Blog Posts
OPA wishes everyone a happy and art-filled Mother’s Day. Autumn Treasures by Ashlee Trcka16″ x 12″ – Oil “How do you find the time to paint with small children?” This is a question I am frequently asked by friends, family and followers on social media. Perhaps you are struggling with the same issue. The good...
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David Austen Roses by Ellen Buselli OPA15″ x 16″ – Oil on Linen A few years ago, my brother’s beloved dog Calvin died. My brother was so saddened by this loss, I asked him to send me photos of Calvin so that I could try to do a portrait to immortalize Calvin for him and his...
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Soli Deo Gloria by Rick Delanty8″ x 10″ – Oil (Essay excerpt from book published 2021, Beauty Unites Us, by Rick J. Delanty) Artists are revolutionaries, to some degree. Their responses to crisis, confusion, and condemnation in social situations can often be seen in their artworks. The creation of an artwork itself is a statement...
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The first thing I do when starting a new painting, is ask myself three questions: 1. What is this painting about and why am I painting it? 2. How can I use design, color, and value to express #1? 3. What can I edit out, or add in, to the original subject to better express...
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We’ve all heard of the Golden Section, Dynamic Symmetry, the rule of thirds and harmonic armatures. And we’ve always been told to do a value study before we start a painting. However, in our rush to get started painting, many of us disregard it all and jump right in to putting brush to canvas. Six...
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“Cheap” looking metal leaf frame Refinished warm antique black with soft handrubbed patina As artists, we tend to accumulate frames that just don’t quite work. They may have gotten damaged being shipped to a gallery, or banged around being transporting to a show. Maybe they were “ok” frames, but the finish just wasn’t up to...
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Beata T by Dominique Medici38″ x 24″ – Oil Saying the last two years have been difficult is an understatement. It has been a dark period and for anyone that lost a loved one or was financially affected, you have my deep sympathy. I have heard many people speak about silver linings and positive outcomes...
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June Lake, Snow (plein air) by Dan Schultz OPA8″ x 10″ – Oil There’s no painting like snow painting! Ever tried painting snow? …While also standing in snow? …Outside? A few years ago, my family and I spent several days in California’s Eastern Sierras. We stayed in the town of June Lake which had snow...
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Hardboiled by Terry Miura48″ x 48″ – Mixed media on panel The Pandemic changed everything. I’m sure this is true for many artists; the prolonged social isolation became a period of self-reflection and soul searching. There was a sense of uncertainty that permeated every aspect of our lives. Yet we still had to produce artwork,...
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Originally written by long-serving Board member and Master Signature artist James Bruce Jr., (January 1938 – December 2020) this blog from our archives outlines the methods and criteria the OPA jury uses to select paintings for the National Juried Exhibition. We hope it helps you select your best work to enter into this year’s show....
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