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General
History of NAPA
NATIONAL ACRYLIC PAINTERS? ASSOCIATION
The National Acrylic Painters' Association evolved from the concept
that acrylic paint is still largely unrecognized in its own right. Oil
and watercolor paints started from the same premise, with the origin and
the history of each giving them distinct characteristics and goals, as
well as their own organizations and societies. It should therefore follow
that acrylic paint should have equal status as a new and developing medium.
Acrylic paint is the 20th Century's positive contribution to painting.
It is the only medium that is capable of the widest range of approaches
in technique and methods, thus stimulating creativeness and fresh thinking
in theory and art ideology, and as such demands that maximum expression
should be sought through its versatility. It is intended that the National
Acrylic Painters' Association should fulfill this demand, by being a vehicle
for collective exhibitions, which aim to promote the excellence and innovation
of the medium.
The first President of the Association was Adrian Henri. He held the
post from 1986 to 1991, after which he became its first Fellow and a patron
until his death in 2001. Adrian was an excellent president and a keen and
loyal patron of the Association, believing in its purpose right from when
Ken Hodgson founded it in 1985. Adrian was an acclaimed international painter
and poet. The present President is the internationally acclaimed painter,
writer and broadcaster, Alwyn Crawshaw. He having been Vice President from
1986 took over the post when Adrian retired and Dr. Sally Bulgin took over
his position. She was in post for some years until she stood down due to
pressure of work. She was succeeded by Professor Arthur Hughes, who was
until his early death in 1999, head of Art at the University of Central
England. At present no one has been appointed to the post of Vice President.
The present patrons of NAPA include Professor Brendan Neiland R.A.,
who is Professor of Painting - University of Brighton, Dr. Sally A. Bulgin,
editor of The Artist Magazine, The Master of the Fine Art Trade Guild,
and Dr Catherine Marcangeli. A Mrs Kay Greenwood-Casey POA(France),
an art, drama and opera critic was until her death in 2002 a patron and
a loyal foundation supporter of the Association.
Since the inaugural exhibition in December 1985, there have numerous
open and regional exhibitions held at prestigious venues such as the Royal
Birmingham Society of Artists Gallery, the Black Sheep Gallery (Hawarden
Castle, Flintshire), the Westminster Gallery (London), the Durham Art Gallery,
and Rooksmoor Gallery (Bath). Last years exhibition was held in St Ives,
which is the acknowledge centre for art in Britain, at the Mariners Gallery.
It was a very successful exhibition and as this was so the Executive Council
decided that the 2003 Annual Exhibition will be held there again this gallery
year, with the addition of The Norway Gallery, which is part of the complex.
Over the years since NAPA's foundation various awards date have been
obtained. The Association has received awards from: Art Review, Artists
& Illustrators' Magazine Ltd., Artists Newsletter, Daler-Rowney Ltd.,
Forsline & Starr International Ltd, Great Art, International Artist
Magazine, Liquitex UK, Modern Painters, Pro Arte, R.K. Burt & Co. Ltd.
(Fabriano), Royal Sovereign Ltd. (Rembrandt), Spectrum Oil Colours (Spectracryl),
St Cuthberts Mill, Thames & Hudson, The Artist, The American Paint
Co. Ltd. (Golden), Tollit & Harvey (Canson, Goldline, Isabey) and Winsor
& Newton. NAPA is supported by Barclays Bank plc (Liscard Branch, North
Wirral Group), Design and Artists Copyright Society (special registration
rate), Harper Collins, Sun Valley Ltd, and the Voluntary Arts Network.
Members can be listed in the Art Trade Press publication - Who's Who in
Art. In 1998 NAPA became a member of the Fine Art Trade Guild.
The Association has further received substantial coverage in art journals
and magazines, in not only Britain but also Europe, America, and Australia.
Membership includes not only British artists, but also members from America
(a Division of NAPA, named NAPA USA), Brazil, Canada, France, India, Israel,
Italy, Portugal, Malta, Singapore and Spain.
At the NAPA's Annual Exhibition in 1995 the concept of a NAPA USA Division
was discussed and Linda Gunn an American member was given permission to
formulate a forum for acrylic art in America. On the 1st December 1995
an American Division of NAPA was established and Linda became its first
Director and a Gerald Brommer NAPA NWS, became its first Honorary President.
Gerald is a highly respected international workshop instructor, juror and
author of several art books. A Sandra Carpenter, who is the editor of The
Artist's Magazine (USA), holds the post of Honorary Vice President.
The American Board Members in addition to Linda Gunn are as follows: Kate
Burridge-Burrbeck - Marketing, Victoria Fricot - Membership
-(VLYNNP@aol.com),
Misty Martin - Ambassador
(mistynapa@hotmail.com), Elin Pendelton - Web
Mistress
(elin@elinart.com), Ara Leites - Catalogue
(araleites@sbcglobal.net),
Evelyn Peters - Newsletter
(petersart@sprynet.com), and Gerry Willging
- Exhibitions
(gerrywillging@hotmail.com).
NAPA USA, also like the parent British association, is sponsored by
various businesses: Cheap Joe's Art Supply, Daler-Rowney USA, Connoisseur
Brushes, HK Holbein, M. Graham & Co., and Savoir Faire for $1000. in
merchandise. The Artist's Magazine-$250 and a magazine subscription, Dakota
Brushes and Golden Paints for $200 in merchandise.
There is an Annual Open Exhibition arranged by the American Division
in the autumn of each year, and this year's will be the seventh annual
show. It is to be held at the Cornell Museum, Florida. NAPA UK members
are welcome to submit work for this exhibition. American (Signatured Members)
can participate in the British exhibition through slide selection.
The Association is a professional organisation. Professional is taken
to mean that it accepts as members those persons who earn a regular living
by painting, or those who although not living by art, adopt a professional
attitude toward the subject, exploiting creatively the acrylic medium,
using experimentation and imagination. It welcomes all painters be they
traditional or modern in their approach to art, and either fine or graphic
artists. It has a membership, which is both national and international.
The Association is lastly non-discriminatory concerning age, disability,
gender or race. Painters are accepted solely on the strength of their work.
Revised: 19.07.2003
History of
NAPA USA
It began twelve years ago in the
way that most art associations devoted to single mediums do. Great Britain's
National Acrylic Painters' Association (NAPA) was founded by a group of
artists who felt their medium of choice was underrepresented and, perhaps,
underestimated in its appeal and value. They banded together, invited other
acrylic painters to submit their work for membership, and started organizing
exhibitions (there have been twelve so far). Now, the group's first U.S.
chapter has been formed, and acrylic painters here are being encouraged
to join.
Those accepted into the association
will become signature members. All styles of painting are welcome, but
Linda Gunn, the director of the USA chapter, notes that NAPA USA is "a
professional organization; professional means that members earn a regular
living by painting or at least have a professional attitude toward their
work." This October at the Long Beach Arts Gallery in California, NAPA
USA will have its first annual open juried exhibition, with Gerald Brommer
as juror (he is also the president of NAPA USA). Stateside members will
also have the opportunity to show their work abroad in British NAPA’s exhibitions.
The History
of NAPA UK
The National Acrylic Painters' Association
of England evolved from the concept that acrylic paint is still largely
unrecognized in its own right. Oil and watercolor paints started from the
same premise, with the origin and the history of each giving them distinct
characteristics and goals, as well as their own organizations and societies.
It should therefore follow that acrylic paint should have equal status
as a new and developing medium.
Acrylic paint is the 20th Century's
positive contribution to painting. It is the only medium that is capable
of the widest range of approaches in technique and methods, thus stimulating
creativeness and fresh thinking in theory and art ideology, and as such
demands that maximum expression should be sought through its versatility.
It is intended that the National Acrylic Painters' Association should fulfill
this demand, by being a vehicle for collective exhibitions, which aim to
promote the excellence and innovation of the medium.
Since the inaugural exhibition in
December 1985, there have been, including this one, twelve shows. This
is the fourth to have been held at the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists
Gallery, and due to the high standard and success of these exhibitions
NAPA has been promised the use of their premises for future years.
To date, various sponsorship has
been obtained. The Association receives sponsorship from Daler-Rowney,
Forsline & Starr, Harper-Collins, Liquitex and Winsor & Newton.
Additionally each of these companies present awards at the exhibition.
Favorable comments have been received, concerning the standard of NAPA
exhibitions.
The Association has further received
substantial coverage in art journals and magazines, such as The Artist
and Artists Newsletter, as well as full local and national media acknowledgment.
Information has been requested from other countries concerning membership,
and some American art organizations, and universities have expressed an
interest.
On the 1st of December 1995 an American
Division of NAPA was established. The President of the American Division
is Gerald Brommer, who is a painter and an author in the USA. The Vice
President is Sandy Carpenter, who is the editor of ‘The Artist', a leading
art magazine in the States. The Directive Coordinator is Linda S. Gunn.
The Association has at present three
patrons, they are: The Right Rev. David Sheppard, who himself is a painter,
Adrian Henri, the nationally acclaimed painter and poet, who was also the
first President of the Association, and Brendan Neiland R.A. The present
President is the nationally and internationally acclaimed painter, writer
and broadcaster, Alwyn Crawshaw. The post of Vice-president is held by
Dr. Sally Bulgin, painter, writer and editor of The Artists' Magazine.
The Association's general membership,
which is international, also includes other notable artists, both in the
fine and graphic art fields. It welcomes all painters be they traditional
or modern in their approach to art.
The Association is a professional
organization. Professional is taken to mean that it accepts as members
those persons who earn a regular living by painting, or those who although
not living by art, adopt a professional attitude toward the subject, exploiting
creatively the acrylic medium, using experimentation and imagination.
The Association is lastly non-discriminatory
concerning age, disability, gender or race. Painters are accepted solely
on the strength of their work. |
International Society of Acrylic Painters
