Upcoming Events

We are pleased to announce that the 19th annual, The Art of the Portrait will return to Atlanta, Georgia from April 20 - 23, 2017. We have saved you a seat and would love to have you join us and be a part of our weekend celebration of portraiture. Sign up today for a yearlong membership with the Portrait Society and receive the member tuition rate.

As we diligently plan the programs and events for the upcoming conference, we can confirm that your favorite programs including the 6x9 Mystery Art Sale, Face-Off and Portfolio Critiques will be on the program. Stay tuned for further announcements as we reveal the full agenda.

Registration
You can register one of three easy ways:
► Register Online
► Call us Toll-Free: 1-877-772-4321

If you have any questions or concerns, please call our toll-free number 1-877-772-4321, and we'll be happy to answer your questions.

Demonstration

Personal Portfolio Critiques

6x9 Mystery Art Sale

How much is the tuition?
Member tuition is only $495 which includes all programs and activities (except the banquet on Saturday evening and the optional Sunday bus trip to the High Museum of Art). Non-Member Tuition is only $595. 

Reserve Your Room
Don’t miss a single minute of the program. By staying at the Grand Hyatt Buckhead where all of our programs take place, you’ll be at the center of all the activity. Call toll-free 1-888-421-1442 for reservations and ask for the Portrait Society special conference discounted rate of $139/144 per night. This rate is valid until March 30, 2017 or until the hotel is fully booked.

When is the deadline to register for the conference?
We will take registrations up to and on site at the event, space allowing; however, we cannot guarantee you will be able to attend the ticketed events you wish, as most fill well in advance of the conference.

Everett Raymond Kinstler and Michael Shane Neal at the 2016 conference

Do you offer day rates?
We do offer a day rate of $150. You are welcomed to pre-register for select days by contacting the Portrait Society office, toll-free at 1-877-772-4321 with your Visa or MasterCard.

Can I pay at the door?
Paying at the door is an option; however, most Breakout Sessions and other ticketed events are expected to fill by the date of the conference. We recommend registering as early as possible to guarantee you are able to get the classes and tickets to events which you want.

What if I need to cancel?
If your plans change, please notify the Portrait Society in writing before February 16, 2017 to receive a full refund. After February 16, 2017, you will receive an educational credit for your tuition less the $100 registration deposit. This educational credit may be applied to future conference or membership dues. Because of reservation requirements, banquet & bus tickets are non-refundable.

International Portrait Competition

The International Portrait Competition is open to all artists, members and non-members. The top twenty finalists will be invited to exhibit their selected artwork at the prestigious The Art of the Portrait® conference in Atlanta, Georgia. There, finalists’ work will be judged by a panel composed of leaders in the field of traditional fine art portrait and figurative art.  Awards will be given for each of the 20 top artworks, with more than $105,000 in cash and prizes distributed at Gala Banquet, Saturday, April 22, 2017 in the Grand Ballroom at the Grand Hyatt Buckhead.

► Download the Prospectus
►Click Here to Enter the Competition

Submission Deadline:    March 2, 2017
Finalist Notification:       March 17, 2016

Exhibition Dates:           April 20-23, 2017

Awards & Recognition

Top award winners will be eligible for over $105,000 in cash and prizes.  The William Draper Grand Prize includes a  feature article in International Artist Magazine and a cash prize of $10,000. Finalists also receive recognition in The Art of the Portrait® Journal and on the Portrait Society's website.  Top 20 finalists receive complementary tuition to The Art of the Portrait® Conference 2018, as well as other cash and prizes. 

Awards will be presented in the following categories: 

• Grand Prize:  An overall selected winner from the  top twenty finalists’ artwork
• First Place Drawing
• First Place Painting
• First Place Sculpture
• Six Placement Awards
• Ten Merit Awards

2016 Competition Finalists

Entry Fee
The $45 Entry Fee covers up to 3 unique submissions. Payments can be made with most major credit cards or using a PayPal account via our submission form. This fee is non-refundable and must accompany your submission. 

Gala Banquet

The Gala Banquet is held on Saturday night of the conference.  The Banquet is where the Portrait Society honors excellence in portraiture and fine figurative art.  During the event, the Portrait Society will honor the winners of the International Portrait Competition and will give outstanding artists and organizations awards for Excellence in Art Education and Leadership in the Fine Arts.  At this time, we also present the Gold Medal lifetime achievement honor to a figurative artist who has displayed excellence and leadership throughout his or her career.

Can I bring a guest?
You are more than welcome to bring guests who are not otherwise attending the conference. The Gala Banquet is a special ticketed event, and tickets are available online or through the Portrait Society office or website for $62 each. Tickets for your guests will be with your Banquet and other special tickets in the back of your name badge.