Sophie Ploeg

I will set out my plans for the travel award in more detail soon, but for now here's the text of the the National Portrait Gallery's press release which gives it you in summary: This year the  BP Travel Award  has been awarded to Bristol-based Dutch Artist  Sophie Ploeg . Having studied Art & Architectural History at universities in The Netherlands  Ploeg, 39, won for her proposal to explore how fashion and lace was represented in 17th century art, as well as in modern applications. She will visit famous lace-making centres such as Bruges in Belgium and Honiton in Devon, modern lace makers and artists, antique lace collections and 17th century art collections, as well as undertake  literary research. Sophie's final work will be inspired by her findings and will be displayed in the  BP Portrait Award 2014  exhibition. Of course I have already been working within my theme of lace and textiles extensively, but this award will give me the opportu...

Some more pictures of the BP Portrait Award Exhibition My little painting on the left, next to Paul Oxborough's Ved Mehta, and Daan van Doorn's huge Philip Glass portrait

Hello everyone, I just got back from 2 hectic and amazing days in London. I attended the opening of the BP Portrait Award Exhibition and, as you all now know, was awarded the BP Travel Award. This award is annual award "to allow artists to experience working in a different environment on a project related to portraiture. It is open to applications from any of the BP Portrait Award-exhibited artists". I won the award for my proposal (not my painting). My proposal is to explore how fashion and lace was represented in 17th century portraiture and I will visit art collections, lace collections in the UK, The Netherlands and Belgium. I will then create works inspired by all this and these works will be displayed in the BP Portrait Award 2014 exhibition.

I am really happy to share that one of my self portraits has been selected for exhibition at the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists (RBSA), one of the oldest art societies in the UK (since 1807), presided over in the 19th century by famous artists such as Sir John Everett Millais, Sir Edward Burne-Jones and Lord Leighton to name just a few. Their annual Portrait Prize exhibition always attracts big names and great works. This year the selection was chosen by senior members of the Royal Society of Portrait Painters who will also exhibit there and the exhibition will be opened by Alastair Adams, president of the Royal Society of Portrait Painters. I have already heard on the grapevine that some great artists will be exhibiting with me so I feel honoured to have been included. For more info:  http://www.rbsa.org.uk/whats-on/exhibitions/portrait-prize-exhibition/ RBSA Portrait Prize Exhibition 17 July - 24 August RBSA Gallery, 4 Brook Street, Birmingham, B3 1SA Monday to Fri...

A bit of sketching in a reading break... charcoal, 35x30cm

Reading..... this should keep me busy for a while....   visiting and studying.... at Sudeley Castle in Gloucestershire Sketching..... sketching after Holbein 

The time since my Open Studio I have filled with a trip to London and more research into the history of fashion and lace. I went to see the new exhibition at the Queens Gallery at Buckingham Palace called 'In Fine Style' which explores Tudor and Stuart fashion in art. It brings together some real highlights of the royal collection including Rembrandt, Van Dyck, Bronzino, Marcus Gheeraerts and many others combined with some real historic pieces of clothing that have miraculously survived the ages. Embroidered waistcoat, 1610-20, Fashion Museum Bath  The detail in the paintings from this era is astounding and enough to make you gush over the sheer richness and indulgence of colour, detail, jewels and luxurious fabrics. I doubt any (wo)man can resist. Besides just enjoying the stunning paintings and glorious royal clothes and lace it is fascinating to see how the artists excelled themselves in painting every detail of the clothes, the jewels and the lace.