21st annual The International

A competition focused on portraiture and figurative work

On Saturday, April 27, the excitement in the Grand Ballroom at the Grand Hyatt Atlanta could be felt by almost 700 artists gathered from all over the world as the top 10 winners of the 21st annual The International were announced. I recently interviewed these artists, asking them about the inspiration behind their award-winning works and their individual journeys in art.

William F. Draper Grand Prize Winner

Sponsored by: American Art Collector, Jack Richeson & Co., Inc. and Portrait Society of America

Seth Haverkamp

Norris, TN, USA Mars Rising, oil, 60 x 44" (152 x 112 cm)

Inspiration: This is a portrait of my son, Caspian. The original concept started out as just wanting to do a life-size portrait, but as

I began placing extra elements into the painting, it morphed into playing with the underlying theme of “peace” and how that concept seems impossible to realize. This painting is more than a likeness; it’s a reflection on the world we live in today. The symbolism of peace carries through, but it’s fragile, just as Mars’ façade was as the Roman god of war.

Artistic Path: All I have ever wanted to do is paint. Fortunate events and giving people have helped me live this life. I attended Studio Incamminati in 2005 and since that time,

I have been doing portrait commissions and gallery work.

First Place Painting & People’s Choice

Sponsored by: American Art Collector, Artwork Archive, Atlantic Papers, HK Holbein Artists’ Materials, Panpastel Colors, Portrait Society of America, Silver Brush Limited and Studying with the Masters- Signilar

Alex Venezia

Cary, NC, USA Haunting, oil, 20 x 16" (51 x 41 cm)

Inspiration: The subject in this painting is of my wife, Divya, and its subtle narrative is told through the expression on her face and body language. The slightly opened door behind her eludes to a haunting memory of one’s past that lingers in the back of the mind like a door you can’t shut. Also, it was an opportunity to capture the beauty of Divya in contemplation. I imagine here she’s contemplating her current journey of immigrating to the United States.

Artistic Path: I first became aware of the transcendent power of art during a high school art lesson on chiaroscuro while examining the works of Caravaggio. This class marked a unique turning point for me as I began to consider a vocation in the arts. I sought out and studied classical technique with many of today’s top representational painters including Odd Nerdrum, Daniel Sprick, Colleen Barry and Jeff Hein. In 2018, I moved to Raleigh, North Carolina, to work with artists Michael Klein, Louis Carr and Joshua Larock at East Oak Studios where I developed a greater understanding of how light illuminates form. First Place Drawing

Sponsored by: Artwork Archive, Atlantic Papers, Gamblin Artists Colors, Natural Pigments, Portraits, Inc., Portrait Society of America, Revelite, Silver Brush Limited, Studying with the Masters- Signilar and Windmill the Revolving Easel

Sookyi Lee

Singapore

White Gown, charcoal on toned paper, 14 x 11" (41 x 28 cm)

Inspiration: For White Gown, I spent more time thinking about the concept I wanted to express and staring at the piece at a distance than actually drawing it closely. I pondered about the unique features of the model, selection of material, composition and atmosphere around her for a long time. I was drawn to the model’s calm and compelling beauty. Her unique profile depicted some Greek goddess and her white skin was as translucent as her white gown. I drew this work on toned paper using a white charcoal pencil to emphasize the model’s beautiful profile. Since the drawing does not have color, I used the white gown to compete with her skin values, so the viewer can see how bright her skin is compared to the white dress she wears.

Artistic Path: As a little girl in Seoul, South Korea, I always drew and made crafts at home, rather than playing outside. After my high school art teacher found my talent and suggested I pursue a career in art,

I made a shift to fine art. I earned a BFA from Hong-ik University and then moved to the US to study and earn a MFA in Fine Arts from Academy of Art University in San Francisco. Since graduation, I continue my career as a full-time artist and teacher, living in Singapore.

First Place Sculpture

Sponsored by: Artists Magazine, Portrait Society of America, Studying with the Masters-signilar and Synappsys Digital Services, Inc.

Erin Mccarthy

Revere, MA, USA Simple Man, plaster, 9½ x7½ x 20½" (43 x 20 x 20 cm)

Inspiration: Simple Man is a portrait of my father, 63-year-old Dan Mccarthy of Laconia, New Hampshire. He lives a simple life and hasn’t had grand ambitions for his lifetime. His humble simplicity of living has allowed him to walk through life virtually invisible. One winter, my father asked if he could come to live with me. This unique opportunity gave me an excuse to sculpt my father. As I sculpted we spoke about life, music, art and God, and I learned more about my father in those two months than in a lifetime. There was one quiet moment; he said, in the voice of a father talking to his child, “Do you want me to play you my favorite song?” I did. He walked over to the computer and put it on Simple Man by Lynyrd Skynyrd.

Artistic Path: While I have always been drawn to visual artistry, my fine art career began in the fashion and makeup industry. I was studying under worldrenowned makeup artist and body painter, Dany Sanz at the MAKE UP FOR EVER Academy in Paris from 2006 to 2007. I became increasingly interested in “special effects makeup and transformation,” which includes sculpting prosthetics. I realized that to push the limits of makeup quality in FX, it would be necessary to study realistic sculpture. This led me to the Florence Academy of Art in Florence, Italy, where I trained under director Robert Bodem from 2010 to 2014. Upon graduating, I was selected to be an Artist in Residence at the prestigious Galerie Schlos Weispach in Hallein, Austria. After completing six months of residency, I returned to Boston to set up my own studio.

Second Place

Sponsored by: Airfloat Systems, Blue Ridge Oil Colors, M. Graham & Co., Portrait Society of America and Silver Brush Limited

Joshua Larock

Austin, TX, USA

Midshipman, US Naval Academy, oil, 42 x 30" (107 x 76 cm)

Inspiration: Midshipman, US Naval Academy began as many commissions do, with my patron desiring a work that captures the essence of a beloved family member, which in this case is the patron’s eldest son. Yet, as with all good works of art, this painting seemed to take on a life of its own. While the subject is an accurate portrait of a young man in his sophomore year at the US Naval Academy, the picture also resonates on a universal level. Many who have viewed this work comment to me on their sense of his “youthful sight,” or that it reminds them of their own loved ones who have served in the military. I was pleased to find that this portrait has been received well.

Artistic Path: I think a career in art making was always somewhat inevitable for me. My father had always drawn and painted as a hobby while I was growing up, so I think there was an early inspiration and familiarity there. It was my good fortune to have found my way into the atelier of Jacob Collins in New York at the age of 23. The apprenticeship style and practical teaching there were enormously helpful. I studied for three years before transitioning into an instructor’s role for the next seven. While my goal as a teacher was to pass along what I had learned, I think of that time as an essential continuation of my own education. Aside from teaching, I have spent the last decade producing works of art to exhibit and sell at galleries and venues throughout the U.S., Europe and China.

Third Place Sponsored by: Portrait Society of America, Rosemary & Co. and Scottsdale Artists’ School

Quang Ho

Denver, CO, USA

The Farmhand (Noelle), oil, 38 x 24" (91 x 61 cm)

Inspiration: The subject for this painting is my friend, Noelle, who is an archeologist and a favorite model for me. She has a deep love for organic gardening and went off to work as a volunteer on some remote farms. She came back to visit and was telling me stories when I saw this composition and asked her to pose for me.

Artistic Path: I’ve been drawing since the age of 4 and started painting in oils at 19. I graduated from the Colorado Institute of Art in 1985 where I was lucky enough to meet Rene Bruhin who became my mentor and taught me the deeper meanings of painting. I made my living as a freelance illustrator for about four years and transitioned into full-time oil painting in 1990. Since then I’ve had many solo shows from Denver, to Taos, to Houston and London. In 2018 I had my work in a two-man show at the Booth Western Art Museum. This year, I will be in an exhibit at the Woolaroc Museum in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. Fourth Place Sponsored by: Ampersand Art Supply, Portrait Society of America, Rosemary & Co., Savoir-faire and Winsor & Newton

Casey Childs

Pleasant Grove, UT, USA Youthful Decadence, oil, 34½ x 60" (88 x 152 cm)

Inspiration: Inspired by Ramon Casas, Youthful Decadence portrays a young lady with the world at her fingertips. The marvel of this relatively new technology is contrasted with its overwhelming nature, and today’s youth have the difficult task of navigating a path through it with grace and beauty.

Artistic Path: I’ve loved drawing from an early age. Since it seemed to come easier to me than others, I knew one day I would end up pursuing a career in an art related field, but I didn’t take it very seriously. It was during my first “real” art classes in college when I knew I wanted to become a painter. I studied at Northwest College in Powell, Wyoming, and completed my bachelor’s degree in art at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. After working in graphic design for 10 years, I studied privately for two years with William Whitaker before focusing full-time on painting almost 10 years ago.

Fifth Place

Sponsored by: Golden Artist Colors’ Williamsburg Handmade Oils, Multimedia Artboard, Natural Pigments, Portrait Society of America and Silver Brush Limited

Amy Werntz

Dallas, TX, USA Marjorie, oil, 15 x 24" (38 x 59 cm)

Inspiration: Marjorie is a resident at the memory care facility where my father-in-law lives. In my paintings I am inspired to capture a moment in people’s lives, a moment that may seem insignificant but reflects the lives they have led. I want people to be able to look at the individual and not only see her story but see themselves as well.

Artistic Path: I received my BFA in interior design and have practiced for the past 17 years. For the last nine years, I have divided my time between painting and interior design. I grew up in an artistic family where creativity was always strongly encouraged. I was always doing art of some sort, but about 10 years ago I had some good opportunities that encouraged me to quit full-time design work to focus on my art.

1st Honor Award

Sponsored by: Portrait Society of America, Raymar Art, Inc. and Sourcetek

Timothy Rees

Mesa, AZ, USA The Bribe, oil, 57 x 48" (145 x 122 cm)

Inspiration: The subject and inspiration for my painting are my wife and son. I wanted to depict her while she was still pregnant with our daughter. I have been slowly moving from design-focused painting toward narrative painting, so I wanted to compose something with a story. The idea of the overwhelmed mother and a destructively energetic 3-year-old seemed to me a very human story, so that became the foundation of my painting. When my wife was about seven months pregnant, I constructed a staged living room created with various props. I started from scratch to be able to control elements of composition as well as reinforce the narrative through things like the titles of the books and the paint spread everywhere.

Artistic Path: I was always interested in art, but in school I was told one could not make a living doing it. I studied animation for a year after high school but became disinterested when classes shifted away from traditional animation toward computers. I dropped animation school and started working toward prerequisites to pursue a career in medicine, thinking I would just paint on the side. In late 2008, at the age of 23, I discovered a magazine, filled with work by artists such as Jeremy Lipking, Daniel Graves and Richard Schmid. Realizing a career in painting was possible and that realism was alive, I decided to quit school and become an artist in 2009. I worked the night shift at the hospital and painted during the day for two and a half years until I was able to sell enough work to live off my art. I never looked back.

2nd Honor Award

Sponsored by: Artframes.com, Portrait Society of America and Savoir-faire

Katherine Stone

Toronto, Canada Childish Things, oil, 24 x 28" (61 x 71 cm)

Inspiration: In this painting, my son is pictured playing with an old doll in my studio against a backdrop of my still life objects. The contrast between his glowing, new skin and the dim, weathered objects was a major point of interest to me. My concept is very loosely inspired by Annigoni’s Direste voi che questo è l’uomo?, a painting that features the artist with his own son, a life-sized mannequin and a model. In Annigoni’s painting, he’s grilling his son, asking him if he’s basing his art off of the live model or the intermediary. My painting is meant to be a commentary about how having my own son is inspiring me to base my art more off life and less off of secondhand ideas and concepts.

Artistic Path: I was always interested in drawing and painting and was lucky enough to have parents who took that interest very seriously. I was given art history books, art materials, and classes. I was very fortunate that my mum got me started in oils right away as a teenager, and I didn’t have to wait to attend art college to start learning the medium that really appealed to me. My husband and I have been painting together for 13 years, and we’ve been each other’s biggest influences and primary teachers. We share a studio space, references, props, and now a son. More recently, my husband, who began tattooing part time seven years ago, has taken me on as an apprentice and now we tattoo together as well.