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Events

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

OPA 2015 Western Exhibition Winner Spotlight

Oil Painters of America · Nov 22, 2015 · Leave a Comment

Johne P. Richardson
Johne P. Richardson was awarded the Gold Medal, a $4,000 cash award funded by OPA, for “Pushing Strays.”
Johne P. Richardson
Johne P. Richardson

Johne is a native of Kansas, with a love of the prairie, and other wide-open spaces. He has painted for more than thirty-five years, most of that in watercolor. He fell into oil painting comparatively recently, and when he got himself cleaned up (which he discovered was quite a bit more of a job than with watercolor) he realized it was a medium he could be content with, and for quite some time.

Johne lives in Overland Park with his wife Janet. They have three mostly grown children, and any number of cats and dogs.
“As an artist, I have a great passion for the outdoors, and a great affection for cowboys, and the western landscape. I look for interesting stories, and compelling visual drama, and try to speak to what moves me, emotionally, on the surface of my paintings. I don’t feel the need, creatively, to add intellectual content in creating a dialog with the viewer- the subject inherently having interest, and substance, all on its own.
My figures tend to be presented large, and up close, to create an inescapable intimacy, and expression of character, or at a distance, to reflect the human scale within the enormity of the wide-open landscape. Occasionally a steer wanders by, and I’ll become entranced with the play of light on horns, or a fierce posture, or expression. And the elusive, curving brim of a cowboy hat, as it moves and changes in the light, is perhaps the most captivating and challenging subject I’ve ever encountered.
I get emotionally involved with my subject, whether it’s a figure, or a landscape. When I paint, I try to tell the story of what moved me, and with the same energy and passion with which I absorbed the image initially. It could be the gesture, the color, the surface patina, the light… but mostly, it’s the light.”

"Pushing Strays" by Johne P. Richardson
“Pushing Strays” by Johne P. Richardson

David Dibble
David Dibble was awarded the Silver Medal, Art Focus funded by American Art Collector Magazine for “Monterey Pier.”
David Dibble
David Dibble

Born in 1977, David Dibble was raised on a farm in Davis County, Utah, where he was influenced by the landscape from an early age. He created art all through his youth, and completed a BFA in Illustration from Brigham Young University.

David began landscape painting in earnest in graduate school at the Academy of Art University, and following the Academy he and his wife Liz moved to New York, where he worked as a color artist for Blue Sky Studios (20th Century Fox), creating Concept Design for such films as Rio, Epic, Ice Age 4, and Peanuts. David and his family now reside in Orem, Utah, where David teaches Illustration at Brigham Young University and paints  often in the surrounding mountains and valleys.

"Monterey Pier" by David Dibble
“Monterey Pier” by David Dibble
Andrew Lu
Andrew Lu was awarded the Bronze Medal, a Half-page advertisement funded by Fine Art Connoisseur, for “Under the Tibetan Sun.”
Andrew Lu
Andrew Lu

In 1974 Shanghai I was born into one of the biggest urban centers in China.  A well noted artist in the local area introduced me to drawing at the young age of 11 and allowed me to take my first step onto the long road of the study of art.  Upon graduation from the University of Shanghai with a major in Fine Arts, I painted voraciously without rest.  I then met the man who would become my instructor, Xiaofu Yu, a true master in oil painting. Nearly all of my present painting skill derived from my apprenticeship under him.

In searching for ever more difficult challenges and a bigger stage to present my works I immigrated to America in 1998.Free-spirited Americans living in such a diverse and energetic society became a great inspiration. This soon led me to create the most prolific outpouring of all of my works. Vivid reflections of my newest experiences in this land and the raw emotions connected with them were shown on canvas with each paint stroke. I couldn’t help but have my emotions evoked every single day by the beauty of color and life that lay around me. I came to live in Southern California where I was lucky enough to have met my wonderful wife and had our son. I currently own an art school in the city of Walnut where I enjoy my time teaching students and continue my painting.

"Under the Tibetan Sun" by Andrew Lu
“Under the Tibetan Sun” by Andrew Lu

Summer 2015 Online Showcase Award Winners

Oil Painters of America · Nov 15, 2015 · Leave a Comment

Marci Oleszkiewicz
Marci Oleszkiewicz was awarded the Gold Medal, a $3,000 cash award fundedDorothy Driehaus Mellin and the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation, for “Finding Her Name.”
Marci Oleszkiewicz
Marci Oleszkiewicz

Marci Oleszkiewicz, grew up in the city of Chicago in a family of four. Her mother home schooled all four children where each child’s gifts were nurtured and encouraged. Marci’s father was a carpenter and there wasn’t a moment in childhood that he was not renovating or working on some project for their home. Looking back Marci attributes much of her creativity to seeing her father always working on something, creating something out of nothing. “My dad would say see Marci if you work at something little by little you will see your idea come about. Seeing my Dad’s work ethic and learning from my Mom the value of self discipline as a home schooler, I believe gave me some of the foundational tools I would need later in life to succeed as an artist.”

Marci’s passion for art was inspired at a young age. As a child, she remembers sitting at her little desk making pictures.

“It seemed I often communicated visually.Whether it was in a Christmas card to family or a personal journal entry, there was always a drawing to be found. I remember imagining my little creations coming alive as I made the final touches.”

A statement from the Juror of Awards, Kathy Anderson:

"Finding Her Name" by Marci Oleszkiewicz
“Finding Her Name” by Marci Oleszkiewicz

My choice for 1st place in this competition was very easy and instantly identifiable. It fit my criteria of telling an interesting story, or handling a subject in an original way. I’m very drawn to beautiful clean color, and skill in drawing. The little girls in their pastel dresses were a perfect match for me!”

Although she has been studying art and painting for some time, it wasn’t until 2007 when things started to move forward and she began to see what the future might hold for her as an artist. Upon entering several art competitions Marci was not only accepted in two of the top shows, The Oil Painters of America’s national show and the American Impressionist Society’s national show, but also received very substantial awards from both. An award of excellence from the OPA and the best of show award from the AIS. Not long after, she was included in Southwest Art Magazine’s 21 under 31 and had her first two man show at Gallery Russia in Scottsdale, AZ. “Receiving so many incredible honors, one after another, really encouraged and pushed me into becoming a full time painter.” Since then Marci has continued to paint full time, focusing on her annual show that comes up every March at Gallery Russia in Scottsdale, AZ. “I am always so encouraged to hear the response from my collectors every year, how they connect and are so touched by what I paint. It is my goal as an artist to do just that, to create works that resonate with the hearts of others, to speak clearly and deeply to the innermost being. To capture moments of life on canvas that convey beauty, joy, love and truth. I’ve heard it said if you paint from your heart you will speak to the hearts of your viewers, and that is my desire.”
“The Lord has blessed me with this passion for art and I am delighted to be able to share what I see with my students and collectors to show them the beauty and love that surrounds them.”

Zimou Tan
Zimou Tan was awarded the Silver Medal, a $1,500 cash award funded by Dorothy Driehaus Mellin and the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation for “Grandma.”
Zimou Tan
Zimou Tan

Zimou Tan was named “Chinese Master Artist” in December of 2007 by the Chinese government Art and Culture department, also selected as “The 50 Artists impacted China”.  Tan was born and raised in Canton, China, apprenticed to Chinese Master Artist Le, YiFeng at age 12. At age 14 he immigrated to America with his family. Tan taught at art university for about 13 years after his graduation.

"Grandma" by Zimou Tan
“Grandma” by Zimou Tan

Tan has been running Tan’s fine art studios onsite and online, you can find Tan’s demo videos on Youtube, and Vimeo. Tan is specialized in fine art portraitures, to capture the spirit of his subjects. Since 2001, Tan had won numerous painting awards, and published in magazines. Tan is currently the director of Olivet College of Art and Design.

Lori Putnam
Lori Putnam was awarded the Bronze Medal, a $500 cash award funded by Dorothy Driehaus Mellin and the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation for “Spent Shells.”
Lori Putnam
Lori Putnam

Recognized for her expressive brushwork, intelligent composition, and superb use of color, Nashville Tennessee native, Lori Putnam paints small to medium-sized works en plein airand creates large paintings in her studio. She travels extensively to paint, teach, and share her work around the world.

Prior to becoming a full-time, fine artist in 2005, Putnam owned and managed a graphic design agency for 13 years. In 2008 and 2009, she and her husband sold all of their belongings and traveled to the Italian countryside to live for more than seven months with the sole purpose of the painter’s self-study and artistic growth. A catalyst for Putnam’s artistic career, the concentrated work accomplished during that period culminated in an impressive breakthrough. Advice from artist friends Scott Christensen, Quang Ho, and Dawn Whitelaw, has further impacted the artist’s development and success.
Featured in numerous issues of American Art Collector Magazine, Plein Air Magazine, Southwest Art, Fine Art Connoisseur, and Art of the West, Putnam is recognized as one of the finest American Impressionists of our time. As an Artist Faculty Demonstrator for the Annual Plein Air Convention, she shares her philosophy and painting methods with its 700 attendees annually.
Lori is a member of, and has exhibited with many respected organizations including the Salmagundi Club in New York City, the Oil Painters of America, Laguna Plein air Painters Association, the California Art Club, Plein Air Artists of Colorado, and is past Vice President of the American Impressionists Society. Additionally, Lori participates annually in several invitational plein air events, and winning awards in Colorado, California, Wyoming, Florida, Georgia, and Ireland. Her studio work has also received many awards — most notably from the Salmagundi Club in New York City, the Portrait Society of America, The American Impressionist’s Society, and the Oil Painters of America. Putnam’s art is in the permanent collection at The Academy Art Museum in Easton, Maryland, the Jack Warner Collection, the collection of Plein Air Magazine, and in private and corporate collections, and galleries worldwide. She keeps a studio in Charlotte, Tennessee.

"Spent Shells" by Lori Putnam
“Spent Shells” by Lori Putnam

“As a Contemporary American Impressionist, I capture the character of a person, the uniqueness of a place, the color of time, and the relationship of things. Rather than merely copying, I use paint to interpret and to express. What interests me is rarely any specific subject unto itself. Color harmonies, rhythms, patterns, shapes, and my response to these elements excite me. Seeing the world in this way gives me the freedom to explore any subject. The end result, the art itself, engages its viewers inviting them to find their own, personal interpretations.”

2015 Spring Online Showcase Winners Spotlight

Oil Painters of America · Jul 20, 2015 · Leave a Comment

We’re proud to highlight the winners of the OPA Spring 2015 Online Showcase. Enjoy some brief biographies below, detailing their painting history and journey to becoming award winning artists.

Deborah Tilby

First Place Award for the painting titled “Twelve Small Boats”

DeborahI am Canadian but lived for many years in England where I painted watercolours of English and European street scenes, attracted by the weathered buildings, the textures and colours of old brick, stone and peeling paint and plaster, and the narrow streets offering interesting perspectives. I have often returned to the streets of Europe for my inspiration, sometimes in watercolour but now more often in oil.
I also enjoy everything the local landscape has to offer although the subject within the landscape is secondary to my main inspiration and focus which is the light, the shadows, the interplay of warms and cools, and the subtle colours of the seasons.
Landscape painting is a challenge, one that is endlessly fascinating and deeply fulfilling.
www.deborahtilby.com

Twelve Small Boats
“Twelve Small Boats “
by Deborah Tilby
26″ x 36″ Oil
Damien Gonzales

Second Place Award for the painting titled “Mummy Cave – Cañon del Muerto”

Damien Gonzales ImageDamien Gonzales is a self-taught artist from Albuquerque, New Mexico. He paints in oils and concentrates on landscapes. Damien divides his time between painting outdoors and in the studio. Outdoors he enjoys the spontaneity required to quickly capture the essence of a place, the most accurate color and value information possible and the other transient elements that are present only for hour or two, at most. The paintings he completes in the field are sometimes framed and shown as they are when he leaves a location or used to produce additional paintings back in the studio.
Damien is influenced by many artists and styles but particularly enjoys representational works and aspects of impressionism that impart more sublime qualities to paintings. Damien’s engineering background helps him develop as an artist.

"Mummy Cave - Cañon del Muerto"
“Mummy Cave – Cañon del Muerto”
by Damien Gonzales
11″ x 16″ Oil

He has participated in national competitions and exhibits such as Plein Air Telluride, In the Footsteps of Thomas Moran at Zion National Park and the American Impressionist Society and been recognized by various awards. Damien has also jurored and judged several events. Recently he traveled to Spain to compete in a Plein Air event in Andalucia. Southwest Art recently featured him as “An Artist to Watch”. His most recent award in June 2015 was Best of Show at the Santa Fe Plein Air Festival. He aspires to paint full time in the near future.
damiengonzales.com

Marci Oleszkiewicz

Third Place Award for the painting titled “Summer’s End “

Marci Oleszkiewicz_headshot_smMarci Oleszkiewicz, grew up in the city of Chicago in a family of four. Her mother home schooled all four children where each child’s gifts were nurtured and encouraged. Marci’s father was a carpenter and there wasn’t a moment in childhood that he was not renovating or working on some
project for their home. Looking back Marci attributes much of her creativity to seeing her father always working on something, creating something out of nothing. “My dad would say see Marci if you work at something little by little you will see your idea come about. Seeing my Dad’s work ethic and learning from my Mom the value of self discipline as a home schooler, I believe gave me some of the foundational tools I would need later in life to succeed as an artist.”
Marci’s passion for art was inspired at a young age. As a child, she remembers sitting at her little desk making pictures. “It seemed I often communicated visually. Whether it was in a Christmas card to family or a personal journal entry, there was always a drawing to be found. I remember imagining my little creations coming alive as I made the final touches.”

Summer's End
“Summer’s End”
by Marci Oleszkiewicz
20″ x 16″ Oil

Although she has been studying art and painting for some time, it wasn’t until 2007 when things started to move forward and she began to see what the future might hold for her as an artist. Upon entering several art competitions Marci was not only accepted in two of the top shows, The Oil Painters of America’s national show and the American Impressionist Society’s national show, but also received very substantial awards from both. An award of excellence from the OPA and the best of show award from the AIS. Not long after, she was included in Southwest Art Magazine’s 21 under 31 and had her first two man show at Gallery Russia in Scottsdale, AZ. “Receiving so many incredible honors, one after another, really encouraged and pushed me into becoming a full time painter.” Since then Marci has continued to paint full time, focusing on her annual show that comes up every March at Gallery Russia in Scottsdale, AZ. “I am always so encouraged to hear the response from my collectors every year, how they connect and are so touched by what I paint. It is my goal as an artist to do just that, to create works that resonate with the hearts of others, to speak clearly and deeply to the innermost being. To capture moments of life on canvas that convey beauty, joy, love and truth. I’ve heard it said if you paint from your heart you will speak to the hearts of your viewers, and that is my desire.”
“The Lord has blessed me with this passion for art and I am delighted to be able to share what I
see with my students and collectors to show them the beauty and love that surrounds them.”
www.marcioleszkiewicz.com

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