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I am pleased to announce that the above three portraits, "Katie", "Ben" and "Chance," have been accepted by juror, Michael Del Priore, into the Portrait Society of Atlanta's Spring Members' Exhibition. Membership in this organization is national in scope, and some of the nation's best portrait artists are included in their ranks. Today I delivered the paintings to Mable House Art Center in Mableton, GA, the venue for the show. The show opens June 1, 2009 but the opening reception and presentation of awards will take place from 7 - 9 p.m. on June 6, 2009 and is open to the public. There were some outstanding paintings standing against walls waiting to be hung, so the competition for awards is keen. This will be an exhibition worth seeing.
I retrieved these three paintings from my client's home on Sunday. It was the first time I have seen the paintings in their "home" and the first time I have seen all three together, as they were painted one per year. It was really a strange feeling seeing them that way, as each one gets so much of my personal attention and hours and hours and hours of work. Seeing them together in their completed state, not having seen them two of them in quite a while, gave me a "first impression" of sorts. I was actually astounded at how "alike" they were, in style, in finish quality, in feeling, though each child's distinct personality was present in the paintings. Perhaps the strangest sensation was that of recognizing that they actually looked like they had been painted by the same artist. I don't know why I found that so surprising, but I really did. I remember years and years of wondering when my "style" would surface in my work. I think perhaps it has!
Michael Del Priore is the juror who awarded my painting, "Nicomas", the Second Place Award in the 2003 Portrait Society of Atlanta's Fall Exhibition. My understanding is that he will be presenting the awards himself at the reception on June 6th, which is unusual. Though I have met him before, I look forward to seeing him at this exhibition. And maybe I'll see you there as well!
