Art & Design

Mastering the Art

Forger John Myatt passes on his tips and tricks

Want to know how KY Jelly and cold coffee can help you produce a work of art that looks like it's set you back a few hundred thousand pounds? Then John Myatt is your man...

John Myatt started out as an art school graduate who, having discovered an aptitude for mimicking the styles of other artists, found his friends were requesting his works, and were prepared to pay for them. He followed this up with an advert in Private Eye which read "Genuine fakes. Nineteen and twentieth century paintings from £150", through which he met art dealer and master provenance-faker John Drewe. Drewe originally gave Myatt a few private commissions, but having sold one of the paintings at auction as an original, he let Myatt in on the game and together they sold over 200 paintings, anything from Monets and Renoirs to Hockneys and Chagalls, over 120 of which - it is thought - are still in circulation.

After seven years of successfully fooling the world's most prominent private collectors and art experts, Myatt was eventually caught and charged with deception in 1998. He served time in Brixton prison but his subsequent fame has enabled him to open a legitimate Genuine Fake business where his replica paintings now sell for thousands of pounds and fine art publishers Washington Green have exhibited his work on a national tour.

In this revealing new series, exclusive to Sky Arts, Myatt reveals the tricks of the trade and stylistic insights which enabled him to emulate iconic paintings from world-renowned artists. From a Monet landscape to a Modigliani nude, Myatt provides his aspiring students with both the theory and technique to set up their easels and capture the composition of a street scene by Hopper or the brushstrokes of a still life by Cezanne. And he passes on the tricks of the trade too - rubbing soil onto canvas replicates Braque's finish for example, or that coffee ages a painting by a century or more.

Bookmark this page...

Latest comments

metin

Mon 9 February 2009, 16:00

Hi I watched Mastering the Art on sat and would love to be one of his pupils on his programme.I’m a visualiser/illustrator in the London area.Please please contact me!
best regards

metin salih

Richard Woods

Sat 21 February 2009, 20:55

I’m a painter from cheltenham, i too would love to be on mastering the art, feel free to contact me

John chaundy

Sat 28 February 2009, 21:11

What is an artist....I’m still learning.
I would also love to “release the inner beast”....and have a shot at this.
contact:

Emma Richardson

Sun 15 March 2009, 19:11

I do mostly figurative drawing (from life) and painting, although I am still learning the painting bit! I draw/paint v. fast. Would love to do this.

elisar

Sun 22 March 2009, 20:02

great series. how many episodes is it and will it be back for another series, if so how do we get a chance to be a student?

Lloyd Evans

Sat 28 March 2009, 21:22

I am a 60 year old painter. I had the pleasure to have one of my portraits displayed in the National Gallery a few years ago.
Like Mr Myatt, I am also inspired by copying the techniques of past masters and I feel confident that I could do well with any challenge you may put before me. How can I get a chance to be a student?

Naomi Thornton

Fri 17 April 2009, 20:27

I watch this show religiously it’s fab, inspires me each week.
I am an artist and would love to demonstrate what I can do on the show.
Please contact me for the next series and give me a fresh challenge, you’d make my day!!

Gino Brandolani

Tue 21 April 2009, 18:36

I would so like to be different but it would appear that I’m the same as everyone else and would like to have the opportunity to take part in this inspired project .
On reflection its not so bad my asking to be involved like everyone else, after all it is all about copying .

Ian Watt

Tue 5 May 2009, 20:27

As an amateur artist who loves studying the masters, I’d appreciate the chance to learn under John’s guidance, should another series be in consideration!

Jenny Hobbs

Fri 8 May 2009, 16:33

I am loving Mastering the Arts and would love to take part. I studied fine art at Uni and since continued to be a keen painter in acrylics. I would love to meet John and am finding the show unmissable. Well done its a masterpiece
j

Jenny Hobbs

Fri 8 May 2009, 16:35

Lee Trantum

Sun 10 May 2009, 09:53

I have also enjoyed Mastering the Art and A Brush with Fame, and have found John inspiring and motivating. I would love the chance to appear on the show. If you need to know my artistic back ground please contact me.

Lesley McDonagh

Tue 12 May 2009, 14:36

I so wish I had encountered an art teacher as inspiring as John when I was at school. It would be great if he could offer a ‘beginners’ class’ to people like me who would love to paint but had their confidence dashed when young. This series dispels the mystery of transferring paint to the canvas and reveals the science behind art (did we know there was one?)! I am really enjoying the series and wait eagerly for news of future series and whether my idea is a ‘runner’!

Caroline.

Fri 19 June 2009, 21:40

LOVE TO SEE YOU HOLD AN EXHIBITION OF YOUR OWN WORK IN THE TATE.WHAT A TALENT YOU HAVE.

Rachel

Sat 27 June 2009, 17:25

From Tierra del Fuego, Argentina I love watching the tv programme.

Anne Ballina County Mayo

Tue 30 June 2009, 14:47

art student started late in life not very good would love to meet John and take part in a lesson on tv.

Paul Robinson

Wed 1 July 2009, 08:01

I am loving following the Mastering the Art and Brush with frame series-It has been a long time since i have painted anything onto canvas (school days),as a architectural technician i still draw and use my skills to produce presentations for comercial use,but it would be a great pleasure to have the opertunity to be one of Johns students
please contact me

Carolyn Donohoe

Thu 2 July 2009, 16:00

Always feel inspired when watching this programme. I, like so many others, would like to be given the chance to be one of his pupils. I’ve painted portraits as well as other subjects. I am relatively new to the world of painting and would love to receive some tuition and inspiration.

Jeannie Barrett

Sat 22 August 2009, 14:37

As a fine art appraiser, I’ve seen it & heard it before. But, I was pleased after reading about you in “Provenance”, that there was a worthy recovery for a talented artist, who did the right thing in the end.
I am still painting, and just wish I was as prolific as you are!
One caveat: a gallery in our area has an owner, whos name is only one letter different than yours, and in the last year (probably having found out about you) he has begun to produce nice oils, which are similiar to yours. Could be another story for you to follow up on for your show.
Keep painting!

Hilary Self

Wed 20 January 2010, 22:26

I may have missed a few programmes. Is there any chance of a video coming out please

Anonymous

Sat 23 January 2010, 11:22

You are fantastic John Myatt! You have a talent not only in art, but in presenting as well. My family and I watch your programmes and we really enjoy it! It’s so inspirational and uplifting! Thank you!

Emma

Mon 15 February 2010, 19:08

I’d love to get the chance to tell John Myatt just how much I enjoy his programmes, art and tips. The tips are fantastic and watching someone else be passionate about art pushes others to enjoy the same buzz from painting. Thanks sky arts for such a great programme!

c. hewitt

Wed 24 February 2010, 00:01

please John when is the book gonna be availble. love this programme but i’ve missed some and would buy a book in the hopes that i might be inspired anew to have a go. You are the master

* Required fields

Something to say?

Showing
Now
Next
Later

Thu 18 March 2010, 18:36

Search this site

Mastering the Art

Forger John Myatt passes on his tips and tricks

Bookmark this page...

Latest comments

Something to say?