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This is just a little aside, and has most to do with my personal "world view," but although I applaud the efforts of the group, I want to make it as a portrait artist, not as a woman portrait artist.
Historically, women were not given the opportunities that men were to train to be artists. This, however, did not stop woman from making their mark. Cecilia Beaux, Mary Cassett, Elizabeth Vigee-LaBrun, to name a few.
I am finding that I am not at a disadvantage for doing major commissions in the portrait field. The guys don't have a lock on it. The main reason the men are on the boards of the portrait societies is because they were busting their chops during a period of history when women were not working to the same degree in the fine art and illustrative field - I'm talking teaching and publishing as well as painting, (and the ateliers were interested in young, talented boys...).
Fortunately, we are living in a period where people live long enough to master a discipline even if they have a "slow start." It is not necessary to discover your talent, find a teacher, and start your "path" while still in your teens in order to have enough time to become a master before you check out at 50. Gail Sheehy even calls this "The Age of Mastery." So you can go to school, marry, raise a family, get your training in bites, and still have 30 or 40 years to paint.
I perceive no glass ceiling. I want to play with the big boys.
Peggy
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