Royal Portrait Society show 2023 - closes 5pm tomorrow

Good morning,

The Royal Portrait Society's annual show is open until 5pm tomorrow, just round the corner from Trafalgar Square in London.

I went along on Wednesday with high expectations, and am very happy to share the experience with you:
 

What's the fuss all about?

The show is a mix of portraits by RP members, and emerging non-member artists. Members are seen as the cream of the portraiture establishment, and are entitled to show up to 4 portraits each, without jury evaluation. Non-members submit their applications from all over the world, in a highly competitive open call process.

Having work in the exhibition gives great exposure to potential clients, together with a ticket to the Private View, and the CV-enriching honour of being able to say you were selected. It is so competitive that there's no disgrace in rejection (as I told myself this year!) - many accomplished professional artists struggle every year with the rollercoaster of submission, shortlisting, handing-in day, and then either collection of unselected work, or the coveted email to say your work has been chosen.

Spare a thought for the non-member artists who've repeatedly been accepted into the show, and have applied and been nominated as 'up for election' to the society. It's a serious business - membership of the society is a huge credibility boost. Artists who are 'on their books' are in the running for all sorts of public and private commissions. Not to mention the prestige of being able to put RP after their name. 

I'd love to know what you thought of the show if you go? 

Have a great weekend, whatever you're up to, and thanks for reading my newsletter!

Gxxx