THE ART OF THE PORTRAIT ®
Annual Conference
April 23 – 26, 2009 in Washington,
DC
by Sandra Bozer on 4/30/2009 6:36:45 PM
2009 Draper Grand Prize Winner
Joseph Todorovitch, Antiques, oil, 46" x 34"
|
If you love painting portraits like I do, then you must try to
attend the annual portrait conference, The Art of the Portrait,
hosted by the Portrait Society of America. The following
are some of the details and benefits.
The Location
Since attending my first conference in 2003 in Washington, D.C.
and sadly missing the 2004 conference in Boston, Massachusetts,
I have been at every subsequent conference and I always enjoy them
immensely. The 2006 conference was in Dallas, Texas and the 2008
(the Portrait Society's tenth anniversary) was in Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania. The Washington, D.C. location is actually at the Hyatt
Regency in Reston, Virginia, a nearby superb of Washington and
near the Dulles airport. The years I attended: 2003, 2005,
2007, and 2009 were all in D.C. (Reston).
The Shuttle
The conference begins in the late afternoon on Thursday, when most
people are flying or driving into town. You get a big clue that
the DC conference is happening when you take the free, convenient
shuttle to the hotel from Dulles airport and everyone on the shuttle
is an artist or looks like one. As opposed to sometimes grumbling,
stern, darkly dressed business travelers, this group on the shuttle
is usually smiling, dressed with a little more flair or color, and
carrying all sizes of portfolios. I usually buy some roses at the
airport to enliven my stark hotel room and the flowers typically
invite some artistic conversations. One of the many conference benefits
is the short shuttle ride, where you can perhaps begin connecting
with other artists from around the country and maybe develop lasting
friendships.
Over thirty demonstrations are
offered through out the weekend. Pictured here is Scott Burdick.
Photo: Linda Weaver |
The Hotel
Checking in at the Hyatt is usually swift and the staff is very courteous.
The attendees receive conference room rates. Like most people, I take
my things to the room before heading to the conference registration
area. The rooms at the Hyatt have always been nicely appointed and
clean. The hotel elevator bank can get busy at certain times; however,
they offer another chance to connect with other attendees. As an alternative
and for some much need exercise, the stairwells are good for short
trips. I believe the hotel also offers an exercise room.
The Conference Registration
Volunteers and the Society's State Ambassadors stand at tables
loaded with the attendee's registration packets. The attendees receive
in their packet: their name badges, tickets, and conference information.
This year, the packet included a lot of product promotional literature
as well. Again, one more chance to connect with people and if you
haven't already, you can meet your State Ambassador.
The exhibit room features over twenty
vendors exhibiting their materials and services. Photo: Linda
Weaver |
The Art Suppliers
Another benefit of the conference is a room devoted to booths of
art suppliers. Besides offering information, the reps are selling
various products, such as brushes or paints, and sometimes at reduced
prices. Products are usually priced a little below internet or catalog
prices. For me, I try to find bargains and unique items. This year,
from the Richeson Company I excitedly bought their paper
palette that was the color of middle value gray. Wow - this will
be good for demonstrations and for my students before they invest
in a wooden palette. As for wooden palettes, I usually stop by the
Turtlewood Palette booth, a company in Tennessee that I discovered
during a Michael Shane Neal workshop. The company has a vast
array of wooden palettes and every year I purchase one or two (the
palettes travel great in the suitcase).
The Books and DVDs
Here's your chance to peruse various portrait and art books that
may not be at the typical bookstore. Most of the authors are going
to be speaking or demonstrating during the conference. If your budget
can afford it, you can purchase the book and if offered, stand in
line to have it personally signed by the author. When the book is
really popular or short in supply, try to buy it early as I have
always witnessed sell-outs each year. The DVDs are even a better
deal to purchase at the conference because they are usually sold
only through a special website (and you save on mailing fees). Some
DVDs sell-out as well. This year there were some reduced DVD prices,
probably to move some stock and help our fellow artists in the current,
strained economy.
On Thursday evening, attendees
are invited to watch and
observe fifteen highly acclaimed artists as they demonstrate
simultaneously from live models. Photo: Steve Smith |
The New Face-Off
Thursday nights are usually filled with some activity to supplement
the incoming registration process and art supply shopping. This
year it was a new "Face-Off" program. In a large room,
fifteen of the top-tiered portrait artists painted from models (three
artists to a model) for two and half hours with the normal model
breaks. The attendees could walk around the room or sit on provided
chairs and witness various artists creating their alla prima portraits.
I believe all were painted with oil paint except Judith Carducci,
who painted with pastels. Having studied with Dawn Whitelaw,
I spent more time watching and enjoying her endeavors. Then, the
resulting portraits were place in a room where attendees could write
in silent bids to raise money for the Society.
The Artist's Perspectives
Friday, Saturday, and Sunday are filled with a selection of top-tiered
portrait artists' perspectives or talks, usually with plenty of
slides and/or photos of artwork. This year John Howard Sanden,
Everett Raymond Kinstler, Richard Schmid, and Burton
Silverman gave their particular perspectives. Each gave rich
information of their experiences, lives, and artwork, all with adequate
touches of humor.
Internationally known artists demonstrate
their approach to the portrait. Pictured here is Daniel Greene.
Photo: Steve Smith |
The Artist's Demonstrations
Friday, Saturday, and Sunday are also filled with a selection of
top-tiered portrait artists' demonstrations with a model that may
be someone famous or perhaps another popular artist. This year artists
demonstrating were Mary Whyte (a watercolorist), Judith
Carducci (a pastelist and a people choice selection from the
Face-Off Thursday night), and Daniel Greene (an oil demo).
All three gave good instructions while painting under the bright
stage lights. There are three huge projector screens in the room
that display a split-screen of the model and the painting. The stage
is too far away for most people to try to watch the actual action
on the canvas. Taking plenty of notes is good advice for these demos
as the information is forthcoming and worthwhile. I just compared
my Daniel Greene notes from the previous years and he is always
very thorough and consistent, like his DVDs.
The Break-out Sessions
Friday afternoons have the two break-out sessions where attendees
can select one topic from each session to attend. Each year there's
always a session with Daniel Greene critiquing the sent in
slides and a drawing session or two by a popular artist. Then there
are panels with a group of top-tiered artists that discuss various
topics of the business or techniques. There's usually a demo session
or two by a particular artist. One of the regulars is Calvin
Goodman, a management consultant that helps artists.
Always a popular event the one-on-one
critiques provide positive and encouraging feedback to attendees
on their work.
Photo: Linda Weaver |
The Portfolios
If you have one, bring it. Be sure to spruce it up and put your
best work in it. During the lunchtime hours, you can have top-tiered
artists review your portfolio and give you advice. Prepare to stand
in line, especially if you wait for a more popular artist to review
your portfolio. In addition, you can have your friends or new acquaintances
take a look at it. You can also leave it on a long table that is
provided for the portfolios where other artists can look at it and
maybe leave a note of encouragement. Last, there's a portfolio competition
and maybe you might win.
The Competition
Besides bringing all the portrait artists together for the demos
and perspectives, the other goal is to decide the winners from the
finalists of the portrait competition. This year there were fifteen
entries displayed at the conference. This is another benefit for
the conference, seeing the finalist paintings together and up close.
During the opening ceremonies, the finalists' slides are displayed
as well as the honorable mentions. Then during the banquet Saturday
night, the winners are announced and awarded.
2009 People's Choice Awards, Casey
Baugh
Allure, 40 x 50," oil |
The Banquet
Saturday night is the night to put on your best, chat with your
table mates and eat banquet food, hear the announcement of the winners,
and listen to some selected speakers. Special awards are given out
this time and this year's Gold Medal Award was given to Nelson
Shanks. The Excellence in Art Education was accepted
by Laurie Norton Moffatt on behalf of the Norman Rockwell Museum.
The Leadership in the Fine Arts was awarded to an individual and
an institution. First, for the individual Dr. Louis Zona was recognized
for his efforts on behalf of the Butler Institute of American Art.
The Artists Fellowship, Inc. was honored for their 125 years of
service to artists in need. Afterward, many artists celebrate or
go back to their rooms to pack because Sunday is checkout.
The Cecilia Beaux Forum
This is a forum that specializes in promoting and mentoring women
in the arts and it usually has a lunchtime program for the members.
This year Mary Whyte gave an excellent talk on tips to create
your best painting ever.
The Inspirational Hour
Early Sunday morning before the conference begins, attendees can
experience an inspiration hour where artists can appreciate their
spiritual influence in their work. Usually there is a guest speaker
to offer his or her point of view and this year the speakers were
Calvin Goodman and Gordon Wetmore.
2009 People's Choice Awards, Robert
Semans, Portrait of a Gentleman, 24 x 20," oil |
The Museum Visit
The conference officially ends at noon on Sunday. The attendees
are then invited to take a round trip bus trip from the hotel to
a local museum for the afternoon. Again, the bus trip is another
way to meet other artists. This year the museum trip was to the
Smithsonian Institution's National Portrait Gallery in downtown
DC. Previously, I missed it due to my early flight home; however
this year I made an extra effort to go. My friends and I did receive
a special treat. Sculpture artist, Rhoda Sherbell, NA, personally
took us around the museum and so graciously showed us her three
sculptures.
The Friends
The last topic is the most important. In the world of portraiture
when many times as an artist, you spend a lot of time working alone
at the easel, being able to connect with other portrait artists
is the most rewarding aspect of the conference. Each year my circle
of artist friends gets larger due to the conference. Sometimes just
a warm smile and a quick catch-up are all that you can share because
the conference is full of the stated above activities. So, bring
plenty of your business cards because there is always email or Facebook
to keep in touch until next year.
Back to Past Portrait Conference selection |
