COMPETITIONS

• The competition is open to all. 
• Participants must register in advance; no registrations will be accepted on the day of the event. 
• Once a participant has registered, no refunds will be issued. 
• Studio and easel positions will be assigned by lottery. 
• All works must not exceed 16 x 20 inches in size.
• The judging process is blind; artwork should not be signed. 
• All participants must leave the studios during the judging process.
• All participants are expected to conduct themselves in a respectful, professional, and considerate manner throughout the event. 
• During the event, participants are expected to maintain focus on the competition and refrain from disruptive behavior that could interfere with others’ experience. 
• If any issues or concerns arise, participants are encouraged to communicate respectfully with event organizers or staff for resolution.
• Participants who fail to adhere to the Academy’s conduct guidelines may be asked to leave the event and be disqualified from future participation.

• Campus buildings are non-smoking; we ask that you use the parking lot as a designated area to smoke.
• None of the school’s furniture (easels, drawing tables, stools, modeling stands, etc.) may be removed from the studios.
• Any person causing damage to the casts or other school property will be held financially and legally responsible. 
• Please leave all studios and easels clean and free of trash. 
• Do not wash oil or solvents down the drain. 
• The Lyme Academy is not responsible for the loss or damage of personal belongings or artwork. Any material, artwork, or other personal property left in the school after the event will be disposed of.
• Please dispose of painting rags and towels in the designated red metal oily waste cans.
• Only odorless solvents are allowed. Turpentine is prohibited.

• Models will take a 5 min. break every 20 min.
• Models should never be touched.
• No photography of models is allowed without their permission.
• The competition organizers and studio monitors will be responsible for choosing the poses.
• All individuals, including models, must refrain from talking while the model is posing. Cell phones should be set to silent mode.

Michael Klein

Michael Klein is an American realist painter, museum director, and online art instructor. Beginning his experience with oil painting at an early age, Klein eventually chose to pursue the rigorous path of atelier training rather than a traditional university education. Over seven years, he studied at three schools, the Minnesota River School of Fine Art, The Atelier in Minneapolis, and the Water Street Atelier (now the Grand Central Atelier) in New York City.

After meeting his Argentine wife, Klein relocated to South America, where his work with Arcadia Gallery helped establish his career in the realist art world. However, feeling disconnected from the American art scene, he returned to the U.S. to re-engage with his audience. Klein co-founded several art focused ventures, including American Painting Video Magazine, which documented the lives of working artists, and a collaborative community of artists located in North Carolina.

Today, Klein serves as the director of the New Salem Museum and Academy of Fine Art in western Massachusetts. The museum, which features a permanent collection belonging to its patrons, the Barletta family, is dedicated to contemporary realist art. Klein, who first connected with the Barlettas through their acquisition of his work, now oversees the museum’s operations, acting as its director and caretaker. The museum hosts workshops by prominent artists and an annual art competition, offering a $25,000 acquisition prize.

In addition to his role at the museum, Klein teaches online art courses through Patreon and continues to create and exhibit his work. The evolution of Klein’s work mirrors the broader stylistic progression observed in the late 19th century, when artists began moving away from strict realism towards more expressive and personal art forms.

Judith Kudlow

In partnership with the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center, Lyme Academy will offer participants dormitory-style housing (single room with shared bath). Housing is located on the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center campus in Waterford, CT, approximately 25 minutes from the Academy.  You can select this budget-friendly option during registration for $75 per night.

After payment and registration, a staff member will follow up with you to finalize accommodations.