The closest airport to the Hyatt Regency Reston is the Dulles International Airport, which is about a 10-minute ride by car. The hotel does not have a shuttle from the airport, but taxis, shared ride services and rental cars are easily available. The hotel has discounted overnight self-parking at $10.00 per night during event dates.

Starting on Thursday at 4:00pm, come upstairs to the Regency Ballroom to pick up your name badge. The Art Materials Exhibit Hall is also located in the Regency Ballroom and will be open at 4:00pm. Within your name badge will be your tickets for your breakout classes, banquet, and Sunday afternoon bus. Your name badge is your ticket into all conference sessions, so please wear your name badge at all times throughout the event. 

The Exhibit Hall's Grand Opening is on Thursday at 4:00pm with a wide variety of art materials and services. Hours are:

• Thursday: 4:00pm-7:30pm

• Friday: 10:00am-5:30pm

• Saturday: 10:00am-4:30pm

• Sunday: 8:00am-12:30pm

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Exhibitors this year are: Artefex, Chelsea Classical Studio Fine Art Materials, General Pencil Company, Jack Richeson & Co., Inc., MacPherson’s Art, Masterworks Frames, Michael Harding Handmade Paints, Natural Pigments, New Wave Fine Art Products, Portrait Society Fine Art Books & DVDs, Raymar, Rosemary & Co., Silver Brush Limited, and Winsor & Newton.

Yes, the Portrait Society offers a variety of books and DVDs by faculty and other well-known artists. We will be introducing a new system this year, you will order your books and/or DVDs using a QR code and our Square online ordering. After your order is complete, come to the book pick-up table with your online receipt. Checks and credit cards (no cash) will be accepted for books and DVDs purchases. Make note of our book signings, buy your books early and have it signed by the author! 

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Friday, 12:30pm:         Casey Childs, Rose Frantzen, Michael Shane Neal, Oliver Sin and Anthony Ryder
Saturday, 12:30pm:    Max Ginsburg, James Gurney, Susan Lyon, Michael Shane Neal and Mary Whyte
Saturday, 4:30pm:      Judith Carducci

The top 20 artworks from the International Portrait Competition will be on display in Lake Anne, right outside the Grand Ballroom. Don’t forget to place your vote for the People’s Choice award before Saturday at 2:00pm in the ballot box located inside Lake Anne. You will receive your ballot when you pick up your name badge.

Among one of the most popular programs at the conference are the individual portfolio critiques, which will be held in the Regency Foyer. Take advantage of the artists who have generously agreed to critique portfolios during the Friday and Saturday lunch hour from 12:30pm-2:00pm. Feel free to share your artwork for critiques by either a physical portfolio notebook or electronically on your smartphone, tablet, or laptop. 

A fast-paced and exciting event featuring donated artwork offered for a fixed price of $250, our 6x9: Limited Size, Unlimited Talent Mystery Art Sale will take place Friday night in the Grand Ballroom. Doors open for viewing at 5:30pm and the sale will begin at 5:45pm. The work being offered is created by past and current faculty, Gold Medal recipients and other award winners. The surprise comes after purchase when the buyer discovers whose painting they have acquired.

Yes, through the generosity of the artists participating in the Face-Off event, we are offering their demonstration artwork for purchase through a silent auction. It will be held immediately following the 6x9 Art Sale, and the last bid will be accepted at 6:15pm on Friday.  If we have active bidding right up to the 6:15pm deadline, we will go to a live auction to complete the sale. Funds raised from the auction will be used to support our scholarship program. 

There will be a Cocktail Reception with a cash bar from 6:00pm-7:00pm in the Conservatory. Doors open at 7:00pm for banquet seating. If you purchased a ticket, it will be in your name badge, so remember to bring the ticket with you to the banquet. For a reserved seat, come to the Volunteer desk next to Registration on Friday between 8:00am-4:00pm and Saturday between 8:00am-2:00pm. Bring your ticket as well as others you would like to sit with, and we will reserve a seat for you. In celebration of our 25th Anniversary, dress will be Black Tie Optional.

When registering for the conference, you will have the option to purchase a bus ticket to visit one of two museums on Sunday afternoon. Tickets are $45.00 per person and will leave from and return to the Hyatt Regency Reston. 

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• Option 1: National Portrait Gallery – Smithsonian:  Buses will leave the Hyatt Regency Reston and drop off at the National Portrait Gallery for a self-guided tour of the National Portrait Gallery. Buses leave at 12:45pm and return after 6:30pm. - LIMITED SEATS AVAILABLE

• Option 2: We the People Exhibition – The Army Museum:  Mary Whyte will travel with attendees to The Army Museum and conduct a tour of We the People, an exhibition of fifty large-scale watercolor portraits of veterans of all ages and all walks of life, one from every state. (Buses leave at 12:45pm and return at approx. 5:00pm) - SOLD OUT

There are a number of dining options available inside the Hyatt Regency Reston as well as the Regency Town Center. 

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•    The hotel is offering a Grab-n-Go cash sales breakfast in the Conservatory each morning at 7:30am.

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Beverages ($2.00 each)

Regular Coffee, Decaffeinated Coffee, Hot Tazo Tea Selection, Assorted Bottled Juices, Chilled, Regular, Diet and Decaffeinated Pepsi Soft Drinks, Still and Sparkling Water 

Breakfast Items 

Assorted Granola Bars ($2.00), Seasonally Inspired Whole Breakfast Bowl (Bacon, Scramble Eggs, Potatoes and Cheese-$6.00), Assorted Bakeries ($2.00), Greek Yogurt Parfait with Granola and Fruit Compote ($5.00)

•    Zippy Lunches will be available for pre-order and purchased on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Order forms will be available in the Ballroom Foyer each day to be turned in at 10am. Guests' names will be labeled on boxes to be picked up at 12:30pm. Zippy Lunches are $20.00/person. You will be able to pick up your lunches in the Conservatory.

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CHICKEN CAESAR SALAD- Romaine Lettuce, Parmesan Cheese and Croutons, Caesar Dressing on the Side

ROAST BEEF SANDWICH- Sliced Roast Beef, Swiss Cheese and Lettuce on a Wheat Roll with Deli Mustard and Mayo on the Side

TURKEY SANDWICH- Sliced Turkey, Cheddar Cheese and Lettuce on a White Roll with Deli Mustard and Mayo on the Side

VEGGIE WRAP- Crisp Spring Vegetables, Hummus, Spinach Tortilla, Apple for Dessert

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Includes (select one): Potato Chips - Chocolate Chip Cookie - Apple

Regular, Diet and Decaffeinated Pepsi Soft Drinks

•    Other Options: There are over 25 restaurants within walking distance, at a variety of prices and cuisine, including Potbelly’s Sandwich Shop, Sweetgreen, Morton’s Steakhouse, Starbucks, North Italia, and PassionFish.

Not able to attend in person?  If you register for the virtual conference, you will:

• Have access to live-stream all of the presentations and demonstrations that take place on the Mainstage in the Grand Ballroom

• Thursday: Live broadcast of one artist at the Face-off

• Friday’s General Session and Friday’s breakout session- "Composing a Portrait" with Louis Carr

• Saturday’s General Session and Saturday’s breakout class- "On the Road" with Suchitra Bhosle and Scott Burdick

• Sunday’s General Session

Because we are not set up to film outside the Grand Ballroom, the other breakout sessions nor the Pre-Conference Workshops are not available to be viewed. For an additional fee, you can have access to the recordings for 90 days.