My Practice
Sally Ryan is an Australian painter and portrait artist living and operating in Sydney. Her artwork is best described as contemporary realism and includes all genres of painting but with an emphasis on portraiture and still life. Drawing and painting from life is extremely important to Sally and is a constant aspect of her art practice.
She began her training as a classical painter at the Julian Ashton Art School where she was awarded a Scholarship in 2010. She has continued to refine her skills since then through workshops at Studio Escalier (Paris), Grand Central Academy (NY)
and Menorca Pulsar, Spain.
Sally works mainly in oils, but also graphite and charcoal and she has had her art recognized in numerous competitions across Australia such as the Archibald, Doug Moran, Portia Geach and Lester Prizes.
Internationally she has also been a finalist multiple times
in the ARC Salon and
Portrait Society of America Members competitions.
The Portrait Society of America awarded her
Signature Status in 2019 for consistent excellence in portraiture.
I choose to paint realistically because I believe that "beauty" resides in the truthful reality of everyday life.
For me,
it is the most satisfying way to effectively explore and communicate an understanding of life
as I experience it.
It also excites me to feel
connected with the history
of realist painting by pursuing my own mastery of classical techniques and through the sharing these skills and knowledge with others.
Awards
2022
Semi Finalist Darling Prize NPG Canberra
Finalist Mosman Art Prize
Finalist Portia Geach Memorial Award
Finalist Hornsby Art Prize
Finalist Fisher's Ghost Art Prize
Finalist International ARC Salon
2021
Finalist Ravenswood Prize for Women 2021
Finalist Lester Portrait Prize – Highly Commended
Finalist ARC International Salon Finalist
Finalist Portrait Society of America Members Competition
2020
Finalist Lethbridge Small Scale Art Award
Finalist Shirley Hannan National Portrait Prize
Finalist Portia Geach Memorial Award
Finalist Calleen Art Prize
Finalist Brisbane Portrait Prize
Finalist Stanthorpe Art Prize
2019
Finalist Brisbane Portrait Prize
Finalist Portia Geach Memorial Award
2018
Awarded Signature Status – Portrait Society of America
Finalist Portrait Society of America
Members Prize
Finalist Shirley Hannan National Portrait Prize
Finalist Ravenswood Prize for Women
Finalist Hunters Hill Art Prize-Highly Com
Salon Des Refuses – People’s Choice
Semi Finalist Doug Moran National Portrait Prize
2017
Semi Finalist Doug Moran National Portrait
Prize
Finalist Manning Naked and Nude Art Prize
Finalist Black Swan Portrait Prize
Finalist Kennedy Prize
2016
Finalist Hunters Hill Art Prize
Finalist Salon des Refuses
Finalist Portia Geach Memorial Award
Finalist 2015/16 ARC International Salon
Finalist Eutick Memorial Still Life Award
Finalist AME Bale Art Prize
2015
Finalist Portia Geach Memorial Award
Finalist Black Swan Portrait Prize
Finalist 2014/15 ARC International Salon
2014
Winner Kennedy Prize
Semi-finalist Doug Moran National Portrait
Prize
Finalist 2013/14 ARC International Salon
2013
Finalist Archibald Portrait Prize
Finalist Black Swan Portrait Prize
2012
Finalist Doug Moran National Portrait Prize
Finalist Adelaide Perry Drawing Prize
Finalist Shirley Hannan Portrait Prize
Finalist and Winner Still Life Section –
Mortimore Prize
2011
Finalist Adelaide Perry Drawing Prize
Finalist and Winner Small Painting Section –
Mortimore Prize
Finalist Nora Heysen Still Life Centenary
Award (Judge’s Commendation)
2010
Finalist Portia Geach Memorial Award
Finalist Mortimore Prize in Drawing and Still
Life Painting
Joshua Smith Prize for Classical Drawing
(Julian Ashton Art School)
Jocelyn Maughan Prize for Drawing Drapery
(Julian Ashton Art School)
2009
Winner Sydney Mechanics School of Arts
Scholarship at Julian Ashton Art School
Winner People’s Choice Manly Selective School Art Exhibition
2008
Finalist in portrait section of Mortimore
Prize