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Oil Painters of America

Fall 2012 OPA Online Showcase Winners

Oil Painters of America · Dec 24, 2012 · 2 Comments

Fall 2012 Online Showcase Screenshot
Fall 2012 Online Showcase Screenshot
We are proud to present to you the Fall 2012 OPA Online Showcase winners. The OPA Online Showcase is a digital exhibition offered in the spring, summer and fall. While some shows are open to both Associate and Signature members, the Fall 2012 OPA Online Showcase only accepted entries from Associate members, giving an addition opportunity for Associate OPA members to enter and win significant awards for the low entry fee of only $14. The best part of this is that members are allowed to enter as many times as they wish, thus increasing their chances of winning.
Prizes for the OPA Online Showcase are made available largely to a generous donation from Dorothy Driehaus Mellin and the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation. These awards typically boast $3,000 in cash for first place, $1,500 for second place and $500 for third place along with 10 honorable mentions.
Judges for the Online Showcase are selected from our Signature members, Master Signature members and other top oil painters in North America. Signature member Kathleen Dunphy was selected as judge for the Fall 2012 show, and has included some excellent comments for each of the paintings entered.
The Spring 2013 OPA Online Showcase will begin accepting entries on March 1, so be sure to enter to win excellent awards. Until then, enjoy the remarkable artwork of your fellow OPA Associate members from the Fall 2012 OPA Online Showcase.

First Place

"Sunshine Breakfast" by Stan Rogers
“Sunshine Breakfast” by Stan Rogers

Sunshine Breakfast by Stan Rogers
16 x 20 Oil
Judge’s Comments: This painting has it all: Great design, accurate drawing without being too tight, energetic brushstrokes, thick and thin paint, wonderful play of color accents amid the grays. Well done! – Kathleen Dunphy, OPA
 

Second Place

"Cracker Jack" by Craig Pursley
“Cracker Jack” by Craig Pursley

Cracker Jack by Craig Pursley
18 x 18 Oil
Judge’s Comments: To pull off lettering in perspective and make it look accurate and not too distracting..what a feat! The red leads you right to the center of interest, a beautifully painted portrait, but your eye keeps moving around the painting to the door handle and light in the background. An ambitious and well-executed undertaking. – Kathleen Dunphy, OPA
 

Third Place

"Autumn Marsh - Proverbs 2-2" by Thomas Kegler
“Autumn Marsh – Proverbs 2-2” by Thomas Kegler

Autumn Marsh: Proverbs 2:2 by Thomas Kegler
30 x 40 Oil
Judge’s Comments: We’ve all stood somewhere similar to this spot and been awed by the hushed beauty at the cusp of the day. Thomas captured not only the look but the spirit of that moment – you can feel the emotion emanate from the canvas. Just enough detail on the grasses in the foreground and a lovely sense of mystery as detail and warmth diminishes into the background. – Kathleen Dunphy, OPA

Honorable Mention

"The Burden of Knowledge" by Michael DeVore
“The Burden of Knowledge” by Michael DeVore
The Burden of Knowledge by Michael DeVore
32 x 36 Oil
Judge’s Comments: Another emotional painting- I love the sense of intrigue–What’s he reading? What’s tormenting him? The painting on the wall in the background is a nice touch to add to the story. Incredible draftsmanship and just enough soft edges to keep it from feeling too brittle. Lovely color harmonies. – Kathleen Dunphy, OPA

Honorable Mention

"Sign of Spring" by Nikolo Balkanski
“Sign of Spring” by Nikolo Balkanski
Sign of Spring by Nikolo Balkanski
20 x 30 Oil
Judge’s Comments: Beautiful play of temperatures – you feel both the chill of the snow and warmth of the weak spring sun. Great drawing and depiction of “junk” – turning the mundane into art. I looked at this painting a long time before I noticed the fox next to the building – a great pay-off to the viewer without taking over the theme of the painting. – Kathleen Dunphy, OPA

Honorable Mention

"Sorolla's Studio: On Wings of Art" by Ray Hassard
“Sorolla’s Studio: On Wings of Art” by Ray Hassard
On Wings of Art: Sorolla’s Studio by Ray Hassard
20 x 24 Oil
Judge’s Comments: I must admit that any depiction of Sorolla’s studio would get my attention, but the execution of this piece elevates the scene from just a snapshot to a work of art. Lovely indication of Sorolla’s paintings in the background. Great design- the triangulation of the bright white color keeps the eye moving through the painting. That half-figure on the left looking into the painting is a bold and effective addition. – Kathleen Dunphy, OPA

Honorable Mention

"Mercato Nuovo in Rain (Firenze) No. 2" by James Crandall
“Mercato Nuovo in Rain (Firenze) No. 2” by James Crandall
Mercato Nuovo in Rain (Firenze) No. 2 by James Crandall
24 x 30 Oil
Judge’s Comments: I love the implied areas in this painting – the darks on the left and the signs behind the figures on the right. Lovely paint quality and brushwork. The warm accents from the incandescent lights play beautifully against the cooler natural light. Wonderful indication of wetness on the pavement. – Kathleen Dunphy, OPA

Honorable Mention

"Blue and White Ginger Jar" by Christine Saper
“Blue and White Ginger Jar” by Christine Saper
Blue and White Ginger Jar by Christine Saper
10 x 8 Oil
Judge’s Comments: Above and beyond the subject matter, this painting engages with the viewer with strong brushwork and luscious paint. I stopped thinking about a ginger jar and an apple and instead followed the tracks of the artist through her strong brushwork. Fresh and energetic! – Kathleen Dunphy, OPA

Honorable Mention

"Apotheosis" by Alan Larkin
“Apotheosis” by Alan Larkin
Apotheosis by Alan Larkin
20 x 16 Oil
Judge’s Comments: I kept coming back to this painting again and again – the various textures and unique subject matter grabbed my attention. Beautiful rendering of the elephant and dynamic lighting. A head-turner. – Kathleen Dunphy, OPA

Honorable Mention

"Early Birds, Winter Park Farmers Market" by Stacy Barter
“Early Birds, Winter Park Farmers Market” by Stacy Barter
Early Birds, Winter Park Farmers Market by Stacy Barter
24 x 30 Oil
Judge’s Comments: You need sunglasses to look at this painting! Wonderful feeling of light. Beautiful sense of time and place and accurately-depicted figures. Just enough detail to tell us what’s going on without losing that sense of blinding morning light. – Kathleen Dunphy, OPA

Honorable Mention

"Little Artist" by Randolph Peay
“Little Artist” by Randolph Peay
Little Artist by Randolph Peay
30 x 20 Oil
Judge’s Comments: Great design and paint quality! I love the way the bear almost blends into the background, focusing our eye on the little girl. Sweet without being too sentimental. – Kathleen Dunphy, OPA

Honorable Mention

"The Horse Before The Cart" by Elizabeth Pollie
“The Horse Before The Cart” by Elizabeth Pollie
The Horse Before The Cart by Elizabeth Pollie
24 x 30 Oil
Judge’s Comments: Intriguing textures – those little glints of red/orange coming through make for a lively painting.Good solid drawing and I love the temperature shifts in the indication of the bricks on the wall. – Kathleen Dunphy, OPA

Honorable Mention

"Brother Afar" by Jacob Neagle
“Brother Afar” by Jacob Neagle
Brother Afar by Jacob Neagle
22 x 28 Oil
Judge’s Comments: In addition to depicting a very moving subject matter, this piece is beautifully painted. The warm underpainting showing through provides unity throughout the work, and the thicker paint on the figure’s face creates a convincing sense of depth. Great textures and subtle color shifts in the background shadow. – Kathleen Dunphy, OPA

Upcoming OPA Events

  • March 1 – May 15, 2013 — Spring 2013 Online Showcase
  • May 17 – June 17, 2013 — 22nd National Juried Exhibition
  • June 20 – August 31, 2013 — Salon Show, Petoskey, MI
  • September 6 – October 8, 2013 — 2013 Western Regional Exhibition
  • October 20 – November 17, 2013 — 2013 Eastern Regional Exhibition

Stay tuned for more updates on these premier oil painting exhibitions for 2013 at www.oilpaintersofamerica.com

2012 National Show Winners Spotlight

Oil Painters of America · Dec 3, 2012 · Leave a Comment

This week we’re featuring some of our top 2012 National Juried Exhibition Winners by sharing their biographies and winning paintings.

 

Jeff Legg OPAM - In the studio
Jeff Legg OPAM
Jeff Legg OPAM
Master Signature Gold Award Winner
Jeff Legg, a native of Missouri studied painting and drawing at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design and also Atelier Lack, a private art studio school modeled after 15th to 19th century classical European instruction. His “old master” techniques combined with his inspired contemporary use of chiaroscuro engage fellow artists and collectors world wide. Today, Legg’s artwork is represented by some of the nation’s most distinguished galleries including Astoria Fine Art, Jackson, WY, Morris and Whiteside Galleries, Hilton Head Island, SC and M Gallery of Fine Art in Charleston, SC. Mr. Legg is an Oil Painters of America signature Master painter and a nationally recognized award winning artist.
"The Provision" by Jeff Legg OPAM - 30x30
“The Provision” by Jeff Legg OPAM – 30×30
His paintings have been featured in many publications including The Artists Magazine, American Artist, North Light books, Art of the West, Western Art Collector, American Art Collector and has graced the cover of Southwest Art Magazine. Mr. Legg now resides in Estes Park, Colorado where he paints daily in his studio.

 

Xiao Song Jiang
Xiao Song Jiang
Xiao Song Jiang
Associate/Signature Gold Medal Winner
Xiao Song Jiang was born in 1955, in Wuhan, China. In 1978 he studied fine arts at the China Academy of Art, formerly the Zhejiang Art Academy, where he graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in 1982, then began lecturing watercolor at the City of Wuhan Construction College. Four years after, Song was selected to further develop his skill at the provincial Hubei Art Academy. During his time there, he accumulated years of experience, painting, sketching, and working for a refined grasp of color and technique.
Throughout his early career, Song has received numerous awards as one of the representatives of Chinese paintings with works displayed at international art exhibitions in the United States, Japan, Hong Kong, Turkey, and Singapore. He also had the honor of having four representative works collected and preserved at the National Art Museum of China (NAMOC) and three works at the Jiangsu Provincial Art Museum.
"Tide" by Xiang Song Jiang
“Tide” by Xiang Song Jiang
In 1988, Song immigrated to Canada and invested a passion for its vivid scenes of the broad North American landscape. While there, he travelled widely from coast to coast and gained some 20 years of experience forming his unique style of a mixture of brush and knife with attention to the unique natural detail, richer handling of light, shadow and depth in each piece, which has won him numerous awards in North American exhibitions and art festivals. He now lives by the lake in Toronto, Canada with his wife and son.
He is influenced by the beautiful land and friendly people. Through his paintings, he wishes to express his love to the North American landscape and all its people.

 

Dayle Sazonoff
Dayle Sazonoff
Dayle Sazonoff
Dorothy Mellin Driehaus Fellowship Award Winner
Dayle has been painting since 1996. She has a private studio at the Palette and Chisel in Chicago, Illinois and served on their Board in the capacities of Secretary, Vice President, and President. She is a member of Oil Painters of America.
Dayle has studied oil painting with Diane Rath and watercolor with David Becker.   She has participated in workshops with Albert Handell, Margaret Kessler, Gregg Kreutz, David Leffel, Phil Beck, Hedy Moran, and Ken Auster.
Awards include the Palette & Chisel Irving Shapiro Watercolor competition for a landscape and the Harriet Bitterly award for an oil landscape. Her oils and watercolors were accepted in juried shows in Gallery North, New Buffalo, MI.  She is the 2012 winner of the $ 20,000 Dorothy Driehaus Melin Fellowship for Midwestern Artists – Oil Painters of America.
Dayle’s paintings are in the Amoco Oil Corporate Collection, Lucca’s restaurant in Chicago, and La Chaumiere Bed and Breakfast in Calistoga, Napa, California, Dijon, France, as well as in many private collections.
"Yellow Peonies" by Dayle Sazonoff, 20 x 24
“Yellow Peonies” by Dayle Sazonoff, 20 x 24
Currently Dayle has been giving her full attention to painting oil still lifes.

“There has been a recent resurgence in the popularity of this subject matter. The important interplay of colorful and colorless in a painting, the pattern of light, and the composition are great challenges to me.  Cut flowers, fruit, and favorite objects, new and worn, are reminders of life’s transience and of things past.”

Creating Better Digital Images of your Paintings. How to Ensure your Masterpiece is Best Represented Online and in Print

Oil Painters of America · Nov 11, 2012 · 19 Comments

Review of 2012 OPA National Exhibition Session with Susan Abma and Jerry Goroski, by contributing OPA artist Julia Bright

Most of us have had the experience of taking a photo of our painting, only to find out that it’s a distorted, too light/too dark, too blue, too red (insert your own adjective here) version of our beautiful painting. Then we go to Photoshop ( if we even know what kind of “animal” that is) to try and manipulate the image to make it look like the original. At the end of the session, we end up with an even worse image than we started with! How frustrating!
Well, Susan Abma and Jerry Goroski have some great tips on how to make the process of photographing your paintings (almost) painless!
 
Artists these days must do so many things – take photos of their work, post to Facebook , update their website, blog, etc. the list goes on and on…. all these activities leave limited time to actually create art. So how do we make sure we spend time painting, instead of manipulating technology? One way is to take better photos of our paintings. Here are some guidelines:

A good camera is an absolute must

What is a good camera? One with a glass lens. With cameras, as with most things in life, you get what you pay for. A cheap camera has a plastic lens, which distorts the image. A camera with a glass lens will give you a detailed, sharp, intense image. Buy the best camera you can afford. As a general guideline, a camera costing at least $300-$400 will have a glass lens.

Never use an IPad or Iphone image for print

The resolution is not high enough, and you will get a grainy, distorted image every time

Lens Tips

A longer lens, further back takes a sharper image than a 15mm lens close up. Get a zoom lens – at least a 15-85mm.

Lighting and setting up paintings

Using photo lamps indoors can change the colors of your painting dramatically. Susan and Jerry recommend taking your painting outdoors on an overcast day or in shade (but not deep shadow). Put an easel in a perfectly straight vertical position (measure to make sure it’s perfectly vertical). Put your camera on a tripod. Use of gray card (if one can be found) is recommended to calibrate the color. Another way to calibrate color is to place a piece of white foam core in front of the camera on a tripod exactly square to your image, and take a photo of that. Your camera will now have a guideline for white, and will adjust all the other colors accordingly.
Always take your painting out of the frame to avoid cast shadows. It does not matter what color you choose to put behind the easel. Again, make sure your painting on the easel is in a perfectly vertical position, you want to limit having to crop the image. Try to keep your camera at the same angle (vertically) as your painting. This will help in eliminating glare.
Back up your camera!. Shoot your photo from farther away, with a longer lens. That’s it!.
If your image quality is not where it should be, retake the photo, rather than trying to manipulate the image in Photoshop. Take as many shots as you can, so you have lots to choose from later on.

Manipulating images in Photoshop

If your image quality is bad, there is not much a printer can actually do with your image. Try to avoid extensive Photoshop manipulation at all costs, unless you are a Photoshop super-user (expert). All computer monitors are different, so the color you see on one, will not necessarily match the color on another monitor. If you have several computers, check the image on all of them. Manipulate the image in Photoshop by very small percentages, because small % changes alter the image dramatically. Overly manipulated shots usually come out very dark and muddy off the press.
When manipulating images in Photoshop, DO:

  • Darken images
  • Lighten images
  • Sharpen images

DON’T:

  • Manipulate color, unless you are a Photoshop expert. Just try to take a better photo!
  • Adjust light/dark curves more than 2% either way. Adjusting by a higher percent will result in grainy images coming from the printing press.
  • Adjust color in curves. If you need to adjust color, or light/dark by a large percentage, take another photo!

Photoshop is a very expensive program to buy. If you do not have Photoshop on your computer, a cheaper program will do just fine for the above manipulation of images. No need to invest in Photoshop. Save your money for a better camera!

Jpegs vs. TIFs

Most printing facilities require images in TIF format, rather than Jpegs. You can save your image as a TIF file in your computer, but the image needs to be a higher resolution – aim for a resolution of 300. When you change the resolution of your image in Photoshop, if resolution is increased 4 times, the other dimensions need to decrease 4 times. That is the way to obtain a crisp image. Normally, the image from your camera will be in a resolution of 72. Keep your original (unchanged) image file, because when you manipulate a file, it completely changes the image. Save the manipulated files under another name.

Closing thoughts

Final words of advice from Susan and Jerry – If you can at all afford to have your work professionally photographed, do it. Otherwise, spend more time learning how to take good photos, than learning how to manipulate Photoshop!
 

Upcoming Events

Oil Painters of America · May 14, 2012 · Leave a Comment

The OPA Blog is taking a brief break from it’s normal schedule of thought provoking articles from our gifted Guest Bloggers to bring you an update on the exciting upcoming events and deadlines you won’t want to miss!
 
 
2012 National Show - Evergreen Colorado

2012 National Juried Exhibition

We encourage you to join us during the opening weekend festivities of this year’s 21st National Juried Exhibition in beautiful Evergreen, Colorado, June 20 – June 24, 2012, including an opportunity to paint and sell your work!   OPA members who take part in one or both of the plein air painting events will be eligible to participate in a tent sale taking place June 23 & June 24, right outside Evergreen Fine Art Gallery.    Click here for a complete list of all events and more information regarding this year’s tent sale.
 
 
OPA Online Showcase Banner

2012 Spring OPA Online Showcase

Calling all Associate members!  The first of 3 Associate On-line Showcase’s this year is in full swing.  Your last opportunity to enter and be eligible for a total of $5,000 in prize money is Tuesday, May 15, 2012. Click here to register now!
 
 
2012 Eastern Regional - Bennington, Vermont

2012 Eastern Regional Exhibition

This year’s Eastern Regional Exhibition will be held at the impressive Bennington Center for the Arts, in Bennington, Vermont.  The Juror of Awards will be Kenn Backhaus OPAM.   The deadline for entering on-line is July 6.  Maximum canvas size: 1200 sq. inches.
 
 
2012 Western Regional - Denver, Colorado

2012 Western Regional Exhibition

This year’s Western Regional Exhibition will be held at the trendy Gallery 1261, owned by OPA Master Signature artist Quang Ho.  The Juror of Awards will be Jeff Legg OPAM.  The deadline for entering on-line is July 13.  Maximum canvas size: 1200 sq. inches.
 

Deadlines

Signature Membership Deadline
October 15, 2012 – Application deadline to apply for Signature membership
Master Signature Membership Deadline
September 1, 2012 – Application deadline to apply for Master Signature membership.
Shirl Smithson Scholarship Deadline
December 1, 2012 – Application deadline to be selected to receive one of four Shirl Smithson Scholarships.  No charge to apply and open to all Associate members.
 

Next Week on the OPA Blog

Patsy Ledbetter OPA will be sharing about her approach toward art. Here is a brief preview:

It has been said that art is subjective to the viewer. I certainly agree with that statement. I can look at a work of art and be astounded by the way it speaks to me. Someone else may just glance at the same piece of work and not be affected at all. I have decided to not worry about what others think of my work or the subject matter I choose to paint, but paint only to please myself…

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