like more realistic than the others is it not? Your post seemed a bit more happy than you look in the photo. But than again I look at lot worse when I am working on my art. A bit of a puzzle there you would think we artist could can convey the joy we find in our work instead of looking like madmen/madwomen. Over all I do like the painting.
All together now…
Ooooooooh!
Derren! It’s great, a masterpiece! How is it not finished? You must like her because you flatter her a little more than the other figures you’ve painted. If you ever painted me I’d need counseling (no offence, it’s just your style).
zomg it’s bigger than you!!
WOW!
Wow that’s amazing stuff Derren i’m loving it
you really are a truly amazing artist 
I wish I were as good as you with my art, I suck at painting & drawing.
I have made an improvement over the years sure but still i’m no where near as good as you!!!
I hope you do some more portraits in the near future as I always enjoy your art
take care see you soon sweetheart xxx
Chantelle <3 <3 <3
I love your apron.
Dude!!! that is so awsome!!!
Wow it’s amazing!!!!
was at the dublin show (amazing) when ”bob” was shouted out pricelss so it was haha pictures class but why the serious face (on u, not dench lol)
Awesome, well done.
now thats bloody brilliant DB you really are an incredibly gifted individual i do wonder what Dame Judi Dench would say of it
Amazing!
How does you have the time!!
That is so amazing! You are so talented!
Wow! Sweet work, dude!!! =o
That genuinely is incredible. The detail is amazing! X
That’s fantastic!
Ming has been vexed all day by the familiarity of this photoimage, but I am vexed no more, for it is here that I have seen it before:
http://tinyurl.com/zdtyyl
my god derren so life like, it truly is an amazing painting. love your work, hope your well
Gareth
I love the look you’ve captured in her eyes – just lovely!
x
that’s beautiful. looks just like her.
LH&S,
roz
I don’t think the owner of that face will be very pleased with it!
Incredible, Derren, i’d love if my artwork was anywhere near the standard of yours!
Brilliant xx
Great! Please post pictures of your next work in stages. Perhaps from reference > sketch > base color> broad strokes > details (or however you do it). I’d love to see how you do it.
Truely brilliant x
Depressingly good.
Are you happy with it?
Blimey,that’s BIG!Excellent work Derren but you look embarrassed on the photo.I hope you’ll haveanother exhibition.I’d love to go to the next one.
You are very talented…I wish I had half of your talent…The painting is very good but I much prefer to look at the person stood beside the brand new easel with the painting on…Dame Judi Dench And I have one thing in common, we both share the same birthday. (she is older than me though)
Derren is in “Dont mess with me” mode
Derren, that’s really a wonderful characterisation, lovely textures and expression. Any chance of telling us your path to such a style/talent?
May I say that I can’t see what you still need to add?? It’s great. I’m impressed as with most of your paintings. I myself make them still with brooms and such .. (so that you know what my level is, which, unfortunately will not make you so content with me being impressed perhaps, not being a master in painting myself .. ).
The difference between both halves of the face . wonderfull .. (I’m still kinda impressed by my own insight in why or what I dont need to see anymore inside when seeing something inside in both halves … oh well, we all have our own talents .. we studied them in a different way for the same reason. My results will not be so enjoyed by others as your results will be enjoyed by so many people though ..but we both enjoy what we do.).
A challenge it is, to be painted
brilliant pic Derren, you’re extremely talented!
You’ll have to do another one of Stephen Fry since he’s lost so much weight!
Have you done one of Darwin or Ricky Gervais yet? (strange mix I know!)
Love all your work
)
PS – Loved the last book too!
You should write another one debunking fortune tellers etc, as I’m getting sick of telling the kids (and women) in school that they’re all fakes!
Brilliant. Just wonderful.
Arch disdain, I believe.
It is, I suppose, the very essence of caricature to maintain a likeness despite or even because of the distortion of the features. This you achieve admirably.
For me, however, the beauty is in the detail. The eyes have a piercing clarity. The hair is soft and downy, just as one would imagine. The focus softens around the ears, giving a photorealistic effect which succeeds in creating great depth, leaving the eye to pay scant regard to the massively altered structures.
It is well wicked.
You are a polymath of the highest quality. Well, nearly. Pretty impressive anyway. Not quite Leonardo but close. Couldn’t ask for much more.
…
Can you do a kickflip? Bet you can’t.
Go on, prove me wrong. (Ask Coops what a kickflip is)
How marvelous is that! As always!
I can explain this. You see, Dame Judy is getting on a bit and like a lot of older people has what we call a LARGE PRINT passport…
I joke.
Love it, kudos.x
SCARY THAT X
Not a big scrabble fan hence my thought on Derren being an f’ing genius!
One man shouldn’t be allowed to be so insanely good at so many things. It makes everyone else jealous.
Even if I practised my whole life I don’t think I’ll ever be that good and I’m doing an art A level. D:
Amazing work.
Forget the talented Mr Ripley….. Lets change that to the Talented Mr Brown, Derren that’s awsome LOVE IT !!!!!
OMG that’s amazing! You’ve done Dame Judi proud and I’m sure she’ll love it.
I’m totally in awe of all your art work, it’s simply stunning!
Enjoy your new easel…
x
Amazing art work Derren ! i just love it. x.
love it you must of really enjoyed doing that painting! I know when i paint i lose myself take myself away from all of life’s stresses and strains and find my self in a self satisfactory relaxed state. I find i paint in tune to classic Fm’s latest track do you listen to music when you paint Derren ???
What I find truly magical is Derren\’s ability to use acrylic paint before it dries in no time at all!
Damm fine peice of art.Caught her features well,espesially the eyes. Dont know how you find time, with tour going so well, extra dates! Do your subjects get to see your fininshed works??
Awesome! Another great piece of art work by the talented Mr Brown! I agree with lots of the other posts though, that you should smile more as you look so much nicer when you smile!!!!
) xx
Superb work Derren. Your book has been an inspiration since I bought it. I love your stuff.
Qualitaa!
Really expressive (feel like an art toff now) and positivly chiseled into the canvas.
Bloody hell! you don’t spare any punches…big up you chest piece sir : )
Brilliant!!!
I keep meaning to find the time to have a go at developing my skills in portraits
I’ve got your book for inspiration, i’ll have to get it out again!
xx
That really is absolutely stunning. I love it.
I also like the fact that you are photographed standing next to it. It makes it ‘sink in’ a bit more that you are, in fact, the artist.
I actually find it typical of greatness to be driven to excel in a leisure pursuit. I’m reminded of my accomplished psychology professor who was also a master self-taught woodworker/carpenter, and built all his own kitchen cabinets, as well as a great computer science researcher who is enthusiastic about riding his Italian motorcycle through the countryside. It reminds me that one must not have a ‘one track life’ to be successful in one’s field.
You even get that slightly crossed eye!
You been working out, Derren. Them’s decent biceps!
such brilliant talent, used in a devilish way. i love it !
Very Lucian Freud – you should take the time to study at the RCA – unless you already have done…? I’m not at all surprised given your ability to ‘read’ peoples faces/body language that you can paint /draw so well. I have a similar ability to ‘read’ people (and animals) and would love to fine-tune it – any advice? Where would I go to learn? Love the way your mind works.
Amazing, Derren. I am always amazed with your work.
You must be so talented to produce art like this.
I am fascinated with the way your mind works. I have watched nearly every single one of your shows – including one where I mysteriously was stuck to my sofa…
After being enthralled with your work – I have made it my ambition to meet you and for you to perform some sort of mind control trickery on me. Being only 13, I suppose I have a long enough time to go about this.
Keep up the amazing work Derren!