Oil Painting

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...