Portrait Society of America


 


Celebrate The Art of the Portrait in Style
Register Now for the 12th Annual Conference

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With a range of events that offers something for everyone, The Art of the Portrait Conference is the annual educational and social epicenter for the international community of figurative and portrait artists. The four day conference in Washington, D.C. provides attendees with ample opportunities to participate in classes and workshops, enjoy technical discussions and lectures, shop direct from top of the line art materials manufacturers, take home instructional books and DVDs, receive one-on-one critiques from faculty, network with artists and agents, travel to area museums and visit with friends, new and old.

One of the annual highlights of The Art of the Portrait conference is the Saturday evening Gala Banquet and Awards Ceremony, where the Portrait Society honors leaders, educators and outstanding artists in the field. This year, we will recognize Iris Cantor with the Leadership in the Arts Award. As President and Chair of the Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Foundation in support the visual arts and other charitable causes, Iris Cantor's commitment to the arts has manifested itself in the numerous projects she has led, including sponsoring the Rodin at Rockefeller Center exhibit, which was attended by more than two million people, and an unprecedented series of eight exhibitions of twentieth-century American sculpture at the White House, which was enjoyed by nearly twelve million.

Our Excellence in Art Education Award will be presented to New York Academy of Art for their dedication to offering quality instruction in contemporary figurative art. The New York Academy of Art offers two-year, Masters and post-graduate courses with a foundation built upon the cornerstones of figurative drawing, painting, and sculpture.

In recognition of a lifetime of artistic achievement and a dedication to excellence, we will honor John Howard Sanden with the Portrait Society of America highest achievement, the Gold Medal Award. For more than 37 years, Sanden has been a leader in American portraiture. In addition to completing hundreds of paintings, he has authored five books on portraiture, has taught at Art Students League of New York for three decades, and hosted numerous seminars, workshops and master classes.

In addition to recognizing leaders in the field, the Gala Banquet is also a venue where the Portrait Society honors technical and aesthetic excellence displayed in the selected works from the International Portrait Competition. During the conference, you will have the opportunity to vote in selecting the People's Choice Award winner who will be honored along with other selected artists who, together, will receive over $45,000 in cash and prizes.

Year after year, professional artists, students, agents, art materials manufacturers and others return to enjoy the commradery, outstanding artwork and educational events that make The Art of the Portrait Conference a must-attend event. We hope you will join us in Washington, D.C. April 22-25. You can find out more about this year's classes and faculty by visiting our agenda webpage, or call us toll-free at 1-877-772-4321 and request a brochure and registration form by mail.

- Gather with other artists from around the world to network
- Enter the 2010 International Portrait Competition
- Watch as nationally known artists demonstrate their approach to the portrait
- View the 15 original works in the International Portrait Competition and vote for your favorite
- Benefit from panel discussions, question-and-answer sessions and one-on-one critiques

Register Now!

2010 International Portrait Competition

Regarded internationally as one of the most prestigious events in portraiture and figurative art, the International Portrait Competition showcases today's most talented artists from around the globe, offering recognition, as well as generous cash awards and prizes, for displays of exemplary technical and aesthetic excellence.

The International Portrait Competition is open to all artists, members, and non-members. The top fifteen finalists will be invited to exhibit their selected artwork at the prestigious Annual The Art of the Portrait® Conference in Washington, D.C. Prizes will be awarded for each of the top artworks, with more than $40,000 in prizes distributed at The Art of the Portrait® Conference Gala Banquet, Saturday, April 25, 2009. For complete details and rules refer to the competition form or call toll-free 1-877-772-4321.


THE PORTRAIT SOCIETY OF AMERICA PRESENTS
The Art of the Portrait Conference. Now on DVD.
DISCOVER NEW TECHNIQUES. REFINE YOUR PROCESS.
LEARN WITH THE MASTERS.

For the first time ever, the Portrait Society is offering you the opportunity to enjoy highlights of the conference in your own home or studio, NOW AVAILABLE ON DVD. Bring into your home and studio demonstrations by acclaimed artists, Judith Carducci, Daniel E. Greene, Robert Liberace, Michael Shane Neal and Mary Whyte. These artists have generously agreed to offer their presentations to the public, helping provide funding to the Portrait Society; 100% of proceeds from DVD sales go directly to the Portrait Society, helping us serve our highest public purpose in providing you access to quality educational resources and experiences.

MARY WHYTE - WATERCOLOR PORTRAITS: PAST & PRESENT
Enjoy Mary Whyte demonstrating why watercolor is excellent for fresh portraits in a compelling head study painted from life. Additionally, join her as she explores the history of portraiture in watercolor in a special presentation and discusses how works on paper have come to be greatly valued today.


MICHAEL SHANE NEAL - ACCURACY OF AN IMPRESSION
Dynamic speaker and painter, Michael Shane Neal combines a visual presentation and discussion with a live demonstration to express the immense importance of strengthening likeness through capturing the character, feeling and personality of your subjects. His engaging demonstration and discussion encourage viewers to celebrate the potential in every sitter and take their work to next level.


ROBERT LIBERACE - THE EXPRESSIVE PORTRAIT IN A LIMITED PALETTE
Though there are countless colors available, only the three primaries are truly necessary for a full range of flesh hue. Robert Liberace demonstrates how the efficient arrangement of red, yellow and blue provides a painting experience as satisfying as using a complex color palette with a digital presentation and live demo.

JUDITH CARDUCCI - PEOPLE'S CHOICE SPECIAL ARTIST DEMONSTRATION
By popular demand, this vibrant, award-winning artist with over 30 years of experience as an instructor brings the canvas to life in rich pastel. Robert Liberace models, as Judith makes us laugh and energizes the live audience and home viewers alike with her enthusiastic technique and vivid palette.


DANIEL E. GREENE, NA - PAINTING FROM LIFE: A PORTRAIT IN OIL
In a live demonstration, Daniel Greene shares his approach to painting a portrait and his remarkable ability to achieve a striking likeness. Greene additionally discusses his full palette for the benefit of viewers. The lovely Dianne Bernhard, an artist herself and notable arts philanthropist, is a compelling model profiled in shimmering champagne tones against a deep backdrop.


Allow 2-3 weeks for shipping your DVD order. All proceeds benefit the Portrait Society of America.
Select Artist

Announcing the 2009 Members Only Competition

Choose Your Medium
Drawing • Oil • Pastel • Sculpture • Watercolor

Participants are eligible to submit up to one entry per category of their work for inclusion in the Members Only Competition. Top award winners will be chosen for each of the five categories. First place winners selected from each category will receive a limited edition giclée painted of and by Everett Raymond Kinstler, Daniel E. Greene and Burton Silverman. First prize also includes a DVD featuring the demonstration from which the paintings were created, compiled from live footage and exclusively available with this giclée. First place winners will be acknowledged in The Art of the Portrait section of International Artist Magazine. View the 2008 Member's Competition winners and download the prospectus on the on the Member's Only Competition page.

2008 Members Showcase Award Winners

Paul Newton, Michael
1st Place, Children

Kay Polk, Sunny
1st Place, Head & Shoulders

Lauren Mills, Artist
1st Place, Men

John Seibels Walker
The Phillips Children
1st Place, Multi-Figure

Hodges Soileau, Teen Blues
1st Place
 
You can view all winners at the Members Showcase Competition page.

   

The Portrait Society of America is a not-for-profit organization directed by a governing board of artists dedicated to
fostering and enhancing the practice, aesthetics and applications of traditional, fine art portraiture.
Membership is open to all individuals with an interest in the art of the portrait.

Christine Egnoski · Executive Director
© 2009, Portrait Society of America, Inc.   ·     Artwork: © 2009, the artist
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