Dame Tracey Emin praises King Charles for his commitment to the arts as they join prominent figures in the industry to celebrate 25 years of the Royal Drawing School
Dame Tracey Emin said the country was 'lucky to have' a monarch who cared so much, while eclectic cross-dressing potter Grayson Perry described him as 'very special'.
The pair both sported what appeared to be the fashionable footwear of the night at St James's Palace - plastic Crocs.
While Emin sported dark coloured footwear, Perry naturally sported a brightly-painted pair of iconic clogs to offset his bright orange dress.
The palace was packed with renowned artists, creative figures and alumni of the school founded by Charles, 76, as Prince of Wales.
To mark the occasion a special anniversary exhibition has been created 'The Power of Drawing: Marking 25 Years of the Royal Drawing School' which includes works by 50 eminent artists and alumni from the school's twenty five year history including Emin and David Hockney.
Another star exhibit is one of the King's own drawings, a preliminary sketch of Highgrove from 2000.
The free exhibition will go on display at the Royal Drawing School in Shoreditch from July 1- 26.
Founded with the help and guidance of artist Catherine Goodman, the Royal Drawing School has made a significant contribution to art education.
As an independent, not-for-profit institution, it remains dedicated to high-quality observational drawing tuition.
The King, who was accompanied by Queen Camilla, her art dealer daughter Laura Lopes and his artist cousin, Lady Sarah Chatto, spent more than an hour examining the works that will go on display and chatting to guests.
A live-drawing session involving some of the school's youngest talents went on throughout the evening, before the guests sat down to listen to a performance by singer songwriter Rufus Wainwright, whose artwork is also being displayed, with a film of work by alumni playing behind him.
In an impromptu speech the King offered an unusually emotional tribute to Goodman for her work with the school over the years.
He said: 'I can't resist saying a few very small words because above all I wanted to pay a very special tribute to darling Catherine who, can you believe it, it all goes back really to when my very special cousin, Sarah [Chatto], and Catherine were young 18-year-old students at Camberwell School of Art and used to come bouncing in to my room. I remember that was where it all started.
'So when I needed somebody to start the life drawing classes at my original old Institute of Architecture in Regent's Park, I thought Catherine is the ideal person. Otherwise these young trainee architects won't understand the importance of life drawing in terms of proportion, scale and everything else.
'Her dedication and her love for the students created this remarkable, I hope, legacy which will continue. So we do all owe her a huge debt of gratitude.
The King, who was accompanied by Queen Camilla, her art dealer daughter Laura Lopes and his artist cousin, Lady Sarah Chatto, spent more than an hour examining the works that will go on display and chatting to guests
In an impromptu speech the King offered an unusually emotional tribute to Goodman for her work with the school over the years
'Imagine, just perhaps, how proud I am am of all these students over all these years. I have always believed in investing in talent for the future in many different spheres, particularly in the cultural world but also in all sorts of others.
'So see these young people develop into middle aged people still painting is remarkable and achieving so much and I hope enabling them to discover and develop and demonstrate their remarkable talents. It's an investment that has been rewarded a thousand fold. '
Dame Tracey Emin spoke warmly about the King, whom she has known for several years.
'It's thrilling, so nice. His speech was from the heart. He knows what he is talking about,' he said.
'Imagine how lucky we are to have a king who loves art and knows what he is talking about. His is a very nice drawing, it's a sketch, very loose, very nice.'
Gesturing to the display, she added: 'I am hanging next door but one to the king. It's not often that you can say that.
'His time and energy is phenomenal. Drawing is more important than it ever was. We are going through such terrible times at the moment and we are so lucky to have a King who has such a great understanding of many different things, and to be here tonight talking about drawing and art gives you faith in humanity. We people are drawing or painting or making art, they are not going to war. '
Her words were echoed by Wainright, who also attended art college, and told the audience between songs: 'All I wanted to say is that drawing for me now has become a necessary tool to really save my mind from all the distractions that we are faced with in the world. It's more important than ever for people to draw and focus on what isn't there.'
Goodman paid tribute to the King as a man who 'never minded swimming against the tide' when he started the drawing school, which does not receive any official funding but relied on donations.
She added: 'He decided to give drawing a home and a place for students to come and learn. To make sure this important living tradition was celebrated and protected. '
With over 350 different courses for adults and children of all abilities, including a renowned full-year postgraduate-level programme and a wide range of scholarships, the Royal Drawing School is accessible to all regardless of background or circumstance.
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