Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser. The PRIVATE VIEW  of the new Royal West of England Academy Open Painting exhibition is this Saturday. Hope to see you there. Saturday 27 March 2010 2-5pm Prizes for the best work at 3pm Please RSVP: Louisa Davison 0117 973 5129, press.office@rwa.org.uk   PRESS RELEASE: Open Painting 2010: From Kasabian to Sir Roy Strong, Groszny to Weston Fans of indie-rock band Kasabian could buy an atmospheric original painted portrait of the band’s songwriter and guitarist Serge Pizzorno, by artist Andrew Kinsman, in the latest Royal West of England Academy’s (RWA) Open Painting exhibition. If pop is not your thing, amongst the 122 pieces of original art and sixteen from Bristol-based painters, there is also a portrait of art historian Sir Roy Strong, by RWA academician Paul Brason. Local scenes are also in evidence, with Weston, Portishead and Hotwells providing inspiration, whilst others are of further afield such war scene ‘Tea for Two in Grozny’ (by Neville Weston) and ‘Cherry Blossoms, Toyko’ (by Andrew Price). The spring Open Painting, where artists are invited to submit work for potential inclusion in the exhibition, attracts high quality art from all over the country as well as the RWA’s home, Bristol. High quality through the medium of paint is the only common theme, with work ranging from pastoral to figurative, abstract to still life.   The RWA academicians’ recently elected president and Open Exhibition co-ordinator, Simon Quadrat - who is exhibiting two pieces - explains: “The viewer will see a range of styles and techniques and the many processes both traditional and experimental within which artists have chosen to work. We hope you will find something that excites you.” All original paintings are for sale, with prices ranging from £85 to £16,000, ranging in size from tiny to large scale. Prints of many of the works are also available. RWA participates in the Art Council’s Own Art loan scheme where up to £2,000 can be borrowed interest-free to buy art.  A few high profile artists are asked to submit work for each Open Exhibition. Winner of the BP Portrait Award and the Ondaatje Prize for Portraiture and a member of the Open Painting selection committee, Saied Dai RP, is exhibiting three works including a scene of Walcot Street, Bath. Head of painting at the Royal College of Art, David Rayson is also exhibiting three works and acclaimed painter and printmaker Eileen Cooper RA is presenting two. Prizes for the best work (excluding invited artists) chosen by the selection committee are donated from The Odin Charitable Trust, totalling £8,000 for four prizes, The Artists Magazine and Creative Picture Framing. The spring Open Exhibition rotates art disciplines between sculpture, print, painting and photography. 2010 also sees the 158th general autumn Open Exhibition. For more information please ring 0117 973 7874 or visit www.rwa.org.uk. The Open Painting exhibition opens on 28 March and runs until 9 May. The RWA is open all week.     Open Painting Exhibition details Public opening: 28 March – 9 May 2010 Monday – Saturday 10am-5pm Sunday 2-5pm Admission: £4, concessions £2.50, children free     Editor’s notes High resolution downloadable images of a selection of the paintings are available at www.flickr.com/photos/rwapress solely for use with media reports of this exhibition, a few from Friday 26th and a selection from Monday 29th March. This press release copyright of RWA and used solely to promote the Open Painting 2010. For more information or to interview artists, please contact Louisa Davison on 0117 973 5129 (or 01672 811 515) press.office@rwa.org.uk. The Royal West of England Academy (RWA) is one of only five Royal academies of art in the UK. It is a registered charity which has been self-supporting for over 150 years and possesses an outstanding Grade II* listed building, galleries and permanent fine art collection. The RWA has HM Queen Elizabeth II as its patron. The RWA is an established venue for the fine arts and embraces an artistic awareness of the widest nature. The exhibition programme provides a showcase for one-person and mixed exhibitions in a variety of media, which attract large numbers of visitors nation-wide. The Academy is situated in the academic heart of Bristol at the Clifton Triangle, where Queens Road meets Whiteladies Road, opposite Habitat and the Victoria Rooms. The latest news and events from RWA. artsnews@absolutearts.com from this list | Forward to a friend | Update your profile Our mailing address is: Royal West of England Academy Queen's Road, Clifton Bristol, England BS8 1PX Add us to your address book Copyright (C) 2010 Royal West of England Academy All rights reserved.