You have that chance with Portrait of an Artist. On the following pages you'll find an opportunity to "see" the voices of contemporary artists across the country as they maintain an online journal.

Enter the worlds of today's artists, and experience a forum where they tell us with words what they usually say with art. The Portrait Gallery has selected nine artists from the semifinalists in the Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition 2009 to be a part of this documentary project.

We present to you dialogue from different artists with different outlooks, and diverse stations of life, career, and geography. Some of their voices are pragmatic. Some are contemplative. A few may be controversial or disaffected. They express what it is to be a figurative artist today.

The opinions expressed by the artists are their own and do not represent the opinions of the Smithsonian or the private sponsor of this competition.

Participation in the Portrait of an Artist project in no way affects or influences the jury's decision in selecting finalists and winners in the Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition 2009.