Members and visitors at The Portrait Society of America’s 2023 Art of the Portrait conference in Washington, D.C.
Art clubs and societies have been around for centuries—manifested through a natural love for art itself and for its continued growth and preservation within society. Art groups are a place where artists, both seasoned and new, can band together in support and encouragement. They foster robust connections amongst fellow creators, and they offer incredible opportunities for artist members to showcase their work through annual exhibitions, competitions, events, workshops, conferences and more. These artist societies exist across the world, and each is wholly unique. Some focus on medium, like the UK Colour Pencil Society or the Pastel Society of Eastern Canada, while others shine a spotlight on subject matter, like the Society of Botanical Artists or Artists for Conservation (which highlights wildlife and nature art with an emphasis on ecological conservation efforts). And others might focus on the members themselves, like Society of Women Artists, a British art body originally founded in 1855 as the Society of Female Artists. The oldest nonprofit art association in America is the Copley Society of Art, founded all the way back in 1879 by the first graduating class of the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, Massachusetts. Continue reading on to learn about several of the most prominent art societies out there today and how they can help raise your artwork to the next level.
Lana Privitera, Breakfast with Maria, transparent watercolor on paper, 29 x 21" (73 x 53 cm)
Lee Alban, Nicole Skill and Grace, oil on panel, 18 x 24" (45 x 60 cm)
American Artists Professional League
Salmagundi Club, 47 Fifth Avenue New York, NY 10003 • admin@aaplinc.org • www.aaplinc.org
Established in 1928 by a group of artists in New York City, the AAPL is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of realism in American fine art. The AAPL is composed of a curated group of over 600 member artists across the country representing the finest of American realism. AAPL members’ benefits include: a full roster of online and in-person shows; the maintenance of an online artwork store where works in members-only shows may be sold; two in-person gallery shows per year including the historic Grand National Exhibition at the Salmagundi Club of NY; a quarterly newsletter called The Grapevine in which members share their accomplishments; a member map on the AAPL homepage where artists’ websites, workshop links and other information may be viewed; promotion through social media posts; digital and print marketing of members in major art magazines; weekly member interviews on Instagram Live; and inclusion in full-color exhibition catalogs. In addition, the AAPL scholarship fund’s mission supports students in the United States in learning at traditional ateliers. Scholarships are awarded each year to young artists working in the realist tradition.
AIS 2023 Best of Show in the 24th Annual National Juried Exhibition, by Brian Astle.
AIS 2023 Best of Show 7th Annual Small Works Showcase, by Erin Spencer.
American Impressionist Society
Liz Ahrens, Executive Director (231) 881-7685 • aisdirector1@gmail.com • www.americanimpressionistsociety.org
American Impressionist Society is a national arts organization serving more than 2,300 artist members across the United States. AIS was founded in 1998 to promote the appreciation of American impressionism. Membership is open to US citizens and legal residents and is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Accepted mediums include oil, pastel, acrylic, watercolor, casein, egg tempera, gouache and oil sticks. Annually, AIS offers: four juried exhibitions (two in galleries and two online); prizes and awards of over $125,000 in cash and merchandise; panel discussions; painting demonstrations; workshops; critiques; studio tours; professional development; on location painting competitions and discounts on art materials.
Rose Frantzen painting artist Judy Carducci at the Portrait Society’s annual conference.
Portrait Society of America
1109 South Magnolia Drive • Tallahassee, FL 32301 • (877) 772-4321 • info@portraitsociety.org • www.portraitsociety.org
The Portrait Society is a self-funded artist organization formed in 1998 with an international membership of almost 4,000 aspiring and established artists, art students and supporters among the general public. Central to its mission is facilitating the sharing of the methods and traditions of fine art portraiture and figurative works. Members enjoy a variety of benefits including: exceptional educational content through a subscription to International Artist magazine; a full-color Portrait Society quarterly journal; artists’ conferences; webinars on a variety of topics; social media platforms with current news; and blog articles on a variety of subjects. Whether you are looking for inspiration or an educational opportunity, the Portrait Society invites you to join today.
The 14th Annual IGOR Show at Principle Gallery in Alexandria, Virginia.
The 17th Annual IGOR Show in Santa Fe, New Mexico, 2023.
International Guild of Realism
Scottsdale, AZ • info@realismguild.com • www.realismguild.com
The International Guild of Realism (IGOR) was founded by a group of renowned realist artists in 2005. IGOR now represents the work of more than 500 juried members from over 35 countries. IGOR prides itself in selecting today’s finest realist artists through a jury committee. In addition to recognizing these artists, the organization seeks out exhibition opportunities in the largest art markets, provides their members with professional marketing assistance and connects these artists with collectors. Along with holding annual gallery exhibitions at some of the best galleries in the United States, IGOR organizes museum tours throughout the country to showcase their members’ work. IGOR’s primary mission is to advance realism in fine art through museum exhibitions, art gallery shows, online exhibitions, workshops and education programs.
IGOR’s definition of “realism” ranges from the classical based upon traditional, academic-style painting to the contemporary where cutting-edge techniques and a wide variety of subject matter are used to comment on today’s world. Members represent a wonderful spectrum of styles including (but not limited to) Trompe l’Oeil, photorealism, surrealism and super-realism.
Pavel Sokov, Taiwanese Gangster, oil. Best of Show at the 2023 Best of America Small Works International Juried Exhibition.
Lisa Kovvuri, Passing Hours, oil on wood, 12 x 18" (30 x 45 cm). Best of Show at the 2023 Best of America Exhibition in Alexandria, Virginia.
National Oil & Acrylic Painters’ Society
membership@noaps.org • www.noaps.org
NOAPS supports artists around the world in striving for artistic excellence by recognizing great art, enriching education, enhancing skills, challenging abilities and expanding marketing opportunities. The society focuses on providing an environment that inspires artists, evolves talent and creates a venue in which to display artistic talent, as well as nurtures achievement and success. NOAPS hosts five exhibitions each year: Best of America Small Works International Juried Exhibition, Best of America International Juried Exhibition, Spring and Fall Online Exhibitions and the Associate Online Exhibition.
Artist Roberto Gammone with collectors at the 16th International ARC Salon Exhibition at Sotheby’s New York in July 2023.
A view of the crowd at the 16th International ARC Salon Exhibition.
Art Renewal Center
100 Markley Street • Port Reading, NJ 07064 • feedback@artrenewal.org • (732) 636-2060 ext. 619 • www.artrenewal.org
The Art Renewal Center, known worldwide for its International ARC Salon Competition, has pulled together an energetic, optimistic and brilliantly talented base of ARC Affiliated Artists. As true masters in the visual arts, they are teaching and inspiring the next generation of artists, scholars and teachers to protect, preserve and perpetuate traditional techniques and training in the 21st century. ARC Affiliated Artists have their own gallery page on the ARC website, the ability to add their workshops, exhibitions and events to the ARC Events Calendar and can request blog/social media/newsletter announcements to highlight their accomplishments and to direct traffic to their events. In addition, all courses taught by artists with a title of ARC Associate Living Master or ARC Living Master are automatically ARC Approved®, and if teaching regularly, artists with these titles qualify for a listing as teaching master classes on the ARC atelier page and map. To learn more, use this QR code.
James Swanson, Morning Swim, oil, 28 x 22" (71 x 55 cm). This painting won both the Most Original Award of Excellence and The Dorothy Driehaus Mellin Fellowship for Midwestern Artists at the 2023 National Exhibition.
Oil Painters of America
Crystal Lake, IL • (815) 356-5987 • mail@oilpaintersofamerica.com • www.oilpaintersofamerica.com
Dedicated to preserving and promoting excellence in representational art, Oil Painters of America’s primary mission is to advance the cause of traditional, representational fine art by drawing attention to the lasting value of fine drawing, color, composition and the appreciation of light. Through its national and regional shows, convention, wet paint competition, educational programs, scholarships and marketing efforts, OPA has become a leader in the art community and a driving force in the new Renaissance.
The Salmagundi Club in New York City.
Salmagundi Club
47 Fifth Avenue at 12th Street New York, NY 10003 • (212) 255-7740 • info@salmagundi.org • www.salmagundi.org
Salmagundi Club is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit professional and social club, created in 1871 by artists and patrons to support one another. It is one of America’s oldest arts organizations with more than 1,100 current members throughout the United States and abroad. Salmagundi’s mission is to promote representational art and artists.
Beginning in 1917, the organization moved to its permanent home within its historic brownstone mansion located in Greenwich Village, New York. The mansion hosts hundreds of yearly art exhibitions, painting demonstrations, lectures, concerts, group meetings, classes, workshops, fellow member organization exhibitions and art auctions. The Club has continuously championed representational art from its founding with iconic members including: Thomas Moran, William Merritt Chase, Louis Comfort Tiffany, Emil Carlsen, N.C. Wyeth, Childe Hassam and Winston Churchill. Today’s members and recently past members are some of the most recognized names within representational art. In addition, the Club’s own art collection has been built by generous member donations and its purchase prize awards, amassing over 1,500 works of art, which span its entire history. Exhibitions of the permanent collection and current living artists are always free to the general public and non-members year round. With an eye toward the future, the Club encourages young artists interested in representational art to apply for its junior memberships and scholarships to begin showing in exhibitions.
The medium of colored pencil is magic.
Colored Pencil Society of America
www.cpsa.org/about/cpsa-governing-board • www.cpsa.org
Founded in 1990, CPSA is a nonprofit that serves and supports artists who work in the exciting and vibrant fine art medium of colored pencil. Members receive a twice-yearly magazine, member directory and a lightfastness guide for thousands of colored pencils. The organization holds two juried exhibitions yearly, and members have the opportunity to earn CPSA signature status and recognition as the best of the best in colored pencil. Regional chapters offer workshops, inspiration and camaraderie, and CPSA’s annual convention and international exhibition (held this year in Brea, California) is not to be missed, with more than $20,000 in awards.