by Johanna Spinks

When Everett Raymond Kinstler took the stage at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts in November 2003, he demonstrated with wit and warmth, which is why his debonair painting style has earned him a well-deserved place as one of the world's foremost portrait painters. He advised his audience of more than 100 artists to work hard, seek out a sitter's character over mere likeness, and closely study value rather than color.

"There are no short cuts," said Kinstler. "It is hard work. I have worked very hard all my life, but I didn't realize it. I loved working and I still do. I have always wanted to be out there like an actor for the sheer love of performing. My whole world has been people." Describing himself as a "value painter," Kinstler advised, "If one can understand value, one can learn and understand color. If you get the value right, you can paint any color."

Kinstler gave a superb, seemingly effortless, demonstration as he painted Dr. Alan Fern, retired director of The National Portrait Gallery. He peppered his conversation with anecdotal gems from his illustrious career painting more than 500 portraits, including five presidents, over 50 U.S. cabinet members, and celebrities like Katharine Hepburn, Tom Wolfe, and John Wayne. Many of these commissions were shown during a subsequent slide show-as well as his early comic strips, book illustrations, and magazine covers. The day's events concluded with a question-and-answer session and portfolio reviews.

Dawn Whitelaw, his former student and a teacher herself for more than 25 years, echoed similar themes when she confessed, "Value is where my battle is," adding that she also practices her drawing regularly. In a vibrant demo of a child in blue satin, painted from a limited palette of the three primaries, Dawn worked from an outdoor head and color sketch done previously from life to show how to keep a portrait fresh through its development rather than relying solely on photographs.

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