Oil Painters of America kicks off its exciting year of venue-hopping shows with its 33rd annual National Juried Exhibition of Traditional Oils in Wichita, Kansas, taking place at Mark Arts from April 5 through May 31.
On display will be a collection of original oil paintings by a select group of 200 of today’s best representational artists culled from the more than 2,000 professional artists who submitted work to be considered for this highly competitive juried competition.
Attendees browse Oil Painters of America’s 2023 National Juried Exhibition, hosted by Reinert Fine Art in Charleston, South Carolina. Photo courtesy Reinert Fine Art.
Juror of awards, noted painter Sherrie McGraw, will bestow awards valued at $100,000, including the prestigious $25,000 Gold Medal cash prize during the opening reception and recognition ceremony at Mark Arts on Friday, April 5, from 6 to 10 p.m. The exhibition can also be viewed online on both the OPA and Mark Art websites.
In conjunction with the National Exhibition, OPA is also holding its annual convention at Mark Arts from April 2 to 7. Registered attendees have the opportunity to participate in the Wet Paint Competition & Sale, the Mystery Minis & Whodunit Contest, as well as demonstrations and educational presentations. Social events include a welcome reception on April 3 and the Pampered Paint Out on April 4. American Art Collector magazine will host the closing party on April 6.
Mark Daly, OPA, Winging It, oil, 20 x 16"
Among OPA’s featured Master Signature artists are Kathy Anderson, Nikolo Balkanski, John Michael Carter, Warren Chang, Macpherson, Sherrie McGraw, David Mueller, Scott Royston, Patrick Saunders, Michael Situ, James Tennison, Jan Peng Wang, Jeffrey Watts as well as many other established artists, a selection of whom are highlighted here.
Mark Daly’s show piece Winging It depicts the schooner Stephen Taber in the Camden Classics sailboat race on Penobscot Bay, Maine, near Daly’s studio. Built in 1871, it is the oldest documented vessel in continuous service in the United States, and is now a National Historical Landmark. “Growing up in a harbor town, I worked on and explored the ocean in all kinds of boats,” he says. “Years on the water helped me observe, learn and better understand the ocean’s many mysteries, moods and reflections [which] helped me create a more joyful and memorable depiction of the Stephen Taber ‘winging it’.”
Vlad Duchev, The Beauty of Silence, oil, 18 x 24"
“As an artist, I am deeply inspired by the interplay of light and shadow, using these elements to craft compositions that resonate with the profound themes of love and trust,” says artist Vlad Duchev, whose nocturne The Beauty of Silence captures a dockside boat in the quietude of night with loose brushwork. “Through my work, I aim to capture the essence of our earthly existence and offer glimpses of heaven within the ordinary, transforming everyday scenes into expressions of beauty and serenity.”
JC Moffitt, OPA, Against the Wall Mr. Howard, oil, 13 x 24"
Up Against the Wall Mr. Howard is part of a trompe l’oeil oil series by JC Moffitt that depicts actual historical memorabilia associated with the demise of some of the Old West’s most notorious characters, in this case Jesse James. Moffitt says, “I believe history will favor those artists whose artwork embodies not only technique and subject matter, but also demonstrates the essence of art since man began painting representationally on cave walls—artwork that tells stories that inspire wonder and awe pertinent to the human condition.”
Tour of the Museum is a prime example of Pauline Roche’s paintings, in which she tends to portray people in distinctive settings, here the grand interior of the National Gallery in London. “Whether intimate or opulent interiors or beautiful places outdoors, I am inspired to capture the unique gestures of people in quiet contemplation and reveal a connection between the people and their surroundings,” says Roche.
Pauline Roche, OPA, Tour of the Museum, oil, 18 x 14"
In Window to the Past, which depicts the façade of a historic house partially obscured by lush vegetation, Angela Campbell combines her passions for art and historic preservation. “On my most recent visit to Colonial Williamsburg in Virginia, I found an abundance of pleasing painting subjects,” shares the artist. “This piece was inspired by the craftsmanship and traditional color of this wonderful house as well as the shadows cast by the surrounding foliage.”
Angela Campbell, OPA, Window to the Past, oil, 18 x 14"
Ginger Whellock’s juried work Marsh Visitor is a peaceful marshland scene on the Atlantic shore with a graceful egret mirrored in the still waters as its primary subject. “Painting is my meditation and release,” she says. “Many subjects arouse my emotions and compel me to paint their story. I am drawn to places filled with life, that reveal our shared human condition and bring us pleasure and happiness.”
Ginger Whellock, Marsh Visitor, oil, 16 x 12"
Riotous cactus blossoms take center stage in Lucy Dickens’ Gold Rush. “Strolling through the desert after the refreshing winter rains, new growth emerges,” says Dickens. “What was once muted and dry transforms into a vivid kaleidoscope of color. Elegant beauty emerges from the harsh thorns; how can I not smile and feel joy at such delicate perseverance?” “I loved the body expression of this pose and the attitude of the gaze,” says Robin Williamson about her poignant portrait Blossoming Beauty. “I felt like there was a juxtaposition of joy and sadness here with the floral wreath and the sullen shoulders. I am inspired by beautiful things, and here there was much beauty to enjoy. And is she looking at the viewer or slightly beyond? These things are left for the viewer to interpret.”
Lucy Dickens, Gold Rush, oil, 18 x 24"
“The 33rd National Juried Exhibition showcases the best representational paintings produced across North America,” says OPA president Susan Abma. “With nearly 200 juried artists and many invited Master Signature artists, it is a showcase for up-and-coming talent and some of the most celebrated artists working today. The exhibition does not focus on a single style or theme but instead celebrates the diversity of art produced within the representational oil painting tradition.”
Robin Williamson, OPA, Blossoming Beauty, oil, 18 x 14"
Full exhibition and convention information can be found at www.oilpaintersofamerica.com. To inquire about purchasing a painting, contact Mark Arts directly at (316) 634-2787. —
Oil Painters of America’s 33rd National Juried Exhibition of Traditional Oils
When: April 5-May 31, 2024
Where: Mark Arts, 1307 N. Rock Road, Wichita, KS 67206
Information: (815) 356-5987, www.oilpaintersofamerica.com
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