ABOUT THE SHOW

Star Portraits is a TV series that explores and celebrates the art of portraiture, while providing a unique and compelling twist on celebrity profile.

Each episode begins by bringing together one famous Canadian and three accomplished portrait artists for a sitting. The sitter’s identity is a secret, the only clue being the specially chosen location. First, our host Louise Pitre introduces us to the three artists, then with a dramatic set-up, brings on the surprise guest, and kicks off the sitting. The artists are given three hours to study, sketch and photograph the sitter, and generally get to know them through conversation and questions. Then, the artists are sent off to their respective studios for exactly two weeks to complete their works.

In the middle of the two-week creative process, our host, Louise Pitre, visits each artist in their studio to find out how his or her portrait is coming along. As well, she learns a little about each artist, their body of work, their philosophy on portraiture, and their particular impressions and approach to the celebrity they are painting.

Each episode concludes, two weeks after the sitting, with the exciting unveiling of three complete portraits, from which the sitter gets to choose their favourite portrait to keep. The other two will be auctioned off for a charity of their choice.

Each episode introduces three new portrait artists, all handpicked and carefully vetted by expert curators. They come from diverse cultural and artistic backgrounds. They use a wide variety of styles, techniques and materials to capture not only the image but the character of their subject, and the sittings provide an opportunity not only to sketch and study the celebrity’s face and form, but to get to know them in a more intimate way.

But the heart of Star Portraits is the inspiration provided by the special celebrities who sit for our gifted portrait artists. Last year, Canadian personalities as diverse as Sen. Romeo Dallaire, boxer George Chuvalo, opera diva Measha Brueggergosman, comic Colin Mochrie and fiddler Ashley MacIsaac volunteered to sit for a portrait and to share a little of themselves, as artists worked to capture their image and character on canvas. This year, sitters include another wide range of amazing Canadians: comedienne Mary Walsh, environmentalist Dr. David Suzuki, ballet superstar Rex Harrington, actor Gordon Pinsent, Blue Rodeo singer Jim Cuddy, TV handyman Mike Holmes, Children’s rights crusader Craig Kielburger, hockey player Theoren Fleury, Paralympian Lauren Woolstencroft, the honourable Louise Arbour, comedian Seán Cullen, etalk host Tanya Kim, and fashion reporter Jeanne Beker.

Star Portraits is a unique and often poignant way to reflect on the connection between public image and personal identity, appearances and character. The viewer comes away with a sense of a famous Canadian that goes beyond their previous assumptions and expectations. The powerful eye of the artist never fails to see beyond the surface, and in each case, capture something distinctive and fascinating about a famous and familiar face.

But Star Portraits also works hard to support and celebrate the arts in Canada, and are rewarded with artists who consistently surprise and delight in their ability to capture likeness and reveal inner character in an amazing range of portraits. Celebrities almost always struggle to come to a decision about which portrait they’ll take home, and invariably wish they could have all three. Those final moments when they are forced to make a choice are often surprisingly powerful and revealing.

David Suzuki (Sept. 11) kicks off the highly-anticipated second season, followed by Mary Walsh (Sept. 18), and Rex Harrington (Sept. 25). Upcoming celebrity guests include Gordon Pinsent, Lauren Woolstencroft, Craig Kielburger, Seán Cullen, FASHIONTELEVISION's Jeanne Beker, ETALK's Tanya Kim, and Blue Rodeo's Jim Cuddy.