Royal Society of Portrait Painters Annual Exhibition
 

I must tell everyone I was in London this morning with 2 hrs to spare and went to see the Royal Society of Portrait Painters Annual Exhibition!!!

I was so excited, I went round the paintings 4 times before we had to rush off to get back to Luton for the plane.

It was amazing to see such a mixture of styles techniques etc, and the best bit about it is that the completely unknown artists work is shown alongside that of the artists belonging to the society.

Here's a couple of links to the gallery and the RSPP http://www.mallgalleries.org.uk/calendar.html
http://www.therp.co.uk/default.asp

Definitely something to aspire to......who knows next year .

Only disappointment was that there were less that half a dozen pastels there. :(

I'm really motivated now off to work on my next one.... :D

Carolyn. I think that Scott Bartner, who posts on this Forum, has two of his paintings in the RSPP show. I'd love to see some photos. Lucky you for getting to see this exhibition!

Two of the unknown works you might have seen would have been mine--and believe me they stand out like sore thumbs in their relative dullness. What Carolyn says is very true. The stylistic differences are extreme.

One thing I noticed is a profound love for detailed backgrounds. For example Alastair Adams RP exhibited two large multi-figured portraits complete with bookcases, mantles, hanging pictures, table settings, everything and the kitchen sink. In the book case I estimate over a hundred books and Cd's were carefully painted and the wall paper could not have been more intricate.

And then their are the enlarged head portraits. Michael Taylor RP exhibited a portrait 71 x 56 cm in size. The subject's head which was around 45 cm in length dominates the picture plane.

It would be interesting to visit both the RSPP exhibition and then the PSA exhibition. Anyone own a private jet?

Scott,
Congratulations with your participation in that English exhibition. I am sure that your paintings will survive. It is not necessarily those yelling loudest that are the best singers.

I don

Thanks Allan. The RSPP requires you submit up to three actual portraits (as opposed to slides) which will either be accepted or rejected. I brought works to London from Maastricht by train.

Rejected work must to be picked up on collection day. When the exhibition is over, unsold work needs to be collected as well. So unless you have a friend in London picking up work for you, it's rather difficult.

I was very fortunate to have such a generous friend who collected work for me. I'm in her debt--forever as it appears.

Scott

Scott,

Funnily enough one of the portraits that stuck in my mind as it turns out was one of yours, the 'young woman with shawl'. I assure you it wasn't because of it's 'dullness'. Classical, serene, and beautifully executed are some of my preferred adjectives.

I didn't realise it was one of yours because I just didn't have time to match up all the artists names and paintings from the catalog, I was hoping with a bit of research I could find most of the artists on the net when I got home and get some more background information.

To tell the truth I think I had a bit of headless chicken syndrome. ;) so sorry Linda no photos ( didn't think you were allowed to take them actually, you live and learn)

The one by Michael Taylor RP was another I was very impressed with, but then I have a penchant for 'older faces'. I can see that some people might be a bit put off because the face is larger than life, but I liked it.

Here's the link to his site for those interested, http://www.mrtaylor.co.uk/works/ the work is titled 'Renata Symonds (2004)'

Allan, I wouldn't say that the exhibition was 'promoting traditional portraiture,' far from it really.

The thing that made it so interesting for me was that the classical, traditional, contemporary were exhibited side by side. Also the diversity of the content,(there was one of the back of a girls head)and style was as Scott says really extreme. I've a feeling that some artists here would question whether they even qualified as portraiture.

Another one I found really interesting was 'The wishing well ' by Dougall McDougall. http://www.kitglaisyer.com/artoose/Doug/index.htm It is 38x48ins When you are any closer than 4-5ft or so it doesn't make much sense, you can see the torn and scrubbed paper, but step back and the image is unnervingly real.

I'd love to do the jet thing. I've a feeling the exhibitions would be totally different.

Congratulations Scott, your paintings would look great anywhere. I would love to see images of the two paintings that you exhibited.

twice
 

I am just writing after my second visit to the show (courtesy of Scott's free tickets).
The first time at the opening the crowd and quantity of works was so overwhelming that I could not make up my mind about the paintings.
On my second, much quiter visit, I had the chance to have a better look.
Carolyn, you are wright about the mix of styles, contemporary, traditional,grotesque or just ugly...
For me the quality this year was not very even, some very accomplished works some really questionable choices.
Scott I would say you sit at the very top, I already told you many times. There really were not other painters that work with glazing apart from your friend Renee, but I think his girl was not as nice as your little ginger.
Your painting has also a graphic component (the stripy collar) which makes it again very elegant and well designed:
http://www.bartner.com/index2.html

The big lions of the society were all there, Wonnacott with a rocambolesque composition.
My favourite contemporary style ones were Brendan Kelly, with a portrait of two boys, not yet on his website but here it is the painting with which he won a price last year
http://www.brendankellyartist.co.uk/frleo.html
His paintings are washed off by light, he is a master in the use of thick and thin paint, he also paints black so well, look at this priest clothes lit by sunlight.
Another that I liked very much was Geoffrey Hayzer
http://www.therp.co.uk/picture.asp?art=32&pic=32
his colours are so pure and the paintings are just perfectly balanced and clean. He was showing portraits of three girls, I am shamelessly trying to copy the way he paints hair!
Again if anyone is interested at what is going on over here the best links are always the two biggest agencies
www.commissionaportrait.com
www.fineartcommissions.com
Ilaria

http://www.therp.co.uk/default.asp

I looked at the website of RSPP and was astonished by the
-originality of style of almost every chosen British artist and
-especially their fine TASTE...
no primary colors, complicated surface textures, absence of kitch

they don't try to replace the "sublime" by technical perfection

Scott,

The portrait of Jennifer has a very nice feel about it. Congratulations on being part of this show.