International Portrait Awards - Atlanta 2015

It was an honour to be invited to USA to attend the Portrait Society of America’s annual awards as a finalist. What an amazing week of presentations and workshops meeting so many inspirational artists among the 800 delegates, culminating in a wonderful awards dinner. Truly memorable.

It was interesting to note, and perhaps unique, that my work was the only finalist using coloured pencil.

With over 800 delegates the conference was a most enjoyable week, meeting some inspirational and quite brilliant artists from around the world. During the Awards Dinner I recall sitting next to one of the sponsors with her husband who was a cosmetic surgeon. We had an interesting discussion about the bones and muscles in the human face; he seemed surprised yet pleased that I knew some of the facial muscles by name. We both agreed that artists should have a better understanding of what lies beneath the surface.

Self portrait composition using hands to reinforce expresssion. This drawing received a number of awards and was published more than seven times in art books and periodicals. Artists frequently produce self portraits not out of vanity but to experiment or measure their development; they also have the freedom to be as brutal as they wish with the model, who is free and readily available!

Pencil on Pastelmat, 24” x 16”

(International Portrait Awards Atlanta, Finalist, 2015)

(UKCPS Open Exhibition - People’s Choice, 2015)

April 2015