Mentorship and Grant Opportunities ~
Applications for 2025 Now Open!
In 1998, the Portrait Society was formed as a national non-profit organization to increase aesthetic and technical knowledge of the practicing portrait artist, artist's representatives, art students and the general public. Twenty-two years later, two of our founding members, Everett Raymond Kinstler and Edward Jonas, have left a legacy within the Portrait Society that we would like to honor. In their memories, we have created two memorial funds that will be used to assist portrait artists in achieving their goals. We are pleased to announce the Everett Raymond Kinstler Mentorship Program and the Edward Jonas Grant Opportunity.
Applications Open: September 16, 2024
Applications Close: November 15, 2024
Notifications: December 15, 2024
Everett Raymond Kinstler
Mentorship Program
Mr. Kinstler was passionate about learning. He often said, "If you can still use your head and keep your heart open to new ideas and thoughts, the joys of being an artist will be never ending. You'll get up everyday grateful and excited by the challenges."
In an effort to pass on this love of learning, the Portrait Society created a Mentoring Fellowship in which accepted applicants would partner for a one-year period with a mentor who will offer guidance from self and external critique of portfolios, to refinement of work habits and guidance on individual projects. The Mentorship Program seeks to build a synergy of methods cultivating a healthy artistic practice in every level of growth and development.
Guidelines for the applicant:
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Must be a Portrait Society Member (or join to apply)
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Submit a Biography
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Submit application with 10 images of work
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Attend The Art of the Portrait Conference during the Mentorship period (Complimentary tuition and travel stipend offered)
Edward Jonas Grant
On June 12, 2020, Edward Jonas, our Chairman, passed away. Ed was completely dedicated to the premise that the Portrait Society was founded on, which is to build a bridge between artists for the purpose of passing on knowledge. He donated countless hours of his time, sharing his own artistic knowledge and many other abilities including designing and building our gallery wall that displays our finalists' artwork in a professional setting, writing over 100 chairs letters for International Artist magazine, teaching Portrait Academies and conference workshops, designing and sculpting the Portrait Society Gold Medal and creating the Portrait Society seal. He led the Society by establishing short term goals as well as a future vision for the Portrait Society.
In memory of Ed, we have established the Edward Jonas Memorial Fund that will annually award a grant of $1,000 to an artist that is either developing a project focused on portraiture or enrolling in a workshop that teaches skills related to figure drawing and painting.
Guidelines for the applicant:
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Must be a Portrait Society Member (or join to apply)
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Submit a brief biography outlining projected project or proposed workshop
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Submit application with 5 images of work