CONGRATULATIONS TO

Kevin Oxley: WINNER of the Kogan 2009 Innaugral Hugh Sawry $10,000 Art Award. The award was announced on the same day as Kevin’s opening of his sell out Solo exhibition based on Cervante’s Don Quixote. Kevin continues his battle with liver cancer by producing some of his best work!!

Sally Robinson – was also one of the finalists in the 2009 Portia Geach Award exhibition. Her name was omitted last Newsletter…

Peter H Marshall: Finalist in the 2009 Dobell Drawing Prize AGNSW.

KerryMcInnis: Finalist in the 2009 Country Energy Landscape Prize.

Constance Farquharson, Sally Robinson, Jeanette Korduba, Kathrin Longhurst: Finalists in the Mosman Art Prize.

ARTISTS‘ NEWS

Judith O’Conal-Prinz: Solo exhibition through December – Recent Works.
Where: MLC Gallery 449 Harris St. Ultimo, NSW 2027
Opening: December 6th, 2009 7 – 9pm

Contact: 02 9692 9222.

Kevin Oxley: Solo exhibition “ The Windmills of My Mind” a tribute to Don Quixote. (07 54785092)
When: 3-25 October.
Where: Art on Caincross, 3 Panarama Place QLD 5460.

Grace Costanzo and Sinead Davies both gave Artists Talks during the 2009 Portia Geach Sunday talks at the S H Ervin Gallery, Observatory Hill Sydney.

Constance Farquharson has painted two recent commissions: Professor Ben Boer, Professor of Environmental Law at Sydney University; and Christopher Dawson, ex-councilor and former Mayor of Woollahra Council.

Pamela Scherf advises: “ My portrait ofthe fireman in UNSUNG HEROES,called “More Than A Number”, will be on the front cover of the Emergency Services Magazine, due to come out at the end of October 2009”.

Nafisa Naomi: helped to organize the Elephant Extravaganza in October2009 at the Arthouse Hotel in Sydney. A Charity Event in support of the population of elephants in India and Africa. The proceeds of the sale of Nafisa’s drawings of elephants on display over 2 floors of the Arthouse, as well as  her Calendar, went to the charity.

Evert Ploeg: 2 Day Weekend: Advanced oil portrait/figurative workshops in a true atelier atmosphere with a costumed character. “Limited to only 6 participants to allow personal instruction, Evert will mentor,demonstrate and encourage your development as a representational painter. Morning & Afternoon tea provided.” Discounts for 2 or more classes. (2010 Workshops Dates still to be confirmed.)
DATE: 21 & 22 November 2009, 10am -4pm.
VENUE: 39 Campbell Ave Dee Why2099, Evert Ploeg Studio.
COST: $330 – (inclusive model fees & GST) Bookings essential.
CONTACT: Ivana Daniele on 0415 601542 – or email@evertploeg-artist.com

UPDATE: PAA Exhibition in March 2010 FACE OFF!

WHAT: This exhibition features 16 x 16 inches (40cm x 40cm) unframed stretched canvas Stretchers must be 1 ½ inches thick or 3mm. (This creates a box effect). – FACES ONLY (neck permitted).

WHERE: MLC Gallery, 449 Harris St. Ultimo, opposite the Powerhouse Museum, Sydney.

WHEN: 8^th – 20^th March 2010

OPENING NIGHT: 7.00 – 9.00 pm, Tuesday 9^th March 2010

NB: This will be a fun show – the gallery offers a small exhibition space and the committee have decided to utilize the space in a creative way with close-ups

ENTRY FORM INCLUDED WITH THIS NEWSLETTER….

THE ARTY PARTY– invitation included with this newsletter

DATE: Thursday 21^st January, EAT, DRINK & BE MERRY – a summer evening under the stars …

TIME: FROM 6PM ONWARDS, children welcome, live music, bring a plate & drawing materials.

PLACE: The Artists’ Colony, Headland Park, 1100A Middle Head Road, MOSMAN. At The Julian Ashton Art School – Cottage 17.

The President’s Message:

Dear Artists and Friends of Portrait Artists Australia,

On behalf of the committee I thank you all for your dedication and good humour, and for the beautiful work you submitted for our two shows this year. We hope to see many of you at our PAA ARTY PARTY On January 21^st (see enclosed invitation).

2009 has been a full and fruitful year for PAA in terms of two highly successful exhibitions at two high profile venues – Parliament House in Sydney and Parliament House in Canberra. The former garnered unprecedented publicity and the latter was unexpectedly packed out. Both venues demanded a certain formality in the works and both exhibitions were fairly serious in tone. We have two exhibitions scheduled for 2010 – very different in character (see enclosed entry form for March FACE OFF!) with a return to commercial venues and a lighter tone in the themes. The committee engages in lengthy debates over the choice of venues and themes, and we hope that the PAA artists will be pleased by the variety offered overall during 2009-2010.

It has been my goal this year as president to maintain the profile of professionalism established under the leadership of Nafisa Naomi and Robyn Ross, and to consistently reinforce the public’s perception of PAA as a cohesive, committed network of true professionals, passionate practitioners of the noble art, with a genuine appreciation of each other’s work. At the end of the day it is artists who best appreciate the variety of skills involved in making art, and the respect of our peers is profoundly gratifying. I encourage all of the PAA artists to use the monthly newsletters to communicate with the wide network of people who read them – in hardcopy and online.

My heartfelt thanks to the 11 other Committee Members (and their wonderful spouses) for their dedication to the PAA projects over the last 12 months. It is a great pleasure and privilege to work alongside a multi-talented team with such a variety of creative business skills.  In particular we must acknowledge Kathrin Longhurst, who has done an amazing job redesigning the new PAA website so that it is visually exciting and easily identified by search engines. We are also grateful that Judith Stevens continues in her position as honorary secretary and manages our financials with such efficiency that we are always in the black at the end of the year.

I conclude with the traditional Yuletide greeting:

May peace be in our hearts, may the light be on earth …

CONGRATULATIONS TO

Finalists in the 2009 Portia Geach Award:

Grace Costanzo – Highly Commended

Ann Cape x 2 , Sinead Davies.

*

Winners & Finalists in the Lexus Mortimore Art Award 2009:

Peter H Marshall – Highly Commended: Portraiture; Peter Smeeth - Winner Still Life; (Finalist: Portraiture); Stephanie Brown x 2; Vivian Falk; Robyn Ross; Jeanette Korduba; Evert Ploeg; Patrick Doherty; Terry Benson; Raelene Sharp; Susan Cesarini; Pauline Donnely; Janne Kearney.

*

ARTISTS‘ NEWS

Peter H Marshall has been commissioned by the ‘Kinross Wolaroi School’ in Orange NSW to paint the retiring Chairman, Derek Pigot. This is the second commission from the school; the first was in 2007, a portrait of the Principal, David Williams.

*

Alex Kolozsy: Unveiling: “In Gy?r-Ménf?csanak, Hungary, where I grew up in they unveiled one of my works in front of a very large crowd – a life size bust of. Dr. Albert Wass. The bronze sculpture now has a permanent place in Bezerédy Museum. The late Count Wass was a Hungarian Writer and Poet, and Co- President of the Transylvanian World Federation. Originally commissioned from the USA by his five Sons in 2000, this is the copy ordered in January 2009 by Bezerédy Muzeum, Gy?r-Ménf?csanak, Hungary.”

Where: Gy?r-Ménf?csanak, (Western Hungary) 3pm, 22^nd August 2009.

FACE OFF!

Diana Cole: Solo exhibition -  “People from the Northside and Beyond” - paintings, drawings, prints and sculptures.

Where:  Gordon Library, Cnr Park Ave. & Pacific Highway, Gordon NSW.

When:  October 5th – December 30^th

***

GENERAL‘ NEWS

ANNOUNCMENT!!

UPCOMING PAA Exhibition in March 2010

Title:  ‘FACE OFF! ‘

WHAT: This exhibition features 16 x 16 inches (40cm x 40cm) unframed stretched canvas – FACES ONLY.

WHERE: MLC Gallery, Harris St. Ultimo, opposite the Powerhouse Museum, Sydney.

WHEN: 8^th – 20^th March 2010

*

NB: This will be a fun show – the gallery offers a small exhibition space and the committee have decided to utilize the space in a creative way with close-ups.

Message from Miriam Caballo, the Gallery owner: “This exhibition at MLC Gallery will coincide with Art Month Sydney. It is an initiative to celebrate the importance and diversity of the Sydney art world. From 1–30 March 2010, commercial art galleries, auction houses, public museums and institutions will unite to stage free artists’ talks, lectures, exhibitions, social events and tours, raising the profile of Sydney as a centre of fine, visual and contemporary art.”

The application form will be sent out in the next newsletter

PAA EVENTS FOR 2010:

2010 Exhibitions:

March Exhibition – FACE OFF! At MLC Gallery, Ultimo.

October Exhibition – (Theme To be Announced) – at the Arthouse Hotel, Sydney.

***

PARTY!!

The Portrait Artists Australia

AUSTRALIA DAY BASH

WHEN: 7pm – 10pm – Thursday 21^st January (just before the Australia Day Weekend) at the beautiful oceanside location in the JAAS studio.at The Artists’ Colony in Headland Park, in Mosman. As you are aware, the Principal, Paul Delprat, is one of our patrons, and he has generously made the premises available to PAA. Thank you Paul.

WHAT: Free parking; beautiful natural environment; wine, food; life model; live music. Wall-to-Wall artists and friends, bop til you drop under a starry, starry summer night. Bring a plate of goodies to share.  Wine will be provided, plus tea and coffee.

WHERE: The Julian Ashton Art School Studios, at The Artists’ Colony in Headland Park, 1100A Middle Head Road, Mosman, past Mosman Village.

JAAS is Cottage 17. Driving along Middle Head Road, you come to a right hand turn into a driveway – directly opposite a left hand turn into Cobbittee Street. Please check the street directory. If you get lost on the night, please call Nafisa 0404036303 or Janis 0425353790 or Kathrin 0411144893.

There are two fixed social events on the PAA calendar – the AGM and the Australia Day Bash. This is the perfect opportunity to meet fellow PAA artists and party!! Bring friends and/or family.

INVITATION IN THE NEXT NEWSLETTER!!!!

PAA WEBSITE UPDATE:

Kathrin Longhurst reports that at this time we have between 50-150 visits a day; 2,500 per month, especially Homepage, with people viewing an average of 5 pages per visit.

We have updated the information on existing pages and added new pages – EXHIBITIONS (an exhibiting history of the association) and EXHIBITION IMAGES. The number of commission enquiries, as well as general enquiries, has increased.

Kathrin is alternating the order of indexed artists’ pages every couple of months so at this time  ‘z’ comes up first. (Just to give everyone a chance of being seen first up.) We have updated the existing PAGES and added new pages – EXHIBITIONS (a history of the association) and EXHIBITION IMAGES. The number of commission enquiries as well as general enquiries has increased.

PLEASE CHECK OUT THE PAA WEBSITE next time you are online and give us your feedback on the new pages and images.

CONGRATULATIONS TO

Stephanie Brown: Another Finalist in the City of Perth Black Swan, WA.

*

Kathrin Longhurst & Vivian Falk: both are Finalists in the Mosman Art Prize, Sydney.

*

Kerry McInnis: finalist in the Waterhouse Natural History Prize Exhibition with her landscape of Clark Gorge, Snowy Mountains. In conjunction with the show, Kerry was invited to give a painting demonstration at the Museum.

Where: South Australian Museum, North Terrace, Adelaide SA.

When: July 18 – September 6

*

ARTISTS‘ NEWS

Peter H Marshall: Exhibition of paintings and drawings celebrating the bicentenary of Govenor Lachlan Macquarie and his wife Elizabeth’s historic arrival in Australia in the year 1810.

Where: Opens at The Fountain Court Gallery, Parliament House Sydney

When:  9^th April – 30th April, 2010. Afterwards continuing at the   Bathurst Regional Gallery, 21st May - 4th July, 2010

*

Vivian Falk: donated her portrait of James Morrison for the Canteen Fundraising dinner/auction at the NSW Art Gallery.

When: Saturday 29^th August

Avril Thomas reports: “The Opening of ‘Theatre Works’ (11^th August, Flinders Medical Centre) was great fun – with Arts in Health at FMC reporting that it was their biggest show ever and they were a bit overwhelmed.   The response has been quite emotional. Stateline filmed a segment the following day interviewing some of the staff with their pictures, so the girls have had fun with it. It was a spur of the moment thing as Ian Henchke was at the opening and saw the reaction.  Not sure when it will be aired. Another piece will be going into The Guardian about the show. The exhibition will be hanging till the 26th September so you can nip in anytime. I have the makings of a book with the entire collection. The Hon. John Hill has accepted to do the Forward and Lea West, the theatre unit manager, would like to add something too.”

*

Nafisa Naomi: was given forty minutes to create a work on paper in inks, charcoal, pastel and gouache in front of the assembled guests at the 2009 Humpty Dumpty Ball, to be auctioned at the dinner. Titled ‘A Long Way To Go’, the work celebrated the recent climb to the top of Mt Kilamanjara by 16 people including Joe Hockey and David Koch. Each participant had to raise $50,000 for the charity climb. The moonlit composition in velvety blacks was inspired by stories of the recent climb and other sources. It now hangs in the offices of the Hon. Joe Hockey.

What: Performance Art – Humpty Dumpty Fundraising Ball.

When: Saturday 5^th September

REPORT: UNSUNG HEROES

The Opening Night of UNSUNG HEROES at Parliament House, Canberra, was a hugely successful event – we were expecting 100-150 people and about 280 attended. Parliament House is a stunning venue, the paintings look excellent on the walls, and House staff were very helpful and efficient throughout. All the guests commented on the high standard of the 37 works, and the show attracted old friends from different parts of the eastern States. Our guest speaker, Professor Sasha Grishin, made an elegant and witty speech; Janis gave the opening speech and Nafisa closed the proceedings. Our photographer, Craig Peihopa, assembled the artists on the staircase leading to the first floor and took a lively group photo, which we will post on the website. About 35 artists and friends enjoyed dinner afterwards at a local restaurant. The exhibition will be on throughout September, and has attracted a lot of interest already.

PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD was won by Doffy White with her portrait of Gwennie McLaughlin. Congratulations Doffy!!

A very big THANK YOU to

The HANGING TEAM: Janis Lander, Kathrin Longhurst, Peter Smeeth, Jules Sevelson, Alex Kolozsy. Very special thanks to Anthony Longhurst who did the actual physical hanging on the walls with the PH hanger Tony.

The DESIGN TEAM: Kathrin Longhurst and Jules Sevelson.

Janis Lander who co-ordinated the event; Robyn Ross who made the freight arrangements; Alex Kolozsy who scouted the venue; Nafisa Naomi who spearheaded promotion; and all the EXHIBITING ARTISTS who contributed in diverse ways to make this one of most successful exhibitions. Thanks to the enthusiasm and energy of the entire COMMITTEE who all pulled together to make this one of our best exhibitions to date, organising all the different aspects of the venture, from mailouts, to publicity, to greeting the guests.

Our special thanks to Bruce Thompson, husband of PAA member Jeanette Korduba, for donating the printing of catalogue (and the ongoing printing of the Newsletters); and to Jeanette Korduba who oversees the printing jobs.

Our photographer was Craig Peihopa. Craig is able to make prints of the photos for any PAA members. A link to his website is on the PAA website.

ARTCARE (Bob & Christiane Gurney) who acted as our courier.

ARTSCENE who acted as the Sydney Depot.

Committee News:

The Executive committee was elected for 2009-2010:

Janis Lander – President.

Kathrin Longhurst – Vice President.

Judith Stevens – Honorary Secretary.

NOTE: Nafisa Naomi has made the decision to step back from the executive roles for the time being, to pursue personal projects in India and Africa. Nafisa’s initial bold vision for an independent, self-directed group of professional artists, working together within the arts community, was the original force behind the formation of this dynamic association, and has influenced all the major decisions made by the committee over the past seven years. Robyn Ross and Nafisa have both set a very high standard of excellence in the roles of President and Vice President and will remain vibrant members of the PAA committee. It is in the best interests of PAA that the committee be composed of highly competent performers, who are able to function as a team in the key roles of project management for exhibitions, events and promotion of the art form, and can cover for each other during peak times. Janis Lander has served on the PAA committee since 2002 and is well known to the membership as the author of the newsletters, form letters, press releases, catalogues etc, and, more recently, handling venue liaison. Kathrin Longhurst is vastly experienced in web design and promotion, and designed the current PAA website which has attracted such interest from the public. Judith Stevens continues in her role of Honorary Secretary, which she performs with exemplary efficiency and generosity. We look forward to an exciting year of PAA events and exhibitions.

For the Newsletter – Please send all your news to jelander@bigpond.net.au

CONGRATULATIONS TO

Finalists in the 2009 City of Perth Black Swan Prize for Portraiture:

Kathrin Longhurst, Nafisa Naomi, Peter Smeeth, Evert Ploeg, Raelene Sharp, Jim Van Geet.

When: 25^th September – 5^th October

Where: Perth Town Hall, Cnr Hay Street & Barrack Street

Perth, Western Australia.

Janis Lander: Finalist in the 2009 Outback Art Prize.

Where: Broken Hill Regional Art Gallery, 408 Argent St. Broken Hill.

When: 7 August – 13 September.

ARTISTS‘ NEWS

Neil Liddell: Unveiling of Portrait of Professor Paul Clark Vice Chancellor of Southern Cross University.

When: 20 August 2009

Where: Invercauld House Southern Cross University Campus Lismore. If any PAA members are up on the North Coast and would like to attend, please call Neil at his Studio 02 66216778.

Jiawei Shen: is working on a commission to paint former Prime Minister John Howard’s portrait for Parliament House, Canberra. Jiawei has returned from his exhibition in China earlier this year and is currently working on a large historical painting featuring figures from Australian history.

Louise Beck: Joint Exhibition – Paintings.

Where: Sydney Children’s Hospital – Art Space, High St. Randwick.

When: 30^th July – 4^th October.

Avril Thomas: Solo Exhibition – 43 Paintings & Drawings – completed during her Artist-in-Residency at the Operating Theatre, Flinders Medical Centre.

Where: Promenade Gallery A, Level 2, Flinders Medical Centre. 11 Aug – 27 Sept.

Opening: 11 August, 5.30pm, by Hon John Hill

Artist’s Talk: Tuesday 18^th August, 12-1pm.

Paul Newton: has been in the news lately with some high-profile international stories. The chapel of the new Centre for Australian Pilgrims in Rome will feature 35 portraits by Paul “charting the Australian Catholic experience.” Subjects will include Caroline Chisholm, Father Therry, Dame Mary Kate Barlow, Blessed Mary MacKillop and the founder of the Archdiocese of Sydney, Archbishop Polding; as well as international figures Pope John II and Mother Theresa and others with strong ties to Australia. It all began in 2007 when Cardinal Pell commissioned Paul to paint portraits of himself, Bishop Anthony Fisher and Archbishop Polding (who died in 1905), followed by a commission to paint Our Lady of the Southern Cross to celebrate World Youth Day, July 2008.

At the same time we noticed that Paul was recently described in an article in the American Portrait Institute publication, The World of Portrait Painting, as “ a leading figure in American portraiture”!! Paul’s recent Australian commissions of the Hon Paul Calvert and Cardinal Clancy were critiqued within an analysis of technique and approach. Paul has been a regular tutor at the annual American Portrait Society conventions for some years, and has executed many American commissions.

Paul held the position of Vice-President of Portrait Artists Australia on the PAA committee for the first three years from 2002 until 2005, until his work schedule became way too demanding. Good luck to Paul.

REPORT ON THE AGM

There was a great turn out for the AGM, thanks to all the artists who were able to make it. Paul Delprat was a gracious host for the occasion and turned over the spacious JAAS painting rooms for the meeting. So nice to meet members and catch up on news. Excellent tucker provided by the artists!

Judith Stevens chaired the meeting and gave her report on the financials for the year, followed by Nafisa Naomi and Janis Lander who gave their summaries of PAA achievements and the projects planned for 2010. Kathrin Longhurst gave a brief report on the website.

The assembled members (and proxies) then cast their votes for the 12 committee members, and Judith made the count:

Committee Members Elected for 2009

Judith Stevens

Jules Sevelson

Alex Kolozsy

Robyn Ross

Kathrin Longhurst

Nafisa Naomi

Janis Lander

Jeanette Korduba

Constance Farquharson

Bob Baird

Vivian Falk

Judith O’Conal-Prinz

Our heartfelt thanks to former committee members Laura Hopkins, Eva Herz-Murray and David Rees for their contribution and enthusiasm over the past few years.

The Executive committee will be elected at the first meeting convened by the new committee.

UPDATE: UNSUNG HEROES

Invitations for the September PAA Exhibition in Canberra will be mailed out asap. A double page AD for the exhibition, and for PAA, can be found in the current edition of Art Collector Magazine pp.36-37.

OPENING NIGHT: WEDNESDAY 2^ND SEPTEMBER – 6-8pm

Letters to out to all exhibiting artists will be sent shortly.

ARTISTS‘ NEWS

Christine Lott: one of the 25 finalists for the Mount Eyre Vineyards Art Prize 2009 Where: Rex Livington Gallery, 59 Flinders St, Surry Hills.

When: 25^th June -19^th July.

Rizwana Ahmad: Highly Commended, for Still Life in the LOCAL section,

Camden Art Prize.

Commended for figure landscape in the OPEN section, Camden Art Prize.

Jules Sevelson, Robyn Ross, Janis Lander, Judith O’Conal-Prinz, Vivian Falk, Jeanette Korduba: Group exhibition, NSW Friends of Bezalel 5^th Annual Art Exhibition.

Where: The ArtHouse Hotel, 275 Pitt Street, Sydney.

When: Monday 20th July to Saturday 15th August 2009.

Opening night: Monday 20th July 6.30 pm, by Dr Gene Sherman of Sherman Galleries

Kathrin Longhurst, Nafisa Naomi, Robyn Ross, Elizabeth Barden: All contributed paintings (which include the signed jeans of a celebrity within the work), in the Annual Charity Fundraising Exhibition – Jeans 4 Genes. Opening night at the Arthouse Hotel in Sydney was jam packed as usual, and the 30 pieces were dazzling in their originality of concept and skillful execution. The fundraising Auction of the painted jeans takes place during a gala fundraising dinner, in support of research into childhood disease

GENERAL NEWS

UPDATE ON UNSUNG HEROES

• Entry form is included in this Newsletter. All entry forms MUST be in by August 1^st to PO Box 385 Kogarah NSW 1485. All entry forms MUST be accompanied by a high quality photograph of the work, OR email a jpg image separately to Nafisa   nafisa.naomi@mac.com A cheque or money order of $40 must accompany the entry. Cheques will be returned to those not selected.

• The Parliament House Gallery space is limited and therefore the committee must curate the entries for this exhibition. A photograph/image MUST be included along with the details of the painting (size, medium) in the application form. If the entry is not accepted, the cheque will be returned asap. Medium and small sized pieces are welcomed in this venue.

• NOTE: PAA is using Bob Guerney of ARTCARE as our courier for the Canberra exhibition and we recommend his services to our members:

ArtCare Courier Service

www.artcare.com.au/

(02) 4655 7473/ 0412 400 837

Email: gurneys@bigpond.com

Portrait Artists Australia Annual General Meeting

29^th July 2009 – 7pm – 9pm

ALL MEMBERS WELCOME! Looking forward to seeing you there and catching up on news. Please email or post your proxy vote if you are not able to attend….

The Annual General Meeting will be held at the beautiful oceanside location of the Julian Ashton Art School, at Middle Harbour Artists’ Colony in Mosman. As you are aware, the Principal, Paul Delprat, is one of our patrons, and he has generously made the premises available to PAA. Thank you Paul.

Wine and food, coffee and tea are provided, parking is free, and it is a great opportunity to socialise with fellow PAA artists. Please make an effort to attend this important event on the PAA calendar, and we can catch up on news afterwards. Portrait Artists Australia is first and foremost a society of professional artists, organising and promoting our own exhibitions. As this is our seventh year in existence, let’s take the opportunity of the Annual General Meeting to celebrate our interesting history, and the collection of strong, creative personalities that have made it all happen.

The meeting will be chaired by our honorary secretary, Judith Stevens. The books will be presented for inspection. All positions on the committee will be open for election and votes will be taken by those present. Those wishing to be nominated are asked to speak briefly about themselves. Please contact a committee member if you are interested in joining this creative team, to have a chat about the meetings etc. The committee meets about 10 times a year, and work together to organize all PAA events.

If you are unable to attend the AGM, please fill in and mail your proxy voting form to the PAA post office box, nominating your proxy.

AGM VENUE ADDRESS:

The artists’ colony is in Headland Park, 1100A Middle Head Road, Mosman, past Mosman Village. JAAS is Cottage 17. Driving along Middle Head Road, you come to a right hand turn into a driveway – directly opposite a left hand turn into Cobbittee Street. Please check the street directory. If you get lost on the night, please call Nafisa 0404036303 or Janis 0425353790 or Kathrin 0411144893.

NOTE: check out The Mortimore Prize Exhibition September 2009 –33,000 in Prizes For – Landscape, Waterscape, Still Life, Portraiture & Drawing.

Areas: Dubbo, Sydney & Bungendore

download entry form – www.australianartsales.com.au

Your newsletter wants your news! Our members love to keep up with interesting events with in the artists’ network. Do not be shy about sending in your news of exhibitions, awards and profile commissions to

jelander@bigpond.net.au

ARTISTS‘ NEWS

Raelene Sharp: has been commissioned to paint the portrait of the Retiring Head of the Melbourne University College at The University of Melbourne – Dr Deborah Seifert, who was appointed in 2002. Dr Seifert was Principal of Fintona Girl’s School, Balwyn (Victoria) from 1992-2000. Dr Seifert is a council member of the Invergowrie Foundation.

Judy Brownlie: Joint exhibition (with Julie Martin) – Recent Paintings and Jewellery, includes a raffle to raise money for the Multiple Sclerosis Society of NSW.

Where: 462 Sackville Ferry Rd, Sackville North NSW 2756.

When: 13-21 June 2009, 10am – 5pm.

Kathrin Longhurst:  was part of a group show of recent Paintings and Sculptures during the month of May with three other artists.

Where: Gallery 307, located at 307 Sailors Bay Rd, Northbridge (Sydney). Gallery 307 is open Mon-Fri 10am-5pm, and Saturday 11am-4pm. Some of the works are still available for showing upon request 02 9958 1298 or check website.

A Welcome to New Exhibiting Member

Richard Claremont

Update: CANBERRA EXHIBITION

UNSUNG HEROES

Thank you to all the artists who have expressed interest in participating in the PAA September exhibition in Canberra. The Parliament House Gallery space is limited and therefore the committee must curate the entries for this exhibition. A photograph/image MUST be included along with the details of the painting (size, medium) in the application form. If the entry is not accepted, the cheque will be returned asap. Medium and small sized pieces are welcomed in this venue.

DATES TO MARK ON THE CALENDAR:

Entry Forms Will Go Out With The Next Newsletter In July

ENTRY FORMS – forms must be received by 1^st AUGUST, with cheque and a photo or jpg image of the painting. There is limited space so committee will exercise discretion with entries. There will be a size restriction of approx 48 x 60 inches (or 36 x 72 inches max). No minimum size. Medium and Small pieces are welcome in this venue.

DELIVERY OF WORKS: between 17-21 AUGUST to the nominated depot. PAA will underwrite the cost of transport to Canberra, so the entry fee will reflect this expense.

HANGING: Tuesday 1 September.

OPENING: WED 2 SEPTEMBER 6-8.

ACCOMODATION: Those artists wishing to attend the opening and wanting to find accommodation, please advise Janis by email, as we are going to book some rooms at a group discount for the 2 nights in a motel close by the venue.

Portrait Artists Australia Annual General Meeting

29^th July 2009 – 7pm – 9pm

ALL MEMBERS WELCOME!

The Annual General Meeting will be held at the beautiful oceanside location of the Julian Ashton Art School, at Middle Harbour Artists’ Colony in Mosman. As you are aware, the Principal, Paul Delprat, is one of our patrons, and he has generously made the premises available to PAA. Thank you Paul.

Wine and food, coffee and tea are provided, parking is free, and it is a great opportunity to socialise with fellow PAA artists. Please make an effort to attend this important event on the PAA calendar, and we can catch up on news afterwards. Portrait Artists Australia is first and foremost a society of professional artists, organising and promoting our own exhibitions. As this is our seventh year in existence, let’s take the opportunity of the Annual General Meeting to celebrate our interesting history, and the collection of strong, creative personalities that have made it all happen.

The meeting will be chaired by our honorary secretary, Judith Stevens. The books will be presented for inspection. All positions on the committee will be open for election and votes will be taken by those present. Those wishing to be nominated are asked to speak briefly about themselves. Please contact a committee member if you are interested in joining this creative team, to have a chat about the meetings etc. The committee meets about 10 times a year, and work together to organize all PAA events.

If you are unable to attend the AGM, please fill in and mail your proxy voting form to the PAA post office box, nominating your proxy.

AGM VENUE ADDRESS:

The artists’ colony is in Headland Park, 1100A Middle Head Road, Mosman, past Mosman Village. JAAS is Cottage 17. Driving along Middle Head Road, you come to a right hand turn into a driveway – directly opposite a left hand turn into Cobbittee Street. Please check the street directory. If you get lost on the night, please call Nafisa 0404036303 or Janis 0425353790 or Kathrin 0411144893.

COMMITTEE REPORT

In response to members’ suggestions, the committee is looking at a wider selection of venues. As most exhibiting venues have space limitations, and due to the large number of entries, future exhibitions may be curated. In future, an image of the work with dimensions, must accompany the entry form. The entry fee/cheque will be returned in the event of a painting not being included. This is in line with current exhibition practices.

Your newsletter wants your news!

Please send your news of exhibitions, awards and commissions to

jelander@bigpond.net.au

ARTISTS‘ NEWS

Pamela Scherf – Finalist – Moreton Bay Regional Art Awards. – figurative work titled “Campfire” – in the open 2D section. Winners are announced on the 22^nd May.

ALSO – Group Exhibition: Figuratively Speaking.

Opening: 5.30pm on Friday 5th June.

When: June 5^th -7^th -  long weekend.

Where: The Art Factory, 84 Merivale St. South Brisbane

Avril Thomas: has a busy schedule the next 3 months, participating in The South Australian Living Artists Festival EVENTS as well as:

SOLO exhibition: the 3 Divas in Caffrey St, McLarenvale, through April.

GROUP exhibition:  at Scotch College, Curreth Rd. Torrens Park. 22 -24 May.

ALSO – 3 SALA Events:

SOLO Exhibition: Avril is holding in culmination of an artist’s residency, paintings and drawings of the staff working in theatre at Flinders Medical Centre The Promenade, Bedford Park  during the South Australian Living Artists Festival. 11^th Aug – 16^th Sept

OPEN STUDIO: 26 Willunga St, Eden Hills -  her portraits and landscapes will be on view and for sale. 13^th – 17^th August

GROUP Portrait Exhibition: Ayres House/National Trust Museum, North Terrrace, Adelaide, is holding a group Portrait exhibition with leading S.A portrait artists during the SALA Festival.  Avril’s portrait of Vice Chancellor Prof. Anne Edwards of Flinders University will be featured. 7^th – 23^rd August

David K Rees: has relocated to QLD and is having a busy time settling in and introducing himself to the locals. A Private Exhibition at his studio – ‘On Reflection’ – including a collection of marine works and portraits for sale. [AFTER which he shall be judging the Cooktown Art Prize.]

Where: Cominos House, Greenslopes Road, Edge Hill Cairns, QLD.

When: 24 April.

ALSO Solo Exhibition: David has recently exhibited in Zhengzhou, Henan, China:  ‘Reflections of Australia’ – which opened in early April. David writes: “I made the Invitation and Catalogue cover with Ken Done. Over 300 Government dignitaries attended the Opening.”

Dr Alex Sandor Kolozsy: recently gave two sculpture demonstrations -  for the  Windsor Art Society and the Macquarie Towns Arts Society. Following his usual method, a wooden base with a metal support was covered with a clay/wax mixture to build the correct skull shape, and then the head was worked from life.

Janis Lander: is taking a 2-week artists’ residency in the remote outback artist’s studio at Fowlers Gap, UNSW Research Station, during May.

WELCOME TO NEW EXHIBITING MEMBER

Susie Devenport.

Annual General Meeting – July 2009

COMMITTEE REPORT:

Thank you to all the artists who answered the Expressions of Interest in the last newsletter. Your comments and feedback were discussed at the committee meeting. Owing to short numbers, the October Exhibition at the Arthouse Hotel in Sydney has been cancelled. We need 50-60 works to fill the Arthouse as it is a large exhibition space. We have booked the Arthouse venue for 2010. In future the PAA Committee will concentrate one or two strong exhibitions per year with media attention etc. Additional events/exhibitions will be treated as Special Events and organized separately by a sub committee.

Therefore we will focus our energies and resources for the remainder of 2009 on the September Exhibition at Parliament House Canberra:

UNSUNG HEROES

(A person whose professional profile you consider admirable, but one not reported in the media or in the public eye. This is a very large number of people.)

Regarding Freight queries, at this time we will probably organize a depot for artists to deliver their works to in each capital City. PAA will underwrite the cost of this and the entry fee will be higher than usual to help with these costs.

Information sheets and entry forms will be sent to members in June.

Hanging Day will be Tuesday 1^st of September and

Opening Night on Wednesday 2^nd September 6-8pm. (Speaker to be announced.)

Take-down on the Wednesday 30^th September.

Pick up by artists will be at their depots in each capital city.

THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

The AGM will be held in July this year. The venue will be announced next newsletter. Wednesday 29^th July 7-9pm. Refreshments will be offered. The Books will be open for inspection. The committee invites all PAA members to attend and vote for the new committee members. All positions are up for grabs. Please consider putting yourself forward for the committee. We meet once a month (except around Christmas) and organize all the events and business of this interesting and dynamic group of professional artists.

If you are interested, please contact a committee member and have a chat about the way it works. Contact numbers are on the website.

CONGRATULATIONS TO

Kerry McInnis: Selected for the Salon des Refuses this year with her portrait of Euan Macleod.

Alex Koloszy: Winner of the $71,000 commission for the Nurse’s Walk.

ARTISTS‘ NEWS

Louise Beck: Solo Exhibition: GLASS

Where: the Xavier Art Space, St Vincent’s Public Hospital, Victoria St, Darlinghurst, Sydney.

Opening Night: April 1^st 6-8pm;

When: March 30 – April 30.

Christine Lott: Solo Exhibition – Moving Colours.

Where: 2 Fletcher St Byron Bay.

When: 10-14 April

Opening: 6pm Thursday 9^th April.

Kerry McInnis: Recent Solo Exhibiton – Landscapes. Large and small paintings based on recent excursions into the arid landscape of the Macdonnell and Flinders Ranges.

Where: Solander Gallery, Canberra.

When: Feb 14 – March 22

Kathrin Longhurst: Solo exhibition – Latest works

Where: Dome restaurant, first floor, Arthouse Hotel, 275 Pitt St, Sydney.

When: through April 2009

Elizabeth Barden: has donated a portrait of  Australian Country Music legend Troy Cassar-Daley to a huge fundraising Art Auction, to be conducted this Friday 27 the March night in the Melbourne Town Hall, with 100% of proceeds going to the Red Cross Bushfire Appeal. The portrait, painted by Cairns Artist, was painting from sittings at Troy’s Brisbane home.

Janis Lander, Kathrin Longhurst, Paul Delprat & 12 other artists: Group Exhibition: Stations of the Cross.

Where: William St studios, 3 William St Fairlight, 2094

When: Easter Long Weekend.

Opening Night: Thursday 9^th April 7-9pm

Eva Herz-Murray: Solo exhibition in Paris: ‘Mad Birds’ – ink and watercolour on paper. Images of birds, and Italian architecture.

Where: F Gallery, Montmartre, Paris, thru April.

REPORT – PARLIAMENT OBJECTS!

Portrait Artists Australia scrutinises the honourable members of Federal and State Parliament, April 2009.

Parliament House, Sydney, is an elegant venue with a lot of traffic – crowds of people were viewing the work from the moment it was hung. The exhibition court is well lit and has marble floors. The media showed a lot of interest in this exhibition, and we had coverage in: The Sun Herald, The Australian, The Daily Telegraph, The Manly Daily, Channel 7 News, Channel 10 News, The Mosman Daily, The Glebe News, all of whom responded to

Honourable Members included:

The Hon. Geoff Corrigan, The Hon. Steve Whan, The Hon. Mike Baird, The Hon.Gladys Berejiklian, The Hon. Malcolm Turnbull, The Hon. Angela d’Amore, The Hon. Jillian Skinner, The Hon. Barry O’Farrell, The Hon. Verity Firth, The Hon Virginia Judge, The Hon. Kevin Rozzoli, The Hon. Joe Hockey, The Hon. David Borger, The Hon. Peter Debnam, the Hon Chris Hartcher.

Thanks to the hanging team who did an excellent job: Jules Sevelson, Kathrin Longhurst and Anthony; Peter and Jo Smeeth; Judith O’Conal Prinz; Robyn Ross, Steve Ballis, Janis Lander.

The Opening Night was great fun and well attended – at least 100 people stayed to hear the speeches and take refreshments in the Strangers’ Lounge. Comedian Rodney Marks opened the exhibition in character: The Hon. Bruce Attire, MLA, NSW Minister for Cultural Literacy, of the eve of his retirment. He addressed the topic: “Australian Values You Can See: The Arts Down Under” with a dry wit that had many in the audience wondering who this insensitive politician might be. The Hon. Peter Debnam sponsored the PAA event in Parliament House.

There were only 20 works in this exhibition, which is fewer than any other PAA exhibition we have previously held, but the standard was high and the show has attracted a lot of interest. We will book this venue again in the future, as all the works are shown to great advantage in the space. The show is on until the end of April, so please take some friends to see it when you are checking out the Archibald at the AGNSW, or the Doug Moran at the State Library, as it is just next door to the Library in Macquarie St.

THE PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD was won by Peter Smeeth and Constance Farquharson. Congratulations to both artists.

The Committee INVITES

EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

In the 2009 PAA Exhibitions

PLEASE MAIL, OR EMAIL OR PHONE IN YOUR INTENTIONS FOR THE Remaining 2 EXHIBITIONS FOR 2009.

UNSUNG HEROES – Canberra Parliament House – 1^st – 28^th `September (A person whose professional profile you consider admirable, but one not reported in the media or in the public eye. This is a very large number of people.)

UNDER THE MICROSCOPE –– October, Arthouse Hotel Sydney – (this is a broad category celebrating people involved with professional research in any of the sciences, – medicine, agriculture, zoology, geology, astronomy; or investigative journalism, film documentaries or any other intellectual discipline).

If we do not have the numbers to support these 2 exhibitions, we will focus our energies on one exhibition.

The outcome will depend on the number of artists interested in participating in these 2 exhibitions. The committee would rather focus time and attention on the Canberra Parliament House show, and forego the annual ArtHouse Show for this year if enough artists will not be participating.

CONGRATULATIONS TO

2009 Archibald Finalists:

Paul Jackson – and winner of The Packer’s Prize for his portrait of Flacco.

Jan Williamson, Ann Cape.

2009 Doug Moran Finalist:

Peter Smeeth

ARTISTS’ NEWS

Penelope Gilbert-Ng: joint exhibition with Cynthia Hargraves: Surviving All Odds.

When: 20^th – 27^th February 2009

Where: Royal Qld Art Society Gold Coast Branch

25 Broadbeach Blvd Cnr Chelsea Ave, (next to Broadbeach Surf Club)

Opened by:  Christine Smith MP, State Member for Burleigh, 20th Feb 6.30pm to 9.00pm

Exhibition Times: Saturday and Sunday –10.00am to 4.00pm

Monday to Friday – 11.00am to 3.00pm

RSVP by 18th Feb: Penelope (07) 3219 9253

Val Landa: solo exhibition

When: 4-24^th March.

Where: the Artereal Gallery Rozelle, Sydney

Opening Night: Wednesday March 4th 6 – 8pm

Vivian Falk: has a full year ahead. “I have just finished a painting of Roslyn Packer titled “In Conversation”, which I will show in the Unsung Heroes PAA exhibition in Canberra, September. My painting of James Morrison titled “The Music Man ” will be exhibited at the Margaret River Leeuwin Estate Winery, Perth, April 15-19^th. I am now painting a commission of Roy Steyman, Past principal of Moriah College, Queens Park. As well I have a solo exhibition in September.”

Solo exhibition: ‘Life’s Moments’ – a collection of portraits

When: 11^th September – 1^st November 2009

Where: The Jewish Museum, Melbourne.

Nafisa Naomi: Solo Exhibition of her Portraits of Elephants from her recent trip to Mumbai.

Where: Francis Keevil Gallery, Double Bay, Sydney

When: 21^st – 30^th March.

Robyn Ross is judging the Hunters Hill Art Show in May, with Alan Somerville.

Alex Kolozsy: is one of ten sculptors shortlisted for the St George and The Dragon sculpture commission for St Georges Cathedral, Perth, WA. Alex reports: “During the next few weeks I must cast the maquette in coolcast bronze, and put it on the granite base. I will send it to Perth for the finalists’ Exhibition 15^th – 25^th June, and during this time they will announce the winner.”

Judith O’Conal-Prinz: her portrait of Kevin Rozzoli AM was unveiled at the Hawkesbury Regional Gallery on Saturday 7th March. The event received considerable publicity in the local newspaper (The Northern District Times) The opening speech by Associate Professor Robyn Bushell mention PAA and the dynamic art form of portraiture. The portrait will remain on display for the week. After that time it will join the PAA works at Parliament House on April 1st.

GENERAL NEWS

Committee Report:

This month the committee reviewed commission percentage, and voted in favour of a flat 10% commission for all PAA commissions starting at $5,000. (Commissions under $5,000 will not attract a commission. Previously PAA had been applying a sliding scale to commissions.)

Welcome to New Exhibiting Members:

Stephanie Brown

Pamela Scherf.

2009 PAA Exhibitions

PARLIAMENT OBJECTS! – Sydney Parliament House – 1st -30th April

UNSUNG HEROES – Canberra Parliament House – 1st – 28th `September (A person whose professional profile you consider admirable, but one not necessarily in the public eye.)

UNDER THE MICROSCOPE –– October, Arthouse Hotel Sydney – (people involved with professional research in any of the sciences, including medicine, agriculture, zoology, geology, astronomy and any other intellectual discipline).

Parliament Objects!

OPENING NIGHT APRIL 1st

Invitations included in this newsletter.

VENUE: The Fountain Court Foyer, Ground Floor, Parliament House, Macquarie St, Sydney (parking at parking meters in the streets close by)

Exhibition DATES: April 1 – April 30 2009

OPENING NIGHT: Wednesday April 1st 6- 8pm. Opening Speaker –The Hon. Bruce Attire. Bring friends for a fun night.

The artists exhibiting in the show will have extra invitations with this newsletter. Please advise if you have not received extras – jelander@bigpond.net.au.

Please advise of your news asap –

Exhibitions, Prizes, Public Commissions, books, interviews and anything art related, to jelander@bigpond.net.au

The newsletter is sent out close to the beginning of each month. Please try to send the news by the last week of each month…

CONGRATULATIONS TO

Penelope Gilbert-Ng: won first prize in the Winsor & Newton designer gouache competition with a portrait of child and puppy. It can be viewed on the Home Page www.jasco.com.au or Winsor & Newton.

Penelope also won Pastelist of the Year award at the Pastel Society of Australia with a double portrait.

ARTISTS’ NEWS

Bob Baird: his pastel study of Joshua Smith from the early 90’s is in Permanent collection Tweed Heads Gallery. The portrait is now part of the Australian Portrait Gallery collection in Murwillumbah

GENERAL NEWS

The Australia Day Bash on Jan 22nd at the Arthouse went very well, with almost 50 people attending, however there was a disappointing response from the PAA membership.

The committee will be sending out a general Questionnaire to members next month, with the newsletter, to determine how we should organize annual events in the best interests of the members. The committee wishes to make sure that funds are allocated, and energies directed, towards events that reflect members’ interests.

You will notice a good-looking PAA ad in Australian Collector Magazine – pages 226-227. (Slight misprint on the website address)

EXCITING NEWS! The website is currently being redesigned by Kathrin Longhurst, and the new design should go live in a few months.

PAA EXHIBITIONS FOR 2009

[THEMES in PAA exhibitions are designed to give the artists and the media a focus for each exhibition and to broaden the opportunities to approach people to sit for portraits. Having a profile exhibition on the agenda allows the artists to pitch an attractive proposition to the sitters.]

1. PARLIAMENT OBJECTS – Sydney Parliament House – 1-30 April (now open to all members)

2. UNSUNG HEROES – Canberra Parliament House – Opening: September 1^st (A person whose professional profile you consider admirable, but not necessarily in the public eye.)

3. UNDER THE MICROSCOPE –– October-November, Arthouse Hotel Sydney – (people involved with professional research in any of the sciences, including medicine, agriculture, zoology, geology, astronomy and any other intellectual discipline).

UPDATE: PARLIAMENT OBJECTS!

– Sydney Parliament House Exhibition April 2009 -

PLEASE NOTE: THIS EXHIBITION IS now open to ALL members from PAA.

(Not restricted to residents in NSW.)

So please approach your local member of Parliament and ask if you can make an interesting portrait of him/her – including an object of personal significance in the composition.

Deadline for entry forms MARCH 2

Enquiries: Janis – 02 93882672 /0425 353 790 (call between 9am-5pm please)

VENUE: The Fountain Court Foyer, Ground Floor, Parliament House, Macquarie St, Sydney (parking at parking meters in the streets close by)

Exhibition DATES: April 1 – April 30 2009

OPENING NIGHT: Wednesday April 1^st 6-8pm. Opening Speaker –The Hon. Bruce Attire. Bring friends for a fun night.

Entry Forms: Must be received by Monday 2^nd March 2009. (Included with this newsletter)

Entry Fee: $20 per painting, limit of 1 painting (space is limited)

Send cheque and form to: PAA, P.O. Box 385, Kogarah NSW 1485

HANGING DAY: Monday March 30

DELIVERY OF ARTWORK to Parliament House on Monday 30^th March at 9.30 am. We will finish the hanging by Midday. Parliament House protocol must be observed. All paintings must be ready to hang with LARGE D-rings. Late arrivals will not be accepted.

TAKE DOWN: Thursday April 30

Artists may collect their works between 9.30 and 11.30 am. Parliament House will not store any works. Please advise us if you are having a courier collect the work. PLEASE BE AWARE OF THE TIMES FOR COLLECTION OF WORK.

[For country artists, If you need to use a depot we recommend: The ArtScene, West Ryde. Address: 914 Victoria Road, West Ryde. NSW 2114. Phone: 02 9807 6900.  Fax: 02-9809 6548]

Good luck to all the PAA artists entering work into Archibald, Wynn, Sulman, Doug Moran, Adelaide Perry, and any other prizes February and March.

Please advise of your news asap –

Exhibitions, Prizes, Public Commissions, books, interviews and anything art related, to

jelander@bigpond.net.au

The newsletter is sent out close to the beginning of each month. Please  try to send the news by the last week of each month…

CONGRATULATIONS TO

Christine Lott: selected for the 2009 Byron Bay Art Diary.

Opening: 4th October by Mayor Jan Barham
Where: Epicentre Art Gallery, Red Devil Park, Byron Bay. Contact: 0407152208

Finalists in the Lexus Mortimore Prize:

Rosa Fidele: a drawing – “Children at Play”.
Vivian Falk: 2 x paintings selected.

Finalists in the Ryde Art Awards:

Pamela Irving: 1st Place: works on paper; Highly Commended: painting.
Sue Cesarini: Commended: painting.

ARTISTS’ NEWS

Julie Ballis: Solo Show – A Parade of Portraits and Places.
When: Tuesday 10 February 2009 to Sunday 1 March 2009
Where: ‘The Q’, the Exhibition Space at the new Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre. The entrance to the Centre is off Rutledge Street.
Opening: 6pm Thursday 12th February 2009 by Councilor Ann Rocca – PAA members most welcome.

Nafisa Naomi: solo exhibition titled “Regeneration”Â

When: 21 Oct – Nov 7.
Where: Artarmon Galleries, Sydney.
Opened: 21st October by Jacinta Tynan (journalist, newsreader, author)

Nafisa’s prize winning Portrait of Lewis Morley (2008 Black Swan Prize for Portraiture) was at the Artarmon Galleries for the duration of the exhibition.
Rosa Fidele: has completed several portraits recently: Tim Freedman of The Whitlams and Nabil Gazal, businessman and patriarch of the Gazal family. Rosa will once again donate a portrait sitting – to be auctioned at the 2008 Sydney Breast Cancer Pink Ball.

GENERAL NEWS

REPORT: on the Open Day at the MIDDLEHEAD Artists Colony, Mosman NOV 2nd (where Ann Cape and Nafisa Naomi have studios and there is a branch of the Julian Ashton Art School.)

PAA artists set up easels under the PAA banner in the gallery/amphitheatre space, talked with the throng of visitors to the colony and made drawings of those brave enough to sit for the artists.

Present were Pamela Irving; Janis Lander; Charles Plisek; Rizwana Ahmed (who drove from Camden); Julie Ballis (who drove from Canberra); and Paul Delprat who joined us for a while – the view across the harbour to the South Head was spectacular.

EXHIBITION DATES FOR 2009

1. NSW Parliament House – OPENING: APRIL 1st 2009 (Theme: Parliament Objects!)

2. Canberra Parliament House – OPENING: September 1st 2009 (Theme: Unsung Australian Heroes)

3. ArtHouse Annual Exhibition – OPENING: Oct 26th 2009 (Theme: TBA)

NOT TO BE MISSED!!!

THE PAA Australia Day BASH

WHEN: JANUARY 22nd 2009 6-9pm and onwards
WHERE: The ArtHouse Hotel – 275 Pitt St, Sydney
THEME: THE ARTIST’S MUSE
COST: $20 per head.
INVITATION ENCLOSED WITH NEWSLETTER

This is a perfect time to meet your fellow artists and have a relaxing get-together with friends and family. Do bring your Sketch Book – there will be a model to draw and a few fun prizes for the drawings. Food and wine at the ground floor Arthouse Cocktail Bar
PLEASE NOTE: if we do not attract at least 50 attendees, we will have to cancel this event. PAA is subsidizing the cost of tickets, which work out at a discounted price of $20 per head for members and friends.

REPORT ON THE 2008 ANNUAL EXHIBITION THE ART OF HEALING.

Huge opening night, big crush and many thanks to the fabulous PAA Committee for all their hard work in organizing this annual event! Chris O’Brien was unable to make it on Opening Night and he was replaced by Dr Kerwin Shannon, Director, Sydney Head & Neck Cancer Institute, who spoke eloquently about the remarkable research conducted by the Insititute.

This was our sixth Annual Exhibition at the Arthouse, and as an ARTISTS’ INITIATIVE we are going strong. Please bear in mind we have 3 exhibitions lined up for 2009 and 3 more the following year. So keep painting and sculpting and drawing and contributing wonderful art to these shows!!!

The result of the VOTES for People’s Choice: Winner – Jules Sevelson, (three votes ahead of Robyn Ross and five votes ahead of Kathrin Longhurst and Kevin Oxley.)

Thanks to the Hanging Team for a superb job – the Cocktail Bar downstairs had a line-up of exquisite small pieces, many people remarked on the overall high quality of the exhibition.

Big Thanks to the ArtHouse personnel for their assistance – Billie, Alyse, Ben and Nick.

Thanks to the Take-Down Team including all the committee members for a super-efficient job – starting at 9am and finishing at 10-15am. WOW!Â

Thanks to Paul & Co at the Artscene for acting as Carriers and Depot for the exhibition.

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Dear Fellow Artists + Friends of Portrait Artists Australia,

This past year has held some exciting moments and memorable events for a number of us. Many of us have had travel opportunities leading to exploring new themes for our own practice, whilst forging new friendships with like minds on the journey.

Our recent themed show The Art of Healing recognized and celebrated the careers of people working in health care. It is a reflection on the participating artists that the ArtHouse Hotel noted record numbers returning for second viewings throughout the run of the show. The People’s Choice Award was popular and will be a regular feature in future exhibitions. Congratulations to Jules Sevelson, whose painting “Getting to the Bottom of Things” attracted the most votes.

The holiday season is fast approaching so now is the time to consider those friends and family in celebration. If you do have any spare time between other commitments, painting loved ones is the perfect entry for the Doug Moran and the Shirley Hannan portrait prizes. As PAA is having a couple of themed shows in 2009, consider your subjects for the dual purpose of the Archibald circus and the PAA Parliament House Exhibitions – keeping in mind our Opening Nights in NSW on April 1st and in Canberra on September 1st.

We are aiming to enjoy a record gathering of PAA members and friends on January 22nd at the ArtHouse Hotel for Australia Day drinks. This will be a chance to catch up with each other and PAA will be subsidising the tickets, so please consider joining us and bring your sketch books as we are theming it around the “Artist’s Muse”- thus a nude model will be in attendance, just to keep the creative juices flowing… prizes during the night for drawings, awarded by mystery guest judge.

Last of all, I wish all of our members, your families and friends, a safe and loving Christmas and holiday season and very best wishes for the New Year,

Nafisa