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!

Inspiring Figures
An Exhibit Celebrating American Women in Figurative Art

This September, work by American female artists past and present will exhibit together in a celebration of American women portraying the human figure. Hosted by the Portrait Society of America in conjunction with the Butler Institute of American Art, the exhibit, titled Inspiring Figures, will show historic works and notable artwork from acclaimed contemporary artists in combination with artwork selected from the competition to offer a panoramic perspective of American women's roles as sources of inspiration and as mentors cultivating a culture of excellence.

Inspiring Figures is an educational exhibit and is the culmination of the Cecilia Beaux Forum mission to engage and broaden the public’s awareness of women artists and women's contributions to the arts. Your donation will help in this effort by funding an extensive interactive catalog and a variety of special events developed to supplement the exhibition. This engaging series of programs includes podcasts, an independent film viewing, workshops, lectures, demonstrations, family-oriented programming and more.

Join us in supporting this effort. Your donation matters at whatever level you give. Click here to find out about Sponsor Benefits.



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

Enter Today – 2010 Members Only Competition
Choose Your Category

Landscape • Still-Life • Commissioned Portrait
Non-Commissioned Portrait • Outside the Box


We invite you to enter this year’s Members Only Competition by category. For the first time we are offering the categories of Landscape (figure optional), Still-Life (figure optional), Commissioned Portrait, Non-Commissioned Portrait and Outside the Box (submit an innovative composition that stretches boundaries and presents a unique perspective using traditional techniques and aesthetics).

Enter the 2010 Members Only Competition

   

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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