Kylie's memorising self-portrait, however, was not selected as one of the finalists.

The local artist is not angry or sad that her work was not one of the finalists.

"I have no regrets at all and it [taking part in the competition] was one of the highlights of my life," she said.

Her first Archibald Prize experience was about "soaking up all the processes" that comes with a competition of this magnitude.

The Archibald Prize is awarded annually to the best portrait, "preferentially of some man or woman distinguished in art, letters, science or politics, painted by any artist resident in Australasia".

This open competition is judged by the trustees of the Art Gallery of NSW.

It was one of Kylie's childhood dreams to enter a work in the Archibald Prize.

She hopes her efforts will inspire others to follow their dreams.

Kylie's stark self-portrait may have been overlooked by the judges but one day she will enter another work in the prestigious art competition.

She has a look at portraits that remain in the running to win the prize.

"There are some really beautiful and fantastic ones," she said.

She added some of the works had a beautiful emotion about them.

Kylie said she does not know if artists can get feedback from the judges but she would be happy to get any feedback at all.

She intends to keep her portrait.

Including Meyne Wyatt's self-portrait that won the Packing Room Prize and saw him become the first Indigenous artist to win any Archibald prize in the award's history, the judges selected 55 finalists.

Winners will be announced on September 25 and the exhibition at the Art Gallery of NSW will be open to the public on September 26.