The BP National Portrait Gallery of London Portrait Competition took a step in the right direction this year by splitting the judging process into two stages: an initial selection from images submitted digitally, then a final selection made from the actual paintings.

I was very pleased to have The Duchess pass the initial selection from 2,750 entries to the 456 that were shipped to London.  Disappointingly, she did not make the cut to the final 55, but it was no less a thrill to imagine the possibility.

Below, an image of the painting in progress.  View the final result.

At work with Arianna on “The Duchess”, October 25th, 2014. Note the ruff made of cardboard.