• 
• 
  • Mission/Policies/Bylaws
  • Board of Directors
  • Committee Chairs
  • Presidential History
  • FAQ
  • History
  • Contact Us
• 
  • Member Login
  • Information/Join/Renew/Rejoin
  • Region Distribution
  • Member Directory
  • Update Member Information
  • Contact Membership Department
• 
  • Calendar of Events
  • Exhibitions
  • OPA Online Showcase
  • Paint Outs
  • Workshops
  • Critique Service
  • Scholarships
  • Sponsorship Opportunities
• 
  • Brushstrokes Newsletter & Magazines
  • Online Store
  • Catalogs & Merchandise
  • Critique Service
  • Art Opportunities
  • Collectors
  • Gallery Locator
  • Non-OPA Call for Entry
• 
• 

29^th Annual National Juried
Exhibition of Traditional Oils

Oil Painters of America's is pleased to announce that the Twenty-Ninth National Exhibition and Convention will be hosted by RS Hanna Gallery, located in Fredericksburg, Texas, from May 15 through June 13, 2020. Convention activities begin on May 12, with a Wet Paint Competition in both studio and plein air divisions. Cash and merchandise awards for the Wet Paint competition will be a minimum of $15,000. The opening reception for artists, collectors, the public and the press will be held on Friday, May 15, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., with the awards presentation taking place at 8:30 p.m. at the Admiral Nimitz Museum. Various informative and educational demonstrations, talks and seminars are being planned for the convention, preceding the opening of the exhibition.

Events

8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Registration Open Location: Admiral Nimitz Museum

Registered attendees can pick up their registration packets and have their canvas stamped at the Admiral Nimitz Museum. On-site registration is available as well. Be sure to carve out some time to explore downtown Fredericksburg's trendy shops and restaurants.

8:00 a.m. OPA's "Best Little Paint Out in Texas"
Wet Paint Competition Begins! Location: Admiral Nimitz Museum

OPA's "Southwest Treasures" Wet Paint Competition begins bright and early Tuesday morning! Registered attendees* will compete for a minimum of $15,000 in cash and merchandise awards. A first, second and third place will be given in two categories: studio and plein air, with remaining awards given based on the discretion of the Juror of Awards.

Canvas must be officially stamped by an OPA or RS Hanna Gallery representative prior to painting. Maximum canvas size is 320 square inches. All paintings must be framed and wired for hanging to be in the competition & sale.

*Please Note: Only attendees who have paid a full convention registration fee are eligible to participate in the wet paint sale & competition. Eligible convention attendees are guaranteed one painting in the exhibition; however, two or more paintings will be considered based on the number of participating attendees, so please come prepared. Please see the competition rules for the full details.
Click here to review the 2020 Wet Paint Rules and Regulations.

8:00 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. Registration Open Location: Admiral Nimitz Museum

Registered attendees can pick up their registration packets and have their canvas stamped. On-site registration is available as well.

8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. OPA's "Best Little Paint Out in Texas"
Wet Paint Sale & Competition

Both plein air and studio artists will have the opportunity to paint. OPA will provide models for artists wishing to paint indoors and some props. Or, feel free to bring your own props if you prefer. Plein air artists - you are free to explore the area! Volunteers will be on hand to give you suggestions on the best places to paint in the area.

4:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. Welcome to Texas! Opening Reception Hosted by Southwest Art Magazine Location: Admiral Nimitz Museum

After a full day of painting it's time to relax and enjoy some cold refreshments and light hors d'oeuvres at this year's Welcome Reception sponsored by Southwest Art Magazine. Food, drink, and a room full of artists - it can't get much better than that!

8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Registration Open Location: Admiral Nimitz Museum

Registered attendees can pick up their registration packets and have their canvas stamped. On-site registration is available as well.

8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Southwest Art Magazine's Pampered Paint Out Location: TBD

Oh yeah! It's time for the ever-popular Southwest Art Magazine's Pampered Paint Out. Where else can you paint all day while being provided with a continental breakfast, delicious lunch and great music? And, did we mention a local massage therapist will be on hand too? All thanks to our good friends at Southwest Art Magazine. OPA will provide models and props and plein air artists will find no shortage of subject matter in historic downtown Fredericksburg. Don't forget framed paintings for the competition are due at St. Joseph's Halle between the hours of 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.

4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Drop Off Deadline for the Wet Paint Competition Location: St. Joseph's Halle

Drop off at St. Joseph's Halle for the Wet Paint Competition begins promptly at 4:00 p.m. and ends at 6:00 p.m. There will be plenty of volunteers on hand to make the process run as smoothly as possible. Paintings should be framed and wired for hanging. If you don't want to bring frames with you, OPA will offer participants the opportunity to purchase frames in advance for onsite pick-up. More details to follow.

7:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. "Up Close and Personal" with OPA's Distinguished
Artist Zhiwei Tu OPAM Location: Admiral Nimitz Museum

Very few artists can boast having a museum named in their honor. From his humble beginnings to becoming one of China's most revered artists, Zhiwei Tu will talk with us about his journey to becoming one of today's most highly regarded artists. His story is one of courage and determination and will show us that nothing is impossible if we work hard.

Conference attendees will join Zhiwei Tu, along with Kurt Anderson OPA, John Michael Carter OPAM, and Ken Cadwallader OPAM to talk about his life, as well as take a visual tour of this stunning museum and get the inside story behind this crowning achievement.

8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Registration & Exhibits Open Location: Admiral Nimitz Museum

Attendees can pick up their registration packets at the Admiral Nimitz Museum and visit the exhibitors located right next store. Don't forget to make your "Wish List" before you come! And, artists who visit each exhibitor and have their exhibitor cards stamped are eligible to enter the special exhibitors raffle basket drawing!

9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. Breaking Through the Artist's Wall; "How to Create and Sell More Art While Spending Less Time Marketing" with Dave Geada, CMO of BoldBrush and FASO Location: Admiral Nimitz Museum

Sooner or later we all hit the artist's wall. No matter what we do, we can't seem to increase our art sales beyond a certain point. We end up caught in a never-ending tug of war between producing our art and marketing our art that ultimately limits our ability to our sell art.

Modern, commonly held beliefs about how to market art online have only made this problem worse. These approaches demand that artists spend a ridiculous amount of time marketing themselves on social networks, search engines, and more. What's worse, these approaches often don't work, leaving artists frustrated and disillusioned. But what if there was a better way to market art online? One that required less time to accomplish and delivered more results? One that finally allowed artists to break through the artist's wall and increase both production and sales?

Join Dave Geada, CMO of BoldBrush and FASO, as he shares a proven approach to breaking through the artist's wall. Learn how to market in less time, while increasing art production and art sales.

10:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. "How to Significantly Reduce your Shipping Costs"Presentation with Elaine Lockard, VP Sales & Marketing & Managing Agent for 'Shipandinsure.com' Location: Admiral Nimitz Museum

Do you often ship your work to exhibitions, collectors or galleries? If so, then this session is for you! Elaine Lockard, VP of Sales and Marketing for 'Shipandinsure.com' will explain how OPA members can save 10% to 40% on Federal Express Shipments, plus have your painting insured for its full value for damage and loss with no deductible - for real! Return shipments are covered under the program, also. You will save considerable amounts and have peace of mind with this exclusive benefit program.

11:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Painting Demonstrations with Exhibitors Location: Admiral Nimitz Museum

This session is all about our amazing exhibitors who are eager to show you the latest and greatest products their company has to offer! Joining them will be some of today's top artists who will demonstrate their expertise using exhibitors' products. A boxed lunch will be provided for all registered attendees.

1:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Painting Demonstration with
Juror of Awards Rose Frantzen Location: Admiral Nimitz Museum

OPA is thrilled to have Rose Frantzen as this year's Juror of Awards. Living in Maquoketa, IA, Rose Frantzen is establishing a history as a working artist, creating figurative, serial, allegorical, and installation works in oil and multimedia, with numerous solo shows and participation in group exhibitions. "Portrait of Maquoketa," a collection of 180 portraits, painted of her townspeople, was exhibited at the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery and is now an installation in the Figge Art Museum's permanent collection, which includes a 315 square foot anamorphic landscape, voice, and music. Other notable collections include the World Food Prize, Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, Dubuque Museum of Art, Iowa State University, and University of Iowa. She has shown at Butler Institute of American Art, Brunnier Museum, Denver Historical Museum, Iowa State Historical Museum, and as a three-time award winner in the Portrait Society of America's International Portrait Competition. Frantzen is a frequent demonstrator, workshop instructor, guest lecturer, and panelist discussing art and the artist's life in the 21st century at museums and national art conventions, and her paintings have been featured in national and international art magazines, podcasts, and journals. Her latest project, "In the Face of Illusion," is a 4x70' wall of contiguous portraits and figures in dialogue with optical illusions. Frantzen is represented by Old City Hall Gallery in Maquoketa, where she shows with her husband, Charles Morris.

5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. OPA's 29th Annual National Exhibition Opening Reception Location: RS Hanna Gallery

Come join us for a very special evening honoring the amazing and talented artists comprising this year's 29th Annual National Exhibition. Whether you are new to painting or a seasoned pro, this exhibition will inspire and challenge you to be the best painter you can be.

8:30 p.m. - 9:45 p.m. Oil Painters of America's Awards & Recognition Ceremony Location: Admiral Nimitz Museum

OPA's Awards Ceremony celebrates the highest achievement and excellence in representational oil painting. Join us on Friday evening as we honor this year's National award winners and Wet Paint competition winners. Presentations will also be made to recognize artists who have achieved the Signature and Master Signature designation in 2019.

10:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. Awards Ceremony After Party! Location: St. Joseph's Hall.

Time to celebrate! Wrap up this amazing day at the Wet Paint Exhibition highlighting the amazing work painted throughout the week. Be prepared to be wowed!

8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Registration & Exhibits Open Location: Admiral Nimitz Museum

Attendees can pick up their registration packets and visit the exhibitors located right next door. Artists who visit each exhibitor and have their exhibitor cards stamped are eligible to enter the special exhibitor raffle basket drawing!

9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. "Change Your Studies, Change Your Art" with David Dibble Location: Admiral Nimitz Museum

Artist and teacher David Dibble shares his process of doing small plein air and studio studies as a means of creating gallery paintings of greater clarity and conviction. Underscoring this approach is David's focus on the elements of value, shape, color and composition as vital story-telling elements. These principles will be demonstrated in both traditional and digital media.

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 completed a BFA in Illustration from Brigham Young University and began landscape painting in earnest in graduate school at the Academy of Art University. 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, Peanuts, and Ferdinand. David and his family now reside in Orem, Utah, where he teaches Illustration at Brigham Young University and paints often in the surrounding mountains and valleys, focusing largely on agricultural themes.

10:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Visit Exhibitors
11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. "The Convergence of Value and Design in Painting" Luncheon Presentation with Joe Gyurcsak OPA, AIS, ISAP, Resident Artists Brand Manager of Blick/Utrecht Artists Materials. Location: Fredericksburg Inn & Suites

This presentation will redefine key visual factors in the development of a painting. Through a series of lessons developed for students, Joe Gyurcsak has discovered a convergence of two separate painting truths, realizing that value and design are inseparable. The motivation to unite these painting truths as one is illustrated thru examples of great works of art and color mixing exercises. Artists will experience new ways of thinking and seeing in regard to representational painting.

Joe Gyurcsak, Resident Artist for Utrecht Art Supplies, has demonstrated & lectured throughout North America. A Signature member of OPA, Joe is a sought-after speaker and frequent author on instruction and observation for American Artist Magazine.

1:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. Visit Exhibitors
1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. "Intellectual Property Protection for Artists" presentation by John DiGiacomo, Esq., Partner, Revision Legal Location: Admiral Nimitz Museum

John has extensive experience in internet law, intellectual property, corporate law, and international law. He has litigated matters in these areas in state and federal courts across the United States, including in front of courts of appeals and international arbitration bodies, such as the World Intellectual Property Organization, National Arbitration Forum, and the South African Institute of Intellectual Property Law. He has also served as an adjunct professor of both trademark and Internet law for Michigan State University College of Law, teaching both in East Lansing, Michigan and in MSU's summer abroad program in Opatija, Croatia.

John is highly sought after for his deep understanding of the intersection of law and technology. He has been published and interviewed concerning internet law, intellectual property law, and emerging legal issues by various media outlets, including the Economist, Intellectual Property Magazine, Canadian Public Radio, and other media outlets across the country and world. He is regularly asked to speak to conferences and corporations on his areas of expertise. In 2014, John was recognized as one of the most influential people under the age of 40 in his home of Traverse City, Michigan, and in 2015, 2016, and 2017 he was recognized as a "Rising Star" by SuperLawyers.

John has been interested in technology since his first Apple IIGS, and still maintains a Linux server in his basement. He is highly involved in his community and has served as a board member on the Traverse City Downtown Development Authority and the Traverse City History Center, and as chairman of the board of pH Productions, a comedy theater in Chicago's Andersonville neighborhood. He rarely leaves work behind, but, when he does, you can find him sailing on Lake Michigan, fly fishing, or spending time with his wife Brooke and his dog Grimace. John is a dual citizen of the United States and Luxembourg.

3:00 p.m. - 3:15 p.m. Visit Exhibitors Location: Admiral Nimitz Museum
3:15 p.m. - 4:15 p.m. Artists at the Cutting Edge: The OPA and the Rebirth of Representational with OPA President Kurt Anderson OPA Location: Admiral Nimitz Museum

OPA President Kurt Anderson will give an overview of the current scene in representational oil painting, and speaks to its significance as the most vital and burgeoning movement in contemporary art. He will show how most of the leading painters today are part of a distinct lineage, master to pupil, intent on maintaining and expanding the great traditions in painting. And he will speak to the OPA's important role as the leading showcase and advocate for this art. This presentation has been developed specifically for OPA members to take and use in their own communities and will be available upon request.

President of the Oil Painters of America, Kurt Anderson OPA is a distinguished painter who has won top honors from many of the nation's leading art organizations and publications. He is the author or co-author of eight books on painting. In addition to having a BA in art, and a master's degree in accounting, Anderson spent four years as an apprentice in a traditional atelier, making him part of a master pupil lineage that can be traced back to the eighteenth-century master Jacques Louis David.

4:30 p.m. - 5:45 p.m. Group Critique Session Location: Admiral Nimitz Museum

There's a lot to be learned by listening to different perspectives and this session will bring together some of our most well-respected artists to contribute their viewpoints and knowledge on a handful of paintings that will be projected on screen for discussion. A terrific way to learn and be inspired!

7:00 p.m. - 10:30 p.m. American Art Collector Magazine's Closing Celebratory Party Location: MarktPlatz

Prost! It's time to kick up your heels and have some fun! Let's celebrate a wonderful week in Fredericksburg at this year's closing party sponsored by our long-time friends at American Art Collector Magazine. Guests will enjoy some of the best Texas BBQ around and dance the night away to a wide variety of music. Bring your dancing boots - we've got a professional line dancer coming to get everyone dancing!

8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. OPA's Annual Business Meeting Location: Admiral Nimitz Museum

Find out what's new in the organization and what the future holds as OPA's Board of Directors discusses the state of the organization. This is the time to ask questions and voice your opinions.

9:30 a.m. - Noon Group Demonstrations Location: Admiral Nimitz Museum

Susan Hotard OPA is an experienced and award-winning artist who lived in New Orleans over 31 years and now lives in the Houston suburb of The Woodlands, Texas. Susan had a cover story in American Artist magazine (July/August 2005) and earned the highest honor at The New Orleans Academy of Fine Arts and most recently won the Top Fifty Award in the Portrait Society of America's International Competition 2019. Since 2003, Susan has taught portrait, figure, and still life workshops in Texas and Louisiana. She enjoys the vibrancy of both the New Orleans and Houston art communities. She received a BFA in Interior Design from Louisiana Tech University and studied at The New Orleans Academy of Fine Arts and the Arts Student League in New York City.

Kelli Folsom OPA is an academically trained artist working exclusively from life in oils. She creates museum quality paintings combining an old master feel with rich color and painterly brushstrokes. When collecting her work, you will be bringing a layer of refined beauty of the highest quality into your collection that uplifts the soul.

Kelli is an award-winning artist who at a young age is already exhibiting in museum shows and garnering attention and inclusion in some of the highest organizations in contemporary representational art like Oil Painters of America, American Women Artists, American Impressionists Society and Women Artists of the West.

She received a B.F.A. from Lyme Academy of Fine Arts in Old Lyme, CT, the first impressionist colony in the U.S. established in 1899. It is here that she studied traditional life drawing, painting and sculpture with great emphasis on in depth study and classical techniques and the joy of working in a direct impressionist style in nature. Every still life arrangement is set up in her north light studio and painted directly from life in a matter of one or two sittings. She paints directly so that her relationship to the subject is heightened in the moment in order to pass on that perception and experience to the viewer resulting in a painting that looks like a painting and not a photograph. Kelli chooses objects and arrangements to create the most aesthetically beautiful design and a feeling of abundance and intimacy. These arrangements are influenced by centuries of traditional painting from the Dutch Masters of the 1600's to French Academics of the 1900's.

Rusty Jones graduated from the University of Texas with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biomedical Communications and the University of Texas Health Science Center in Dallas with a Master of Science Degree in Medical Illustration. He is a Certified Medical Illustrator and a Fellow of the Association of Medical Illustrators. For over four decades Rusty provided highly technical medical art for major pharmaceutical companies, medical product companies, medical journals, surgical atlases and ad agencies.

Rusty's love of sports led him into sporting art which landed him illustration assignments with such notable magazines as Golf Illustrated, Golf Magazine, the Golf Journal, the Masters Journal and American Way Magazine. He also provided sports art for the Coca-Cola Foods Division for the Summer Olympics, the Dallas Cowboys NFL team and the Dallas Mavericks NBA team.

Now Rusty focuses his artistic skills painting the Western American landscape. Following in the tradition of John Singer Sargent, Julian Onderdonk, Portofino Salinas, Edgar Payne and many other great American painters, Rusty travels throughout the country painting the landscapes before him. "Painting outdoors takes passion. Without passion the wind, heat, snow and bugs will drive you indoors. I enjoy my time in the studio, but it doesn't make my heart race like it does when I am outside."

John Cook was born in Dallas, Texas and studied art at the University of Texas in Arlington. He continued his studies in Illustration at The Art Center School in Los Angeles, CA and graduated in 1964. He worked in Dallas as a freelance illustrator for thirty-two years before his first Solo show in 1999 at the Victorian Gallery Dallas. Then a dozen or annual show solo shows at the Southwest Art Gallery, Dallas. He often refers to his style of painting as "Impatient Realism" "Enough said".

Exhibitions include the Prestigious W H Patterson Gallery in London England (Mayfair) 2003, with members of Parliament attending. Numerous exhibits in several states and national competitions including several Best of Show awards.

A special shout out to John and his wife Jean who will be celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary in August 2020.

Noon - 2:00 p.m. Individual Portfolio Review Location: Admiral Nimitz Museum

A rare opportunity not to be missed! Meet one on one with an OPA Signature or Master Signature artist who will engage you in a productive dialogue about your work and provide suggestions on ways to improve. Conducted in a non-threatening environment this review will help you reach your full potential as an artist. Sign up at onsite registration.

ADVANCED REGISTRATION INFORMATION

OPA has customized the registration process to meet your convention needs. Registration includes options to attend the entire convention or individual days. Attendees must pay the full registration fee to participate in the Wet Paint Sale and Competition.

HOW TO REGISTER FOR THE CONVENTION
Click here to register online. To register by mail, complete this registration form and mail it into OPA, PO Box 2488, Crystal Lake, IL. 60039-2488, with a check or credit card information. Please, one registrant per form. Students must provide proof of student status.

EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT!
Save money and secure your spot by registering right now. Last day to receive the early bird discount is Friday, March 13. Mailed in registration forms must be postmarked by March 13, 2020, in order to receive the Early Bird discount and must arrive in the OPA office no later than Friday, March 20, 2020. Please Note: Full registration IS required to participate in the Wet Paint Sale & Competition. A one-day registration includes all activities and social events listed for that day. Registration is NOT required to attend the 29th National Exhibition Opening Reception on Friday evening at RS Hanna Gallery or the Awards & Recognition Ceremony at the Admiral Nimitz Museum. Both events are free and open to the public.

ADDITIONAL REGISTRATION NOTES
Advanced Registration Deadline by Mail is Monday, April 30, 2020 or ONLINE by Monday, May 8, 2020. To register via mail, complete the registration form and mail it into OPA, PO Box 2488, Crystal Lake, IL. 60039-2488 with a check or credit card information. Please, one registrant per form. Students must provide proof of student status.

Click here to register online.

Onsite Registration begins at 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday, May 12, 2020. Registration hours are listed on the registration schedule below. OPA members must have paid their 2020 membership dues to receive membership rates.

Cancellation/Refunds: An 80% refund of registration fees is allowed if a written request is sent to OPA headquarters 14 days prior to the scheduled start date of the convention. No refunds are made after this date. Requests for refunds must be postmarked no later than Monday, April 27, 2020, and must arrive in the OPA office no later than Monday, May 4, 2020. OPA assesses a $25 administrative charge for all returned checks. NO refunds will be issued onsite or for failure to attend.

Confirmation: Online registrants should receive a confirmation email immediately upon registering. Mailed registrations will receive an emailed confirmation within 10-14 days from receipt of your registration. If you require a mailed confirmation, please make the appropriate indication on your registration form. Your confirmation will serve as your receipt.

Students: Students eligible for the reduced rate must provide a photocopy of a valid student ID from an accredited, degree granting college or university.

Special Requests: If you have any special requirements under the ADA, please e-mail your request to Rosemary Murray at mail@oilpaintersofamerica.com. Special needs must be received at the OPA office 30 days before opening day of convention to assure reasonable accommodation.

Wet Paint Rules can be found at:Click here to view 2020 Wet Paint Rules.