CT Turning the Tables on Portrait Commissions

PSoA/CSOPA members in CT turned the tables on the process of commissioning portraits with an original outreach event called Faces of Fairfield County 2009 (FFC09). Rather than wait for requests from patrons, we went into the community and invited notable citizens of Fairfield County to "Pose for Posterity" because of their professional achievements and contributions to society. Artists had one year to meet with honorees and complete the portraits. When an individual or organization chose to purchase a painting, a percentage of the proceeds were donated to the Norwalk Hospital Foundation to be used by the hospital in areas of greatest need. It was a Win, Win, Win! The gala reception On October 22 at the historic Lockwood~Mathews Mansion Museum in Norwalk hosted many notables including CT Lt. Governor Michael Fedele and Norwalk Mayor Moccia. According to several museum trustees, "This was most successful event ever held at the mansion."
Details can be found on www.CSOPA.org/FacesofFairfieldCounty2009.html.
PSoA Members who participated in FFC09: Cindy Wagner, Nancy Stember, Jeanine Jackson, William Rorick, Linda Champanier, Grace DeVito, Diane Aeschliman, Sandra Wakeen, Rob Silverman, and Gail-Klaus Ingis (Curator of Art and Honoree).

Faces of Fairfield County Press Coverage:
PSoA Members Pictured: Jeanine Jackson, Nancy Stember and Cindy Wagner
Click here: http://www.myfamily.com/isapi.dll/c/content/f/viewproperty/siteid/iv4QAE/contentclass/PICT/contentid/ZZZZZXEC/prop

FFC09 interview with PSoA member Cindy Wagner will air on locat Channel 8 Dec 22, 2009.

I believe that the community outreach and public exposure to fine portraits during FFC09 was unsurpassed by any prior portrait event hosted in CT.

FACES OF WINTER 2010 PORTRAIT FESTIVAL

FEBRUARY 5 - MARCH 5, 2010 http://www.CSOPA.org/FacesofWinter2010.html

Presented by

The Connectitcut Society

of Portrait Artists

at

UConn

1 University Place

Stamford, CT

Event Co-Chairs PSoA Members:

Michael Barrett and Nancy Stember

FACES OF WINTER 2010 ~ A PORTRAIT FESTIVAL
February 5 - March 6
University of Connecticut, Stamford

Fine Art Portraits Juried ExhibitionValentine Deserts & Awards Reception (Wear red!): Friday, February 5, 7pm-9pmExhibit On View through March 6
Judging for Cash and Ribbon Awards: NELSON SHANKS
Entry deadline: January 4, 2010

Master Class Portrait Symposium
The Reilly Method and Beyond
Friday & Saturday February 5 & 6
Master of Ceremonies: JOHN HOWARD SANDEN

Event Chairs: PSoA Members Nancy Stember and Michael Barrett

CSOPA's Lifetime Acheivement Award (LAA) Recipient: EVERETT RAYMOND KINSTLER
PRESENTORS AND FACULTY: Robert Anderson, Igor Babailov, Laurel Stern Boeck, Frank Covino, Jack Faraggasso, Mary Minifie, Thomas Nash, Michael Shane Neil, John Howard Sanden
For this historic 2-day symposium, The Connecticut Society of Portrait Artists is proud to invite PSoA members and area artists to learn from modern masters who have studied with direct disciples of the legendary teacher, Frank Reilly form the impressive faculty. This popular instructor at The Art Students' League in NYC derived his lessons from French Academic training and modified them to comprehensible axioms. It has been said that it is impossible to discern from a painter's style that he knows The Reilly Method, but it is evident that his students know how to paint. All PSoA members are invited to join CSOPA to learn more about these classic rules of the road designed to liberate individual style.
For details and forms, visit www.CSOPA.org/FacesofWinter2010.html

PSoA/CSOPA Member Holiday Party 2009

Well, Jamie! I did it! Here is my very first post to the PSoA Ambassador Blog!

The 7th annual CSOPA Holiday Party and our 80th gathering was held at my "Cottage" in Old Greenwich, CT on Monday, December 14.

Spouses stayed warm inside while we posed. An artists' "No-so-secret-Santa" gift exchange followed.

Virginia & DC - ART JAM PARTY January 23, 2010

Come socialize with other artists and friends at the January Art Jam. What better way to get rid of the winter blues than to spend a fun night with other artists and art lovers talking about art, networking, eating, drinking...and maybe even dancing. Artists are encouraged to bring friends and can even bring a sample of their latest work. So, while you enjoy the party, you can check out what others are working on, share ideas, or dish on the latest art happenings... but whatever you do have a good time! Bring a favorite CD to add to the music list. Better yet, we encourage guitar players and others acoustical artists to jam out!
Please bring a dish or beverage to share.
When: Saturday, January 23rd 2010
Begins: 7:00pm
Dress: Ultra Casual (i.e. wear old cloths just in case you sit in wet paint)
Artists: Bring your latest work or work in progress
RSVP: info@vickiblum.com>

Virginia and DC PSOA Holiday Party

Thanks to Petra Gerber for hosting this year's PSOA VA and DC Holiday Party at her house. The food was superb and the company warm. With so many things to eat, we were all stuffed. Petra made her famous German braided bread, beef, and German potato salad. But that was not all, eggrolls, dips, caramelized onion pastries, and lots of dessert treats. The decorations were beautiful and so were her watercolors, which she has throughout her house.

I didn't remember to take pictures until the very end of the night, so unfortunately I didn't get to capture the whole group.

It was fun meeting and talking to everyone and I can't wait until our next social.

Sherrie McGraw Workshop in Northern Virginia April 26-30, 2010

Exciting news! Sherrie McGraw will be teaching a workshop in Herndon, Virginia April 26-3o, 2010. This is the week immediately following the Portrait Society of America Conference in Reston, Virginia. Herndon is about 5 miles away from Reston so very convenient to those staying at the conference hotel.

The workshop will offer two genres in one workshop... still life and portraiture. You can split your time or study one subject matter the whole time. There are currently only three spots left for this workshop, so please call Vicki Blum at (703) 618 6070 if you are interested.

The cost of the 5-day workshop is $750. Model/subject matter fee is extra.

This workshop is not sponsored by Portrait Society of America