Oil Painters of America’s 2022 Annual Exhibition, Convention & Wet Paint Competition
Oil Painters of America’s is pleased to return to the Steamboat Art Museum “SAM” in Steamboat Springs, Colorado for the Thirty-first National Exhibition and Convention. The Exhibition will take place from June 3 through August 27, 2022
Convention activities begin on Tuesday, May 31 with the very popular Wet Paint Competition, and end on Sunday, June 5. The opening reception for artists, collectors, the public and the press will be held on Friday, June 3, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., with the awards presentation taking place at 8:30 p.m.
Our goal is to assemble the finest display of representational oil paintings. The focus in the jurying process will be to select paintings that show the highest quality in draftsmanship, color, and composition, emphasizing a diversity in representational style and subject matter.
The total national awards will be approximately $100,000 in cash and merchandise, including a $25,000 Best In Show.
The awarding juror will be Master Signature member Johanna Harmon.
Artists eligible to compete are citizens – both natural born or otherwise – of the United States, Canada, or Mexico who are 2022 OPA members. Nonresident aliens who currently live in the United States, Canada, or Mexico are eligible to participate provided that they have been physically present at the address provided to OPA for eight of the last twelve months and that the residency is considered to be their permanent domicile and that they are 2022 OPA members. Nonresident aliens whose North American residency is in question will be asked to provide proof of residency including, but not limited to, employment history, references, and utility bills in the individual’s name.
The decision of the Board is final.
Awards and Jurors
- Awards: The total national awards will be approximately $100,000 in cash and merchandise, including a $25,000 Best In Show.
- Jurors:
Master Signature member Johanna Harmon
Show Information
- Entry: EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION $425 members/$450 non-members when you register before February 28, 2022
- General Information:
Online Submissions — Deadline: Friday, January 28, 2022
Electronic applications will be accepted beginning Wednesday, November 10, 2021 and extend through Friday, January 28, 2022. Maximum canvas size may not exceed 1,200 square inches (unframed). Maximum file size is 5mb. Please upload a JPG or JPEG with a maximum width dimension of 2000px and a DPI between 300-350.
Jurying Fees
The jurying fee for entries is: first painting is $35.00, the second painting is $15.00 and third painting is $10. Only one painting can be accepted. An electronic payment may be made by credit card or through Stripe. No e-checks will be accepted.
Membership
You must be a paid member through December 31, 2022, at a cost of $70.00. If you are not a member of OPA you must apply and be accepted before the system will allow you to enter the exhibition. If you are a renewing member and have not paid your dues for 2022 the system will not accept your exhibition entry.
Sales Commission
Sales commission is as follows: 40% to the museum, 10% to OPA, and 50% to the artist for all paintings sold. Please take this into consideration when setting your price. All work that is submitted must be for sale. No NFS. Paintings must be priced in accordance with the artist’s current pricing structure.
Delivery and Return of Accepted Work
Delivery for Local Artists: Deliver uncrated paintings to Steamboat Art Museum from April 11 - 15, 2022. Hand delivered work must be picked up between August 29 and September 2, 2022.
Out of Town Artists: ship to Steamboat Art Museum, 807 Lincoln Ave., Steamboat Springs, CO 80487 to arrive between April 11 and April 15, 2022.
Handling Fee: Out of Town Artists must pay a $35.00 fee online prior to their painting being hung. This fee covers the expense of uncrating, storage of crates, re-crating, and contacting your shipper for return. Artists may elect to include a return shipping label with their painting OR may email the label directly to Steamboat Art Museum. OPA will waive the uncrating fee for artists who use a commercially manufactured artist’s/strong box such as a StrongBox™ by Airfloat Systems, or similar brands, like Masterpak, Uline, or a FedEx Premium Art Box (not a FedEx Large Frame Box). NOTE: Home Depot boxes are NOT included in the list of boxes for which the fee will be waived. Artists who do not use one of these special boxes are required to remit the $35 prior to the hanging of the painting. Strongboxes will be returned to the artists at the conclusion of the show at the artist’s expense. PLEASE, NO WOODEN CRATES!
Shipments from OUTSIDE the US must be shipped “FREE DOMICILE” or will not be accepted. Notification posted on OPA website: Jury results posted on OPA website February 25, 2022.
- Advanced Registration: EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION $425 members/$450 non-members when you register before February 28, 2022
- Show Rules:
Oil Painters of America and Steamboat Art Museum will not be responsible for loss or damage of any artwork, no matter what the cause. By submitting artwork to this exhibition, each artist will be deemed to have concurred with this agreement. Artists pay for shipping both ways. We suggest that you provide insurance to cover the full value of the artwork while in transit.
Good Luck and Good Painting!
- Liabilities and Responsibilities: Not a member and want to enter the National Exhibition? Learn how to become a member
- Opa Membership: Not a member and want to enter the National Exhibition? Learn how to become a member
Events
- May 31, 2022
Welcome Reception hosted by Southwest Art Magazine.
- June 1, 2022
Art Trivia Night!
- June 2, 2022
Visit Exhibitors
New! Mystery Miniatures Revealed and Who Dunnit? Contest Begins
- June 3, 2022
Painting Demonstration by Juror of Awards and two-time National Gold Medal Winner Johanna Harmon OPAM
Presentation by Best Selling Author Ross King, Author of Mad Enchantment: Claude Monet and the Painting of the Water Lilies
Visit Exhibitors
OPA Exhibition Opening Reception, Awards & Recognition Ceremony
- June 4, 2022
Painting Demonstration by world-renowned artist Charlie Hunter
Visit Exhibitors
Group Critique by the Masters
Painting Demonstration with Award Winning Master Signature Artist James Crandall OPAM
American Art Collector Closing Party
Mystery Miniatures and Announcement of the Who Dunnit? Contest
- June 5, 2022
Group Demonstrations
Last Day to Visit Exhibitors
Exhibitors Raffle Basket Winner Announced – Must Be Present to Win!
