The much maligned art of portraiture painting seems to move along forward even in the lost art nation of Great Britain, where even portrait painters (sigh) become art stars.

For a truly descriptive and eloquent piece on the art of creating a portrait painting (in this case the portrait of London's National Portrait Gallery's director Charles Saumarez Smith by artist Tom Phillips and filmed by Bruno Wollheim), read this cool piece in The Guardian.

"Nobody ever likes the work in the Turner Prize. Conceptual installation art is worthless and people don't want it. Galleries are desperately trying to find young artists who can draw..."

Above quote by well-known British artist Sir Kyffin Williams, who also accuses modern artists of being more interested in fame than art and describes teaching in art schools as "disgraceful."

Read The BBC story here.

One of my favorite painters, Eric Fischl (who one day we hope to bring to a show here in DC) will be in town Thursday, March 11 at 7pm at the Hirshhorn's Ring Auditorium.

Fischl, whose painting The Funeral: A Band of Men (Two Women) Abandonment! was acquired by The Hirshhorn in 1990 and is one of my favorite pieces in the Hirshhorn permanent collection (it is currently on view by the way), will discuss his work and the current direction of figurative art, which according to a couple of our local art critics is dead and "has been done."

The Russian Cultural Centre of the Embassy of Russia has a showing of the same show by the International Artists Support Group Art Exhibition that took place in St. Petersburg, Russia.

The Cultural Centre is located at 1825 Phelps Place, NW, Washington, DC, Mon-Sat, 10am-6pm. Call for directions: 202-265-3840. The show comes down on January 30, 2004.

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Eve Hennessa opens this Friday, January 16 at Parish Gallery in Georgetown's Canal Square. All four Canal Square galleries (MOCA, Fraser, Parish and Alla Rogers) will have their January openings and have opening receptions from 6-9 PM.

My Pictish Nation drawings are on exhibit at Fraser. I usually do the January or December show because everything is dead, especially if the "S" word (snow) is mentioned. The show received a nice review by John Blee in The Georgetowner and a very nice review by Joanna Shaw-Eagle in The Washington Times. To learn more about Pictish culture, click here.

Deadline: January 30, 2004.
Pandamania 2004, DC Panda Sculpture Design
The DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities is looking for Artists to submit designs for 150 Panda sculptures that are 5½ feet tall. Like the elephants and pandas that enlivened the city's streets nearly two years ago,these whimsical characters will be placed on the streets of Washington during the spring, summer, and fall of 2004. The deadline for artwork is January 30, 2004. Artist Stipend per Panda is: $1,500.00 To participate in Pandamania's Call to Artists obtain an application here or email alex.macmaster@dc.gov or call 202.724.5613.

Artists must mail or deliver all original art submissions no later than Friday, January 30, 2004 to the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, Fifth Floor 410 8th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20004.

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Spring 2004: Entries for Bethesda Arts Festival
The Bethesda Arts and Entertainment District is accepting applications for the 2004 Bethesda Fine Arts Festival, an outdoor Fine Art and Fine Craft festival that will take place in the Woodmont Triangle area of Bethesda, Maryland. The festival will take place, rain or shine, on Saturday, May 15 and Sunday, May 16. 150 booth spaces are available, $275 for a 10' x 10' booth, $25 application fee. All original fine art and fine crafts are eligible, no mass produced or commercially manufactured products are allowed. $2,500 in prize money. Deadline for applications is March 1, 2004. To download an application form, visit here or send a SASE to Bethesda Urban Partnership, Bethesda Fine Arts Festival, 7700 Old Georgetown Road, Bethesda, MD 20814.

For more information contact the festival Director, Catriona Fraser, at (301) 718-9651.

Faith Flanagan organizes MUSE, which is a monthly art salon at DCAC. Each session is an opportunity to talk about contemporary art at a monthly get-together. Each salon features a discussion with a member(s) of the local arts community, followed by a chance for audience members to show slides or samples of their work.

The next MUSE is Sunday, February 1, 7:30pm when the guests are Robert Lehrman, gallery owner George Hemphill, and Washington Post art critic Blake Gopnik. They will be joining MUSE this month to discuss collecting art, museum trusteeship and stewardship. For more info email Faith at salon@dcartscenter.org.

Massachusetts Co-op looking for new members.
Deadline Feb 14, 2004. Massachusetts Gallery seeks new members. 108 Gallery in Somerville is seeking submissions for inclusion in its new artists' co-op. The co-op will include 12 artists who are actively producing mature work. Submissions will be juried by a panel of artists and curators. Contact: Kate Ledogar, 108 Gallery, 108 Beacon St, Somerville MA 02143 or call 617- 441-3833 or email her at kateledogar@yahoo.com.

Deadline: March 31, 2004. The 7th L'Oreal Art and Science of Color Prize. The theme is "the meeting of science and art in color." The Gold Prize is presented to one person and carries with it an award of Euro 30,000. The Silver Prize is presented to one person and carries with it an award of Euro 20,000. The Bronze Prize is presented to one person and carries with it an award of Euro 10,000. Winners will be invited to the awarding ceremony to be held in autumn of 2004 in Tokyo. Send materials designated in their website to the Foundation in Japan via post mail or delivery services. No commission. For additional information contact: www.art-and-science.com or email lasf@gol.com.