National Art Gallery Copyist

Mini, 8x10" oil on gessobord (sold)

I love living in the Washington, D.C. area for a number of reasons.  At the top of my list - all of the wonderful museums at our disposal and free to everyone.  A few years ago I worked close enough to run over to the art museums for lunch.  Life can't get any better than that!  I was always intrigued and loved to watch the painters who came in and painted the masters.  There was an interesting article in the Washington Post years ago of an artist who was a copyist.  I wish I still had the article because it discussed the rules.  The only one I recall was the copies of the paintings could not be the same size of the original.  I believe there had to be at least a 1" difference from the original.  

My favorite part to paint - the easel and the copy of the copy!  

If you live near an art museum check out their policy to see if they have a similar program.  Here's some additional info about the National Gallery of Art's program.

National Gallery of Art's copyist program

The National Gallery of Art copyist program has been in operation since the Gallery opened in 1941. A permit issued by the registrar’s office is required for copying works of art in oil or any other liquid medium. The Gallery provides permit holders with an easel, stool, and drop cloth; private easels are not allowed. Visitors may sketch with pencils or other dry media in the galleries without a permit.

To participate in the copyist program, applicants must meet all requirements outlined in the National Gallery of Art “Rules Governing the Copying of Works of Art” and agree to an interview and a security background check; they must acknowledge in writing their acceptance of the rules. For more information on the copyist program, please e-mail your name and mailing address to copyist@nga.gov. A packet of materials will be mailed to you within seven business days.

The issue of a copyist permit does not in any way constitute the National Gallery of Art’s endorsement of a copyist’s work. 

Gregory Stapko, Copyist  

 C. Gregory Stapko, (1914-2006) was a portrait painter, painting restorer and one the nation's foremost copyist of famous works of art.