Oil Painters of America brings top representational painters in the Western United States, Mexico and Canada to Dallas for its 2022 Western Regional Exhibition.
Artists, collectors, and art enthusiasts will find a superb collection of traditional oil paintings at this year’s show, which is being held at Dallas’ sprawling Southwest Gallery through October 1. Of its 3,600 members, OPA received 1,000 submissions for entry. Only 100 artists have been selected to participate in this annual exhibition which awards nearly $12,000 in prizes.
Paul Cheng, Siblings, oil on canvas, 20 x 24"
“Oil Painters of America shows are exceptional exhibitions for collectors seeking excellence in representational oil paintings,” says OPA president Susan Abma. “For every OPA show, jurors select the highest quality paintings demonstrating the very best in draftsmanship, color, and composition and creativity. The shows offer a diversity in representational style and subject matter. What makes OPA exhibitions special is the level of quality of the art—in order to qualify for OPA’s designations or to be accepted into shows, artists must be at the highest levels of technical skill, as well as ‘stand out from the crowd’ via their style, their uniqueness, their creativity, etc.”
Cortney C. Lunt, The Wise and the Foolish, oil on linen, 24 x 18"
Juried artist Andy Eccleshall is inspired by drama in nature and contrasts in light and form. “I’m fascinated by atmosphere,” he says. “Living in the Pacific Northwest we get more than our fair share of weather, and it provides endless inspiration for landscapes and seascapes full of light and mood.” Rialto Surf is a study from an area on Washington’s Pacific Coast known for its raging surf, storms and incredible light.
Andy Eccleshall, Rialto Surf, oil on canvas, 24 x 30"
OPA artist Paul Cheng is inspired by all varieties of light, whether it be sunlight, electric light or candlelight. “This can be seen in many of my paintings,” says Cheng. “For example, the light and shadowed parts of any object under the sunshine will produce strong cold and warm colors, lending vibrant contrast. I am intoxicated by the incomparably rich tones of people’s skin color on a sunny beach and the ever-changing dynamics of the characters, especially the innocent play of children, their expressions and joyfulness,” adds Cheng. “It undoubtedly [makes for] a beautiful picture. For this reason, I have painted many oil paintings with similar themes and imagery.”
Cathryne Trachok, Light Waves, oil on linen, 11 x 14"As evidenced by her shimmering marina scene Light Waves, Cathryne Trachok has always been drawn to harbors, sailboats and the ocean. “It is a joy painting sailboats in motion, and quiet in the harbor,” says the artist. “In this painting, the stillness of the boats and the stillness of the water is broken up by the reflections dancing on the water. The contrast of motion, quiet, light, and colors with the one red sail was irresistible.”
Cortney C. Lunt’s painting The Wise and the Foolish was inspired by Matthew 25, the biblical story of the 10 virgins. “As I was painting from life, I had to continually replace the oil in order for the lamps not to burn out,” explains Lunt. “The light would get low and, after I added oil, it would immediately burn brighter. We need to continually feed our spirits by reading our scriptures, saying our prayers, serving and doing all the other things that help our spiritual lights burn brightly.” —
Oil Painters of America’s 2022 Western Regional Exhibition
When: Through October 1, 2022
Where: Southwest Gallery, 4500 Sigma Road, Dallas, TX 75244
Information: (972) 960-8935. www.oilpaintersofamerica.com
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