Members of Oil Painters of America are back this summer for their 31st Annual National Exhibition & Convention, with the goal of “assembling the finest display of representational oil paintings,” the website reads. The event, hosted at the Steamboat Art Museum, will kick off Tuesday, May 31 with the Wet Paint Competition. A reception for artists, collectors and the public will take place June 3 from 5 to 8 p.m., followed by the Wet Paint awards at 8:30 p.m. during the National Awards & Recognition Ceremony. The exhibition, which will be on view starting June 3, will include a competitvely juried selection of works that exemplify quality draftsmanship, color and composition, and that represent a variety of representational styles and subject matter. All activities and events include OPA members from the United States, Canada and Mexico, and highlight some of the most skilled, significant oil painters working today. Participants include Chris Kling, who will feature his impressive piece Preparing the Catch, pictured here. “Early one morning, I saw this fisherman on the docks having just brought in his catch of the day and preparing it for market,” Kling explains. “[This piece] was inspired by this gritty hard-working person, working to carve out a modest living. He is full of individual character—living on his own terms by doing what he knows and enjoys! What more can you ask of life?”Rich Alexander, The Game of Life, oil on linen, 24 x 30"

Ann Watcher invites the viewer to be a part of her process in pieces like Looking Glass, a still life featuring a bouquet of sunflowers. “As E.M. Forster famously stated, ‘Only connect,’” quotes Watcher, “which I try to do when painting a multitude of subjects such as sunflowers, children and boats, connecting all of them through vibrant color and loose brush strokes, intending to give a visual and emotional experience to the viewer.”

Gail Wegodsky will be showcasing Sanctuary, an intricate portrayal of a library scene. “I paint libraries because they are quiet, protective sanctuaries guarding humanity’s shared wisdom and logic,” she says. “[Also], the visual abundance of zillions of multicolored books gives my eyes a thrill! At a time when truth seems so elastic, it can be stretched to include any belief, no matter how magical.”

Dynamic moments full of joy and explosive power is what Paul Cheng will bring to the exhibition. “My home is not far from the coast,” he notes, “so I often go to the beach to enjoy the sunshine and the air. In summer, the beach under the sun is always full of infinite, jumping vitality. The joy and intoxication of the crowd, especially the naturally naive children, is unforgettable.” Cheng’s painting Passionate Dance, illustrates his skill at capturing these moments of innocence and happiness.Chris Kling, Preparing the Catch, oil, 24 x 24"

Ann Watcher, Looking Glass, oil on linen, 24 x 24"

For artist Richard Prather, it’s all about that “feeling” he gets in a moment of discovery, that he then tries to articulate through his paintings. This translates perfectly to his landscape show piece Cañón Tranquilo. “I endeavor to capture ‘that spark’ that attracted me to the particular subject, be it the play of light on the landscape or in the atmosphere, a note of color or the contrast in shapes or values,” Prather explains.

Jacalyn Beam's early art training was rooted in the stories and beauty of Virginia's Brandywine Valley. Beam’s paintings—particularly plein air landscapes, like her show piece From the Station—are widely recognized and collected for their historical and visual appeal. “From the Station was painted en plein air at Winterthur Museum and Gardens in Greenville, DE,” Beam explains. “The story of the painting unfolds with three generations of DuPonts who used the station, first as a means for obtaining goods i.e., coal, food and furniture, and then as a post office.”Gail Wegodsky, Sanctuary, oil on linen, 30 x 40"

For Rich Alexander’s piece The Game of Life, he was inspired after a lunch with some old colleagues from his previous career as a firefighter in New York City. “We discussed some old friends who didn't survive that job and we also talked about the great times we had together,” he says. “I realized how lucky I am to be doing what I love every day and the thought crossed my mind that I may be winning at the ‘the game of life.’”

“For me, to see and express beauty is my job!,” explains artist Hope B. Reis. “And what a fabulous way to honor my Creator.” Reis resonate strongly with Eric Liddell’s statement from the movie Chariots of Fire: “When I paint, I feel God’s pleasure.” She continues, “I know I’m doing what I’m supposed to, and I hope the viewer can sense and share in that joy.” In her show piece Quiet Waters, which depicts a tranquil landscape scene, Reis hopes that it causes the viewer to pause and rest in the stillness of the setting.Top:  Richard Prather, Cañón Tranquilo, oil, 24 x 36" Bottom: Lynn Mehta, August Sunflowers, oil, 12 x 12"; Jacalyn Beam, From the Station, oil on conservation linen panel, 14 x 18"

Every place and every moment holds a story for artist Joni Jurek. “Via my paintings, I invite the viewer to pause and contemplate the widespread natural beauty among us, from vast vista scenes to the delicate fleeting life of a flower, and imagine its history,” she says. “Painting en plein air and alla prima provides endless opportunities for me to study the visual elements of nature and my subjects, while my painting travels are an avenue for my artistic style to percolate, mature and grow.”Teresa Vito, Illuminate, oil on linen, 20 x 20"

William A. Schneider, Eternal Feminine, oil on linen panel, 24 x 18"

Visitors will enjoy another sunflower still life in Lynn Mehta's, August Sunflowers, which harbors a more symbolic message. “The sunflowers for this still life were arranged to reflect the passage of time, among other things, such as gesture, movement and beauty,” she says. “When I submitted the painting for this show in January, the events that have unfolded in Ukraine seemed unimaginable. Now, when I study my painting, my concepts at the time seem even more poignant.”

Artist William A. Schneider employs composition, harmony and costuming to evoke the sensuality, passion and creativity characteristic of the lover archetype.

“For centuries,” Schneider remarks, “artists have represented various aspects of idealized feminine power. The Swiss psychologist Carl Jung, postulated seven feminine archetypes: mother, maiden, queen, huntress, sage, mystic and lover.” Schneider’s show piece Eternal Feminine, depicts a female figure seductively looking toward the viewer, and is surrounded by a partially abstracted background. 

Paul Cheng, Passionate Dance, oil, 24 x 30"

Joni Jurek, Cache LaPoudre Falls II, oil, 36 x 24"

Teresa Vito has been a full-time oil painter since 1992 and one thing she knows is that “when I am inspired by emotion and beauty—that is when I paint the best,” she says. Her piece Illuminate, featuring a female figure grasping a string of lights, is an image that serves as a painted prayer to the world. “If everyone can find the spark of light that lives in their heart [and] illuminates love and peace, please bring it out of darkness and shine it bright in your world,” encourages Vito. It will change our world.”Hope B. Reis, Quiet Waters, oil on linen canvas, 20 x 30"These astounding works of art, along with many more will be on display for OPA’s exhibition through August 27.  —

OPA’s 31st Annual National Exhibition & Convention
Wet Paint Competition: May 31-June 5, 2022
Exhibition: June 3-August 27, 2022
Where: Steamboat Art Museum, 801 Lincoln Avenue, Steamboat Springs, CO 80487
Information: (770) 536-2575, www.oilpaintersofamerica.com 

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