2017 Fall Chattanooga Portrait Academy

Artists traveled from throughout Tennessee and neighboring states to attend the Portrait Society of America’s Fall Portrait Academy, hosted by Townsend Atelier in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The event opened Friday evening with faculty artists Marc Chatov, Seth Haverkamp, and Dawn Whitelaw all demonstrating in their own distinctive way.

Attendees were impressed that each artist took time to visit with them during model breaks, offering deeper explanations about their supplies and techniques and being very transparent with what worked for them and what didn’t.

On Saturday morning Michelle Dunaway conducted an informative demonstration for the group. She imparted valuable insight on creating a unique portrait study from a model. The afternoon program began with Dawn Whitelaw sharing color mixing knowledge learned through her years of teaching and painting. Marc, Dawn, and Michelle then offered insightful answers to questions submitted earlier by the attendees.

The event wrapped up with a critiquing session from original work. Marc, Dawn, and Michelle’s critiques were encouraging and practical, quick to point out the positive in the works and reminding artists that they themselves must decide if and how they want to implement the changes recommended into their own styles.

The weekend was a resounding success because of the willingness of Townsend Atelier to host, outstanding faculty donating their time, and the receptive and supportive attending artists who were dedicated to disciplined growth.