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 Season 1

The Roku ChannelFree

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 FaithWhen religious art came down from the walls of churches, it began a new life on gallery walls. Paton shows how religious work still addresses the big questions about our place and purpose in life and whether there is something bigger than ourselves worth believing in.
...of Nothing
E7
...of NothingPaton takes on the challenge of abstract art-paintings that sometimes "look like nothing.""He finds there is always something to say about these paintings that, instead of leaving the world behind, can often bring it closer .
...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 MuseumVisiting art galleries and museums can be overwhelming. Paton considers the challenge of trying to find that intimate moment with a painting in a public space-and why, with great art, there is always more to see.
...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 ownIn our busy, fast-paced lives, why should we take time for paintings? Paton thinks of galleries as time machines where we slow down to look and where paintings look back, speaking to us across time and forcing us to take stock of our lives.