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Events

OPA’S FIRST VIRTUAL CONVENTION TAKES PLACE THIS WEEK

Oil Painters of America · Sep 14, 2020 · Leave a Comment

If you watched the 2020 National Awards Ceremony on Thursday evening, September 10, or took part in the  International Wet Paint Competition you know that our Convention is now under way. If you participated in the Wet Paint event you are already registered for the remainder of the 2020 OPA Convention. If you have not signed up yet, there is still time. Convention activities will resume with the virtual awards ceremony announcing the winners of the International Wet Paint Competition on Thursday, September 17. The following is a  condensed version of the presentations and activities planned for this year’s convention, with a number of world renowned artists and speakers offering their insights in the world of art, and related topics. 

On Thursday evening, September 17, at 6:30 p.m. Central Time, Juror of Awards John Pototschnik OPA will announce his decisions concerning the winners of OPA’s First International Wet Paint Competition. This event was open to all current OPA members, as well as non-OPA artists throughout the world, with awards being given in three separate divisions: OPA member plein air, OPA member studio, and non-OPA member open division. You may view the International Wet Paint Competition Awards Ceremony live on Facebook or if you are registered for the Convention you may view it on Zoom. 

Following the Awards Ceremony past OPA president, Kurt Anderson OPA will present a talk on the importance of representational oil painting in today’s current art scene. He will include insights into the significant role that OPA is playing in the pursuit of our mission of advancing “the cause of traditional, representational fine art by drawing attention to the lasting value of fine drawing, color, composition and the appreciation of light” and “preserving and promoting excellence in representational art”. 

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18 

Convention activities begin again on Friday morning, September 18, at 10:00 a.m. with Signature member David Dibble’s address on how to “Change Your Studies, Change Your Art”. Da vid will explain how his attention to the elements of value, shape, color and composition work into his creation of paintings that embody clarity and conviction after first having been created as small plein air or studio studies. 

A short break, from 11:15 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., will follow David’s presentation. 

Attorney John DiGiacomo, Esq. will begin his lecture on “Intellectual Property Protection for  Artists” at 11:30 a.m. With extensive experience in intellectual property, internet law, corporate law and international law, John will discuss how to ensure the safety of your intellectual property; the creations of your mind such as your artistic works and designs. His vast knowledge of this area of information is attested to by his having appeared in front of courts of appeals and arbitration organizations such as the World Intellectual Property organization and the South African Institute of Intellectual Property Law. 

Take a break for lunch from 12:45 p.m. to 1:15 p.m. 

OPA member Rusty Jones opens the Friday afternoon session with a demonstration of his talent of painting Western American landscape, reminiscent of John Singer Sargent, Julian Onderdon, Portofino Salinas, and Edgar Payne. His use of colors and depth of perception draw the spectator into his paintings, making one feel as if they are not looking at a canvas but standing on the edge of a field, lake or whatever the landscape. 

A short break, from 2:30 p.m. to 2:45 p.m., will follow Rusty’s demonstration.

National Exhibition Juror of Awards, Rose Frantzen, will be interviewed by the editor of  American Art Collector and Western Art Collector Magazines, Joshua Rose, from 2:45  p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Well known throughout the world for her figurative works, landscapes, and still lifes, Rose is not afraid to incorporate diverse stylistic elements into her works that bring contemporary perspectives to her traditional alla prima approach. Find out more about her through Joshua’s personal interview 

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 19 

OPA Signature Member Kelli Folsom opens Saturday morning with her still life demonstration “Taking Risks and Painting Bold”. Having received her B.F.A. from Lyme Academy of Fine Arts, in Old Lyme, CT, Kelli has a background in life drawing, painting, and sculpture with in-depth study and classical techniques. She prides herself on painting directly from life in one or two sittings to pass on the perception and experience to the viewer. Kelli will impart information on how she creates her feelings of intimacy with subjects through her paintings. 

A short break, from 11:15 a.m. to 11:30, a.m. will follow Kelli’s presentation. 

From 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. CMO of Boldbrush and FASO (Fine Art Studio Online), Dave  Geada, will present his lecture “Breaking Through the Artist’s Wall; How to Create and Sell  More Art While Spending Less Time Marketing”. Dave will help artists move to their next level of marketing and step around the stumbling blocks that might be inhibiting their art sales. He will present a better way to market art online, a topic that is of particular importance during these times of social distancing and limited physical exhibitions. Learn from  Dave how to spend less time and get better results. 

Take a break for lunch from 12:30 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. 

Susan Hotard OPA will round out the day of demonstrations with her presentation “How to  Create a Great Portrait” from 1:00 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. Well known for her beautiful, lifelike portraits Susan will demonstrate how she captures the tones and textures of her subjects’ faces and embraces the subtle expressions of children as well as adults. Susan has taught portrait, figurative, and still life workshops in Texas and Louisiana. 

A short break, from 2:15p.m. to 2:30 p.m., will follow Susan’s presentation. 

A group critique session will be the final presentation of the day from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Some of OPA’s most well respected artists will offer their expertise on a handful of pre-selected paintings. This is a good way to hear input on a multitude of styles and subjects which might introduce you to an idea that you have not had before this time. 

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR THE 2020 NATIONAL CONVENTION

The Deadline Is Coming. Are You Ready?

James Bruce Jr. OPAM · Jan 15, 2018 · 2 Comments


The deadline I’m referring to is the last date to enter OPA’s competition for the 27th National Juried Exhibition of Traditional Oils to be hosted by the Steamboat Art Museum in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. The focus in the jurying process will be to select paintings which show the highest quality in draftsmanship, color and composition, emphasizing a diversity in representational style and subject matter. Online entries must be received no later than Friday, January 26.
Each year OPA receives approximately 2,100 entries and jurors must carefully choose 200 paintings to be included in the exhibition. As always, the goal is to assemble the finest display of representational oil paintings.
This annual national competition is one of the most important endeavors of the OPA mission to promote representational painting. Awards for this annual competition total approximately $100,000 so there is good reason to enter. That said, every artist entering should understand the jurying process and what criteria is used to determine the paintings that are included in the competition.
OPA selects a jurying committee comprised of 5 OPA members. Three are Signature members of OPA and two are Master Signature members. The make-up of the committee is different for each exhibition and jurors do not know who else is jurying with them. The Jurying Chair always attempts to get jurors that represent a variety of painting styles and that are located in different parts of the country. Jurors are asked to use the criteria below in making their selections.

    I. Design:

  • Is there a dominant value?
  • Is there a dominant harmony?
  • Is there a clear center of interest?
  • Is there balance?
  • Do the shapes and lines lead the eyes to focal points within the picture plane?
    II. Execution:

  • Is the drawing accurate?
  • Are the value relationships convincing?
  • Are the color temperature relationships consistent and believable?
  • Is there an appropriate variety of hard and soft edges?
  • Is the paint application varied and interesting?


III. Expression/Idea:
Does the painting’s intent or execution demonstrate a unique, compelling or worthwhile idea?
There are two rounds of jurying. For the first round, jurors are asked to evaluate each painting and assign it a “yes” or “no” vote. Yes means that the juror believes that the painting meets some or all of the criteria and warrants a second, more critical evaluation.
The second round is usually comprised of approximately 600 – 700 paintings. In this round, jurors are asked to vote using a scale of 1 to 7. It is important that jurors are consistent and use the following scoring system when making their selections.

  • A one represents a painting that is weak in all or almost all of the above.
  • Two represents a painting that is weak in most areas.
  • A three represents a painting that may be competent in a few areas but, overall, is a
    weak painting.
  • A four represents a painting that displays knowledge of the fundamentals but overall
    is mediocre.
  • A five represents a painting that is competently handled in most areas.
  • A six represents a painting that is skillfully executed in almost all areas.
  • A seven represents a painting that is outstanding and is skillfully executed in virtually
    every area. These are the top 1-3% of entries for this show.

 
Summary:

  • Very Weak
  • Weak
  • Some Competence
  • Average
  • Competent (top 15 – 25% of entries)
  • Excellent (top 10% of entries)
  • Outstanding (top 1– 3% of entries)

After the jurors have completed voting, the scores are tabulated and artists receiving the most points will be accepted into the exhibition.
Again, the last date for you to enter is Friday, January 26th. I hope that you will enter the annual competition. Your paintings cannot be selected if you don’t enter, so do so today and use the criteria that the jurors will use to select your entries. Present your very best painting. Follow the entry rules and use the criteria the jurors will be using to judge your painting against the best paintings entered into the competition. And best wishes to each member of OPA. The competition is stiff but it is worth the effort to participate by submitting your entries before the deadline!
Respectfully,

James W. Bruce, Jr. OPA
 Chair, Jury of Selection Committee
James W. Bruce, Jr. OPA

Chair, Jury of Selection Committee
James W Bruce Jr has been pursuing art since he was 14 and still seeks to grow. He believes that art competitions organized by OPA provide wonderful opportunities to learn and hopefully get your paintings included in the show. He is a Signature member of OPA. In September 2016, Bruce and Scott Christensen had a two person exhibition in the Patrons’ Gallery at the Salmagundi Club in New York City. In addition to his love of painting, Bruce has pursued a significant career in banking. After retiring from Banks of Mid-America, the largest banking company in Oklahoma, he acquired controlling interest in American Bank Systems. He is also a member of the Board of Directors of American Bank and Trust Company of Tulsa, Oklahoma and InvesTrust of Oklahoma City. He serves of several boards of the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma City University, Canterbury Voices, and Oklahoma Arts Institute. In 2006, Governor Brad Henry awarded him one of the prestigious Governor’s Arts Award. A retrospective of 25 of his paintings was held in the Governor’s Gallery at the State Capitol in recognition of this award.

OPA's 2016 National Juried Exhibition

Oil Painters of America · Jun 6, 2016 · Leave a Comment

Meet the Gold Medal Winners from the 25th National Juried Exhibition

Derek Penix is OPA’s 2016 Salon Show Gold Award Winner for Associate/Signature Division.

Derek Penix Derek Penix was born on December 29, 1980 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Penix grew up watching members of his family paint but didn’t pursue painting himself until after high school. After trying his hand at painting and selling his first piece he knew this was what he wanted to do for the rest of his life. 
Over the years Penix’s work has changed greatly and continues to evolve with each painting. “I never want to be stuck painting only one way or only one subject matter. Variety is the spice of life and is especially that way for me with painting.”
Penix has had the opportunity to work under Quang Ho and later with C.W. Mundy. “They have helped me as an artist immensely. I am so thankful that they have been willing to feed into my life as they have.”
Penix has been recognized in many national competitions and publications. Even at a young age Penix was recognized in South West Art Magazine’s “21 Under 31” in 2010 and Oklahoma Magazine’s “40 Under 40” in 2014.


Liu Huihan OPAM is OPA’s 2016 Salon Show Gold Award Winner for Master Signature Division.

Huihan LiuLiu, Huihan born in 1952 in Guangzhou China. Huihan graduate from Guangzhou Academy of Fine Art in Oil Painting Department with BA in 1975. He taught in the Art School of Guangzhou Academy of Fine Art in 1979-1985. Huihan was a candidate and was accepted by Graduate school of Guangzhou Academy of Fine Art in 1985. He went to the United State of America to further his study in 1987, graduated from the Graduate School of the Academy of Art College in San Francisco with an M.F.A. in 1989. Huihan taught in the Academy of Art University in San Francisco in 1993-2005. He is a Graduate School Adviser at Academy of Art University.
When he was in China, he had been participated many show exhibitions both in regional and national. Since Huihan has moved to the United States, he has been participating in many national painting shows and invitational exhibitions. His paintings have won many awards and have been collected by both private collectors and museums such as: “Gold Medal for Best Painting” in California Art Club’s 92nd Annual Juried Exhibition; “First Place Winner” 9th Annual Mission San Juan Capistrano Plein Air Painting Event, Wilmington Trust Purchase Collection; “First Place Painting” Plein air exhibition in Bower Museum of Culture Art, Bowers Museum Contemporary Plein air Permanent Collection in Santa Ana ; “Best of Show In Painting-John Scott people’s choice Award” The 25th Western rendezvous of Art, Helena; “Gold Medal for the Master Signature Division at the Oil Painters of America Western Regional Show; “Members’ Choice Award for The Master Signature Division in Oil Painters of America National Exhibition. In 2012, Huihan’s painting “Spring of Miao Village” has been selected by the Organization committee for the Olympic Fine Arts 2012 (London), which was exhibited in London during the 30th Olympic Games in London, was permanent collection by the National Museum in China. Huihan’s work was featured in articles by many leading national artist/collector magazines such as Art of The West; Southwest Art Magazine; The International Artists Magazine and The Artist’ Magazine. Huihan conducts a few invitational painting workshops both in the United States and abroad.
Huihan and his wife Liang, Weizhen are both full time painters live in Kensington in the Bay Area of San Francisco. They both love to travel and have many trips to Tibet, France, Italy, and Taiwan for their painting subjects. His son, Liu Jian graduated in Cornell University in 2008.
Huihan is an Artist Member of Guangdong Artists’ Association China, Master Signature Member of Oil Painters of America, Master Member of American Impressionist Society, an Artist Signature Member of California Art Club, School of Art & Design Guangzhou University Professor in China.

2015 Eastern Regional Exhibition Juror Statement

David Hettinger · Feb 22, 2016 · Leave a Comment

David Hettinger served as the OPA 2015 Eastern Regional Exhibition Juror of Awards. Enjoy his exhibition comments below.

Juror Statement

OPA’s Eastern Regional was held at Eckert and Ross Gallery in Indianapolis IN. Eckert and Ross did a wonderful job of hanging the exhibition. The artwork was outstanding, presenting me as juror a real challenge. For the first hour I simply enjoyed the work, every piece was a winner. Then came the challenge of deciding which pieces would be awarded the ribbons.
As a juror I have my guidelines that include the elements of design, composition, use of medium and color harmony. To these elements I add my own feelings. Which pieces made me think, which made me smile and which told me a bit about who the artist themselves are. Some spoke to me on several levels while other simply said this is by a master, and there were plenty of masters in the show. Though there were only a few actual signature masters in the show, every painting in this year’s Eastern Regional was done by a master artist in my book. Congratulations to all those who made it into this year’s OPA exhibitions.

Winning paintings

"Chamisa" by Albert Handell OPAM
Albert Handell OPAM “Chamisa” 32″ x 30″ $18,500
"Southern Shore" by Xiao S. Jiang OPAM
Xiao S. Jiang OPAM “Southern Shore” 15″ x 12″ $5,200
"Hong Kong Market" by John Michael Carter
John Michael Carter OPAM “Hong Kong Market” 24″ x 18″ $5,000
"Stargazers" by Terry Rafferty
Terry Rafferty “Stargazers” 12″ x 12″ $1,200
"Purrfect Spot" by Anne Blair Brown
Anne Blair Brown “Purrfect Spot” 24″ x 24″ $5,800
"Fish on the Menu" by Karla M. Mann
Karla M. Mann “Fish on the Menu” 8″ x 10″ $1,850

About David Hettinger

Award winning artist, David Hettinger, began his career when he hopped a plan from the railroad town of Aurora, IL and landed in New York City. He moved to New York on the advice of Joseph Welna, owner of Welna Gallery in Chicago, having virtually no worldly wisdom, only a fierce desire to “learn what it was to be a real artist”. Welna began showing Hettinger’s work while the young artist was still attending the American Academy of Art, in Chicago. He directed Hettinger to study with David Leffel and Richard Schmid in New York and on how to earn his living as an artist from day one. With steadfast focus and determination, Hettinger made a name for himself as a fine artist and never looked back.

Related links

Visit the following links to learn more about the 2015 Eastern Regional Exhibition:

  • 2015 Eastern Regional Exhibition
  • Eastern Regional Award Winners
  • Master Signature Division
  • Associate and Signature Division

2015 Salon Show Juror Statement

Calvin Liang · Feb 15, 2016 · 1 Comment

Calvin Liang served as the OPA 2015 Salon Show Juror of Awards. Enjoy his exhibition comments below.

Juror Statement

Calvin Liang OPAM
Calvin Liang OPAM

I am honored and so proud to have had the opportunity to be a juror of awards for the 2015 Salon Show at the Beverly McNeil Gallery in Birmingham, Alabama. I congratulate all of the participating artists for their best work at the show.
Evaluating paintings can be a difficult job because art can be interpreted in so many varying ways. I should keep an open mind when evaluating paintings and it is a difficult job for me to be a juror. The test of evaluating a work of art, such as a painting, requires a combination of objective information and subjective opinion. It’s true that art appreciation is highly subjective, but the aim of evaluating a painting is not simply to ascertain whether you like or dislike a painting. Art evaluators need to generate facts upon such to base their opinions. Once I have the facts, I can then make my assessment. The more information I can glean about the context and the work of art itself, the more reasoned my assessment will be.
I have from time to time looked back to all the paintings to study what the artist wanted to convey. Consider the theme of this painting. Does it have a unique theme, or is it different? I appreciate that the artist is trying to be unique. Consider other artwork the person has done to look for a theme in the paintings. If the painting has a common theme, consider how well it interprets the art work of others. The quality of the painting is very important. The composition is a highly regarded element in the painting process. The ideas behind it can be very creative, but the painting itself has to be up to par. I appreciate quality of color, brushwork, texture, strong shape, and wonderful edges. And the best painting has all of those elements as well as a unity in its visual dialog to connect to the viewer, and it doesn’t matter what kind of subject, and what style it is. I am very happy for all of those with awarded pieces that have high quality and varied voices and I am very appreciative of that.
I sincerely thank all the participating artists, the Oil Painters of America, and Beverly McNeil Gallery for making the show a success!

Winning paintings

Woods Interior, Point Lobos by Albert Handell OPAM
Albert Handell OPAM
“Woods Interior, Point Lobos”
16″ x 20″
$10,500
"Sisters" by John Michael Carter OPAM
John Michael Carter OPAM
“Sisters”
18″ x 18″
$3,500
"Venice Nights" by Xiao Jiang OPAM
Xiao Jiang OPAM
“Venice Nights”
15″ x 12″
$5,200
"Jug with Broken Handle" by Charles Young Walls
Charles Young Walls
“Jug with Broken Handle”
18″ x 14″
$5,000
"Having Drinks" by Lynn Wade
Lynn Wade
“Having Drinks”
16″ x 20″
$2,400
"Red Suspenders" by Marci Oleszkiewicz
Marci Oleszkiewicz
“Red Suspenders”
20″ x 16″
$2,400

About Calvin Liang

Born in Canton, China, Calvin Liang began painting in high school and completed his art education at the Shanghai Academy of Fine Arts, recognized as one of China’s prestigious and competitive art academies. In China, his skills as a fine artist were applied to the theatrical industry, where he designed and created sets for operas and pusical dramas for the Canton Opera Institute.
In 1987, Liang moved to the United States, where he continued his profession as a full-time artist. He had a long and successful career creating visual art in animation for the entertainment industry, which included the Walt Disney Studios and Nickelodeon Studio, where he worked on The Little Mermaid and Spongebob Squarepants.

Related links

Visit the following links to learn more about the 2015 Salon Show:

  • 2015 Juried Salon Show
  • Salon Award Winners
  • Master Signature Division
  • Associate and Signature Division
  • Go to page 1
  • Go to page 2
  • Go to page 3
  • Interim pages omitted …
  • Go to page 7
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