Rich Nelson Violet, Charcoal and White Conte 15″ x 23″ I believe Richard Schmid said that most problems with paintings are due to drawing.  Most of us start out drawing but often, as we begin painting, we don’t circle back to drawing much. I was fortunate to study drawing principles, such as perspective and anatomy, in art school in the ’80s in Detroit, Michigan.  However once I began painting a lot, I did not draw much and even began to feel that drawing was becoming a weakness I could mask with the occasional lucky shape, splashy brushwork and such.  Fortunately, I was asked ..read more

Catalina Darling by Micaiah Hardison 24″ x 36″ Among the many artists’ organizations in this country, I feel that the Oil Painters of America is unique in the sheer number of events, programs and services that it provides its members.  I am making this observation after having a discussion with a member about OPA’s unique operating strategy compared to other art groups.  This member mentioned recent research comparing many of the leading artists’ organizations in the country according to their “operating efficiency”. Drawing on publicly available 501(c)3 filings, the research sh ..read more

Some things don’t change, such as painting backgrounds and backdrops.  With that in mind we are re-presenting a blog written by one of our Master Signature artists, William Schneider. I have received a number of questions about painting “backgrounds” specifically for portraits. Too many students spend their time rendering the subject and then try to paint the background at the last moment. The result is often a disaster; the figure looks pasted on or there is a formless envelope around the head. The problem is that the background is an afterthought rather than an integral part of the pain ..read more

The Oil Painters of America (OPA) is an exceptional organization that provides artists with a platform to grow, network, and collaborate with fellow creatives and industry professionals. As an artist and instructor in both oils and watercolor, being a part of established organizations offers numerous benefits that extend beyond developing technical skills and understanding of the craft. Studying all the paintings selected for this National show is a master class in and of itself. You would have to go to dozens of galleries and museums to see this much great art. I come away from these events f ..read more

OPA Signature Member, Art Gallery Painter, Award-Winning Artist, Sr. Illustrator in Animation and Gaming field, born in Guangzhou, China. Received his BFA degree from Guangzhou Academy of Fine Art one of the most prestigious fine arts schools in China, has lived in the United States since 1996.  Beach Siblings #1 by Paul Cheng OPA I have loved painting since childhood, and I wanted to be a professional painter when I was a teenager. My youth was the decade of China’s Cultural Revolution. There were no art teachers, and no art teaching books. I had to explore painting by myself and fi ..read more

As artists, we always desire that our work stands out. One of the key ingredients in a painting is mark making, your individual way of applying the paint.  So why not help that process of unique mark making along and actually make a tool to use that no one else in the world will have? I have found that mini relief printing blocks (or I guess you could call them original rubber stamps) are a great help. There are many repetitive patterns I have found myself painting, sometimes occurring on fabric or sometimes I just want the repetition to create a unified image. As I have worked on those p ..read more

With its rich cultural heritage and awe-inspiring landscapes, Scotland has emerged as a top destination for artists seeking inspiration and growth through their travel. Artists coming to paint in Scotland find plenty to enjoy as they tap into the allure of this enchanting land and its culture. This prompted the renowned organization, Workshops In France, to leap across the English Channel and curate immersive painting workshops and art retreats, such as the Majestic Scotland Art Retreat, in the land of myth and legend. It’s an annual occurrence and each summer their team travels to Scotland to ..read more

Being an artist, like many other professions, opens up to an interesting question on the choices one faces, e.g., Sculpting vs. Painting, Oil painting vs. Water colors vs. Pencil drawing, etc., or perhaps a little bit of all of them. There is, of course, no answer to what people will choose in the end, it is their individual preference that will influence their decision.  However, I would like to delve a bit deeper as to once our artist decides which medium to call their own – what would be their subject matter or perhaps their subjects (plural). Through the years and after visiting a myr ..read more

“Carve your name on hearts, not tombstones. A legacy is etched into the minds of others and the stories they share about you.” —Author Shannon L. Alder   In 2023, we sadly bid farewell to Signature artist Lyn Boyer, a luminary member of the art community.  It’s rare to find a person like Lyn whose life and passing has had such an undeniable ripple effect on so many people – too many to even fathom. Her positive nature and compassionate soul inspired and encouraged others to do the same. She was wise beyond her years and understood the value of having deep, meaningful friendshi ..read more

It was an amazing thing to be accepted into the 2018 OPA National Exhibition in Steamboat Springs, CO. I couldn’t believe my eyes when the acceptance list came out and my name was on it! Zinnias by Rich Alexander OPA 24″ x 18″ – Oil on panel Many years earlier in the Northlight Studio at the Ridgewood Art Institute a fellow artist Sue Barasi passed me a handwritten note on a scrap of paper. “What to do to get better” it read across the top. Sue was my favorite painter in the class. Her paintings were terrific, I wanted to paint just like her. Sue was so nice to me when I first came to the Wedn ..read more