Perspectives NEWS • VIEWS • EXHIBITIONS • OPPORTUNITIES As the queues formed for this year’s RA Summer Exhibition, the hopeful artists rated their chances T
he 244th annual Royal Academy Summer Exhibition opens on
4 June and so we joined the queues on the fi rst of six hand-in days to meet some of the artists as they submitted their work. The 2012 show will be
co-ordinated by Tess Jaray RA who has said this year’s hanging committee will be “focusing upon, and celebrating, works of a more modest size.” But how did the hopeful entrants fancy their chances of making the cut?
Liam O’Farrell Submission: Waiting for
Spring, oil on board
What is the idea behind your artwork? “It’s sort of based on my neighbour’s garden, with children’s toys that have
been abandoned over winter.”
How do you rate your chances? “I’ve applied three times and I’ve got in three times, but that doesn’t mean anything – your odds start at zero every time.”
What are the benefi ts of entering? “I enjoy the pageantry of it. After getting up at six in the morning in the black of winter to paint, it’s nice to get the opportunity to come here and spend time with famous artists.”
Jill Leman ARWS Submission: Orchid with
Feather and Tiny Dog, acrylic on paper
What was the inspiration for your painting? “I don’t know actually. I just
do it: I paint fl owers. ‘99% perspiration and 1% inspiration’, that’s what they say.”
What are the benefi ts of entering? “Selling the painting. It’s very good for that and I got several commissions from it last time as well.”
How do you rate your chances? “Yeah, you just don’t know. I’ve entered three or four times and I’ve been selected once. It depends who is doing the selecting and where it comes in the process – if it comes after lunch, they might be ‘Zzzzz…’”
Tony Sale Submission: Untitled,
watercolour and charcoal on paper
What is the idea behind your artwork? “It was my fi rst time using charcoal so the idea was to
experiment. Normally I paint with just watercolour.”
Have you come far to submit work? “No, I’m from Barcelona but I live in London. I knew about the RA before I arrived here two years ago.”
Why did you enter? “It’s a dream! For me, it’s the easiest way to get exposure. Normally you don’t have easy ways to show your art in such a big, old institution.”
How do you rate your chances? “Last year there were 12,000 works and they chose 1,000 so I’m not very confi dent.”
MISSED OUT ON THE RA? OUR ARTIST OF THE YEAR 2012 SEARCH BEGINS NEXT ISSUE! OUT ON 25 MAY Artists & Illustrators 5
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