Oil Painters of America’s
25th National Juried Exhibition & Convention!
Dallas, Texas
Opening Week: May 11 – May 15, 2016
Wednesday, May 11
Noon: OPA’s "Best Little Plein Air Competition in Texas" Begins!
Location: Southwest Gallery (Get your canvas for the competition stamped at the gallery)
Let the competition begin! Attendees registered for the full convention may begin painting Wednesday afternoon. Canvas must be officially stamped by an OPA or Southwest Gallery representative prior to painting. Maximum canvas size is 320 square inches. All paintings must be framed and wired for hanging in order to be in the competition & sale. Eligible convention attendees* are guaranteed one painting in the exhibition; however, two or more paintings will be considered based on the number of registered attendees, so please come prepared! *Please Note: Only artists who have paid a full convention registration fee are eligible to participate in the plein air competition. Juror of Awards: John Michael Carter OPAM.
Thursday, May 12
9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Southwest Art Magazine’s Pampered Paint Out
Location: Winfrey Point at White Rock Lake Park, 950 E. Lawther, Dallas, TX
For the 5th year, OPA is proud to have Southwest Art Magazine sponsor the ever popular "Pampered Paint Out" event for attendees! Registered attendees will be treated by SW Art to breakfast and lunch at one of Dallas's most scenic parks, White Rock Lake Park. A former reservoir is the centerpiece of this 1,873-acre natural area with woods, trails & wildlife. For this special event, OPA has reserved Winfrey Point, a historic building that sits atop a hill overlooking beautiful White Rock Lake. Attendees will enjoy a full day of painting and a little "time out" for some well-deserved pampering, relaxation, conversation and good food. Competition rules and regulations can be found at www.oilpaintersofamerica.com/pleinair.
4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. OPA Welcome Reception & Registration Packet Pick-up
Location: The Crown Plaza Dallas Galleria – Poolside
After a full day of painting, and a little bit of pampering, it's time to unwind poolside at our welcome reception. Come join OPA's Board of Directors and fellow artists for a drink and appetizers before heading out to dinner.
Friday, May 13
8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. - Coffee with the Exhibitors
Location: The Crown Plaza Dallas Galleria
Grab a cup of coffee and visit the exhibiting vendors. You’ll be able to view products, ask questions and collect samples. Don’t forget to get your card stamped by each vendor to enter a special raffle basket drawing.
9:00 a.m. – Noon - Still Life Painting Demonstration with Qiang Huang OPA
Location: The Crown Plaza Dallas Galleria
Signature artists Qiang Huang (pronounced Chong Wong.) was born and raised in Beijing, China and now lives in Austin, Texas. His interest in art developed when he was very young, and influenced strongly by his uncle, Hong-En Huang, a professional painter and art educator. To further develop his artistic skills, Qiang has studied with well-known artists such as David Leffel OPAM, Sherrie McGraw OPAM, Scott Burdick, and Carolyn Anderson. In the summer of 2012, Qiang attended the graduate school of the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, where he studied with the well-known figurative artist Zhaoming Wu. He is a guest artist with the Putney Painters and painted together multiple times with the modern masters of representational art Richard Schmid and Nancy Guzik.
Noon to 1:00 p.m. Lunch Break & Deadline for Plein Air competition paintings
Framed and wired paintings must be turned in to Southwest Gallery by noon to be eligible for the competition.
1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. - “Up Close and Personal” with OPA’s Distinguished Artist Jeff Legg OPAM
Location: The Crown Plaza Dallas Galleria
OPA is delighted to have Master Signature artist Jeff Legg honored as this year’s Distinguished Artist. His work is often referred to as "masterful" and attendees will have the opportunity to hear Jeff talk about his personal journey towards becoming one of today’s top artists. This interview will delve into Jeff’s own experiences as an artist, what inspires him and what he’s learned along the way.
3:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. - “The Art of Collecting” Moderated by John Pototschnik OPA
Location: The Crown Plaza Dallas Galleria
This session will provide a wealth of information for both artists and collectors alike. To help you move forward with your art sales as an artist, you'll learn about collectors - what they collect and how they make their selections when purchasing fine art. As a collector, you'll learn about how other collectors make wise choices as they add to their art investment and how you can too! Join OPA Signature artist John Pototschnik as he moderates this panel discussion comprised of avid art collectors including Houston veterinarian Tom Vining, Chairman of the Salmagundi Club in New York Tim Newton and OPA Board Member and collector Jim Bruce OPA.
5:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. – OPA’s 25th Annual National Exhibition Opening Reception
Location: Southwest Gallery
Please join us for this very special exhibition as OPA celebrates 25 years of excellence in representational oil painting! As always, this year’s National Exhibition promises to be of the highest caliber, and we hope all OPA members will take part in this once in a life time event.
8:15 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. - Oil Painters of America’s Awards & Recognition Ceremony
Location: The Crowne Plaza Dallas Galleria (Free and open to the public)
This year’s Awards & Recognition Ceremony will take time to reflect on the organization’s 25 year history in the arts and recognize the achievements of our members, including the announcement of this year’s Gold Medal award winner by Juror of Awards Kevin Macpherson OPAM. Raffle basket winners will be chosen as well. Winner must be present to win. Join us for dessert after the awards.
Saturday, May 14
8:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. - Breakfast & “Successful Elements of Design in Painting” presentation with Joe Gyurcsak from Dick Blick/Utrecht
Location: The Crowne Plaza Dallas Galleria
Please join OPA artist Joe Gyurcsak for a sit down breakfast compliments of Dick Blick /Utrecht followed by an in-depth lecture on the important elements of design which can strengthen a painting. Joe has led demonstrations, lectures and workshops across the country including NYC’s Salmagundi Club, Oil Painters of America’s National Exhibition, the National Oil & Acrylic Painters Society, Plein Air Easton, Forgotten Coast Plein Air, School of Visual Arts, Pratt Institute, Parsons, RISDY, NYU and more than 140 other art programs throughout the country. Today’s afternoon painting demonstration will reinforce these concepts. Experience Joe’s uncanny ability to call on artists of the past. Joe has studied in great depth with many of the masters of 19th century and has a unique ability to relate those findings to the current lesson at hand.
9:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. - Visit the Exhibitors
Location: The Crown Plaza Dallas Galleria
Take a moment to wander after breakfast and check out all the exhibitors and their latest in art supplies. Artists who visit each exhibitor are eligible to enter the special exhibitor raffle basket drawing.
10:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. - Painting Demonstration by Juror of Awards Kevin Macpherson OPAM
Location: The Crowne Plaza Dallas Galleria
OPA is honored and thrilled to welcome back Master Signature artist Kevin Macpherson as its Juror of Awards for OPA’s 25th National Exhibition. Kevin is recognized as one of America’s most accomplished Impressionistic plein air painters and we are delighted that he has agreed to share his painting expertise with us. His discipline and dedication have earned him acclaimed success and numerous awards for his artwork. He is a member of many top organizations and has obtained Master status in the Oil Painters of America, American Impressionists Society, and California Art Club, as well as being a member of the prestigious Salmagundi Club and Founding member and first president of the Plein Air Painters of America. His work has been featured in more than 75 publications, books, television series and videos. In addition to writing three popular books on landscape painting he has established stimulating artistic adventures. These include international venues and opportunities such as Chateau des Arts, En Plein Air Masters, Brush with Life and Artist’s Mentor Online and the television series, Passport and Palette.
12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. - Lunch Break
1: 30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. - “Art in Motion” Painting Demonstrations
Location: The Crown Plaza Dallas Galleria
OPA is honored to have five of their most talented up and coming artists show their expertise. Attendees are encouraged to visit each artist to see the progression of their painting from start to finish.
Suzie Baker OPA, Aimee Erickson, Anna Bain OPA, Joe Gyurcsak, Mitch Baird OPA
5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. - “Best Little Plein Air Competition in Texas” Awards Reception
Location: Southwest Gallery
This might be the “best little plein air competition”, but the artwork itself is going to speak volumes about the quality and level of talent being represented! No doubt, Juror of Awards John Michael Carter OPAM has his work cut out for himself as he decides what paintings will receive this year’s top honors. Award winners will be announced at approximately 6:00 p.m.
7:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. - American Art Collector’s “25th Anniversary Silver Palette Celebration”
Location: Iron Cactus Restaurant, 1520 Main Street, Dallas, TX 75201
Once again, American Art Collector Magazine will host the ever popular closing party this year at the Iron Cactus Restaurant overlooking Downtown Dallas. Come and enjoy a relaxed evening of music, food and a great time being with other OPA members.
Sunday, May 15
7:30 a.m. - 8:30 a.m. - Continental Breakfast
Location: The Crowne Plaza Dallas Galleria
Grab a muffin and a cup of coffee or tea before sitting in with the OPA Board Members at the annual business meeting.
8:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. - OPA Annual Business Meeting
Location: The Crowne Plaza Dallas Galleria
The Annual Business Meeting is open to all attendees at the Annual Conference. At this meeting, the Board of Directors will review the year's major accomplishments in meeting our goals, the association's financial condition, and new program initiatives for the coming year.
9:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. - Visit the Exhibitors
Location: The Crown Plaza Dallas Galleria
Don’t miss your last chance to visit our exhibitors and have your card stamped. The winner of the special exhibitor raffle basket will be chosen at 9:45. Winner must be present to win.
10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. - Painting Demonstration by Distinguished Artist Jeff Legg OPAM
Location: The Crowne Plaza Dallas Galleria
Jeff Legg OPAM’s luminous still life oils have garnered national recognition and numerous awards since he began painting full-time at the age 30. Born in 1959 in Joplin, Missouri, he was apprentice to a well-known regional artist and college art professor by the age of 12. This relationship laid the foundation for his painting and drawing skills. He later went on to study at Atelier Lack and the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. As a Master Signature Member of the Oil Painters of America, Jeff’s work can be seen in distinguished galleries across the U.S. and is highly sought-after and collected here and abroad. His paintings have adorned the cover of Southwest Art and Art of the West magazines including feature articles. Other features include The Artists Magazine, American Art Collector, Fine Art Connoisseur and North Light Books.
1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. - Lunch Break
2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Art Critques
Location: The Crown Plaza Dallas Galleria
One of the best reasons to come to this year’s convention is to be critiqued by one of our Signature or Master Signature artists in a relaxed and non-threatening environment. Find out what’s working and what’s not in your paintings and how to bring your artwork to the next level. Attendees may share recent photos of his/her work with one of our Signature or Master Signature artists. Bring photos or your laptop! We will have limited internet access.