Joy:

About your idea for a paint from life portrait competition ... I pulled the following from this thread: "Darts - possible career path?"

http://forum.portraitartist.com/show...ighlight=Darts


Iron Chef

I think I found my genius, he

I'm not even sure where this 4-digit hall of fame is, and I've been here a while. I think I've seen it somewhere, though.

Mike, are you saying you think a paint-from-life event would turn into a highly subjective, subsidized, media circus? It might. Actually, I was picturing artists fighting for the best view, and then the one with the best composition (because he/she got the best view) would have a much better shot at winning. I like the idea of painting from life--maybe having an event--but I wonder whether the finalists of the Smithsonian O-B Competition would necessarily be the ones who were best at it. What about all the other people who didn't make the finals? Some of them, at least, might be just as good or better, but they'd never get a chance.

What I'm thinking is maybe we need different competitions, some with an entire theme of painting from life, and others that emphasize different aspects of portraiture. Basically we just need more portrait competitions, exhibition opportunities, and events altogether.

I also watch the oh-so-fasinating Iron Chef along with a professional cake making contest for pastry chefs ( I am dead serious about this one folks) and Mike... I have had the exact thoughts that you so eloquently shared above!!!.... Well, except for the Marvin and Viagra thing...

I say let's do this thing and may the best & fastest brush win! (what will we win?)

It sure beats the local "Monster Truck Pulls" my town hosts on the weekends.

Joy Thomas
www.portraitartist.com/thomas

Alex,

I had some of my workshop students do a fun thing...we had to travel from one easel to the next, each artist took a large sketchpad to each spot and had only 30 minutes to work that view before the timer went off and we had to move to the next spot. It was a blast .

In painting, palettes could be handheld and we could have a panel or canvas near each easel and just kept rotating so each artist would have few views of the model going at one time. Very intense and terrifically invigorating! I Like It -I Like It

Joy Thomas

Sounds great!

Mike I would put Mattelson, Whitaker, Joy Thomas and Liberace on the platform...

Oh and I used to like the British Fat Ladies...

We can only hope.

My original complaint, as I tried to lay out in my "Darts" thread, had to do with fact that our present day prestigious portrait competitions pay a mere fraction of what some bloke could win in an English pub dart competition.

Having pondered the complaint, I believe that it comes down to one basic difference - PROCESS. In all these events, whether it be darts, the newly found TV poker, Wimbledon tennis etc., the difference between them and our competitions is that the audience is let in on the process. The mass audience (you have to gather enough of them together so that you can sell them soap, beer, deodorant and such) becomes involved, and are let in on how the final product was achieved. In some cases they are able to second guess as to what they might do next. Ever watched "Who wants to be a millionaire?"

What do we offer? Here, this is what I did, how do you like it? All the stages of planning and execution are kept from the viewing public. Is there any wonder there is such a small audience for what we do.

If Iron Chef Hiroyuki Sakai (sp) can develop a cult following in the U.S. of A. for butchering and cooking sea urchin roe on TV, why not Marvin Mattleson and Karen Wells for creating something of lasting beauty?

I think the answer lies in exposing the process to the public. Not in an academic, dry thirty minute how to video, but in an all out paint to the death competition. All this with judges that are unfair and rude, fair and articulate, sweet and ignorant. Such that the conversation around the water cooler on Monday morning goes something like: "Can you believe the background color choice the challenger made? You're not going to take down Iron Painter William Whittaker by making those kinds of choices." What if a kid said to his mother - I want to grow up to be just like Iron Painter Daniel Greene.

Would it hurt anyones feelings if the price of portraits suddenly took off like a Florida beach front condo? All boats rise with the incoming tide.

How about a documentary featuring five painters, showing the actual hairpulling and angst that goes into creating a portrait worthy of praise. With all the blood and gore, self flagellation, and vicious wipe-outs? Who would the director be? Quentin Tarantino, Stephen Speilberg, Dirty Harry? I see an Oscar in the future.

You rock, Mike!

Jean

I agree, Mike.

Most people are mesmerized by the process NOT the product. I have painted in public more times than I can count (not a challenge for the faint of heart) and once the thing is signed the show is over. Everyone loves to see a creative process and they will watch anything, there are TV shows that star TATTOO artists for heaven' sake...and just last night, I caught a few minutes of a chocolate candy making competition.

A competition like this would be fun and educational. I know we all squirm over the aesthetics of such a thing but an audience of rubes is better than no audience at all.

What's more it would be the perfect venue to challenge the stereotype of the "accomplished artist". Regular "paint-offs" with big prize money would have real talent crawling out of the woodwork...(young & old, men & women) because it doesn't take muscle to successfully wield a loaded brush...it just takes virtuosity.

Joy Thomas
www.portraitartist.com/thomas

[QUOTE=Jean Kelly]How about a documentary featuring five painters, showing the actual hairpulling and angst that goes into creating a portrait worthy of praise.


This is a great idea!!!...and while we're at it, let's include the details of a commission, from the signing of the contract, to traveling to location, to the sittings, to the unveiling and finally to the bank where exasperated bankers are waiting for payments on that credit line!

It's way better than a soap opera!

Joy Thomas
www.portraitartist.com/thomas