Past Shows

The OPA Online Showcase is a rolling exhibition, offered three times per year, allowing OPA members to easily enter multiple paintings for only $15 per entry.

With over 3,500 artists, Oil Painters of America is one of today's leading professional art organizations in North America. OPA is pleased to announce its first Annual Student Art Competition open to all high school and collegiate level students living in the United States, Canada, or Mexico.

Covid-19 has changed the way we all do things, normally, our wet painting competition is only available to those convention attendees who can physically attend. This year we are delighted to offer both the opportunity to compete in our Wet Paint Competition and to attend the convention for a much lower fee, to a much broader audience. The spirit of the Wet Paint Competition has always been to paint together, in oil, from life. In keeping with that spirit, we ask that you abide by the following rules and guidelines to maintain the integrity and fairness of the competition.

OPA went International for this year's Wet Paint Competition & Convention. Registered attendees* competed for a minimum of $20,000 in cash and merchandise awards. OPA members vied for awards in both the studio and plein air categories. International artists who reside outside of North America competed in a separate international category. *Please Note: Only attendees who had paid the convention registration fee were eligible to participate in the Virtual Wet Paint Sale & Competition.

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.

Though this exhibition was virtual, the high quality of artwork remains the same and features the best representational artists throughout the western half of the United States and Canada.

OPA’s “Spirit of Santa Fe” Wet Paint Competition begins first thing Tuesday morning. Registered attendees* will vie for approximately $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 OPA 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. Admission fees into any of the parks are not included and are the responsibility of the artist.

OPA’s 2021 Salon Show is being hosted by Quinlan Visual Arts Center, located in Gainesville, Georgia, June 10 through August 7, 2021. The Opening Reception will be held on Thursday, June 10 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. with the awards presentation at 6:30 p.m. This event is open to all current members of OPA, with entries being accepted through Friday, March 31. We encourage all current OPA members to enter this exhibition in the inviting city of Gainesville. Located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains and near the Chattahoochee and Oconee National Forests, Gainesville offers a variety of recreational activities such as hiking, biking, fishing and golfing. The North Georgia Garden Trail offers 26 beautiful, public gardens to visit and the Georgia Foothills Wine Tour introduces visitors to a variety of wines at 6 wineries and tasting rooms. Gainesville is known as the “Queen City of the Mountains”, the ”Poultry Capital of the World” and the “Hospitality Capital of the World”.

Over 350 exceptional works of art from artists across the United States and Canada.

The Fall 2020 Online Showcase is accepting entries from October 1 – December 15, 2020 and boasts awards of $3,000 for first place, $1,500 for second place and $500 for third place for both OPA Associate and Signature Members.  10 honorable mention awards will also be awarded for the Associate division.

The OPA Online Showcase is a rolling exhibition, offered three times per year, allowing OPA members to easily enter multiple paintings for only $15 per entry.

The Spring 2021 Online Showcase will be accepting entries from March 1 – May 15, 2021 and boasts awards of $3,000 for first place, $1,500 for second place and $500 for third place for OPA Associate Members.  10 honorable mention awards will also be awarded for the Associate division.

Oil Painters of America's was pleased to hold the Thirtieth National Exhibition at the California Center for the Arts, Escondido Museum, located in Escondido, California from April 9 through May 16, 2021. The opening reception for artists, collectors, the public and the press was held at the California Center for the Arts, Escondido Museum, on Friday, April 9, from 4:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The awards presentation took place virtually on April 19, 2021 at 6:00 p.m. Central Time. Our goal was to assemble the finest display of representational oil paintings. The focus in the jurying process was to select paintings that show the highest quality in draftsmanship, color, and composition, emphasizing a diversity in representational style and subject matter.

The Spring 2021 Online Showcase will be accepting entries from March 1 – May 15, 2021 and boasts awards of $3,000 for first place, $1,500 for second place and $500 for third place for OPA Associate Members.  10 honorable mention awards will also be awarded for the Associate division.