The National Oil & Acrylic Painters’ Society’s annual Best of America Small Works International Juried Exhibitionnot only honors the best in oil and acrylic painting in a small format, but it also offers attendees an experience through special events. While there will be 129 artists offering incredible paintings that are 16 by 20 inches or smaller, an array of programming is also sure to engage and impress.
Attendees browse for small works at last year’s showcase and event.
“For this exhibit, [held at Anderson Fine Art Gallery on St. Simons Island, Georgia], the artwork will be representational but with a wide range of subject matter and styles, including everything from hyperrealism to impressionism,” say marketing director Robin Williamson and NOAPS president Pat Tribastone. “Collectors will be interested in the 26 water, seaside and boat paintings featured in the show by highly sought after artists like Paula Holtzclaw, Mary Garrish, Jill McGannon and our demonstrator, Robert Simone. Florals make a strong statement with paintings by Stacy Barter, Hebe Brooks, Diane Reeves and Rosa Montante.”
Youming Cate, The Crimson Sage, oil, 14 x 18 in.
Tribastone and Williamson’s hope is that all attendees are “wowed” by this curated collection of stellar artworks by NOAPS Master, Signature and Associate Artists. “We hope that collectors go home with paintings they just can’t live without,” says Williamson. “As usual, the collection of work is even better than last year, and is the finest in America.”
Wonderful, wow-inducing examples to watch for include M. Camille Day’s 16-by-20-inch oil, Roadside Beauty. This landscape is typical of what Day looks for while painting on site, which is the sometimes-overlooked beauty all around us in nature. “Although I didn’t paint this on location, I thoroughly studied the scene, took several photographs and drank in the beauty of this simple but elegant group of trees at the edge of a country road,” the artist explains. “When I painted it in my studio, I knew exactly what I wanted to say, how I felt when I was there and how I could convey that to the viewer through paint.”
M. Camille Day, Roadside Beauty, oil, 16 x 20 in.
She adds, “Going forward, I will continue to paint the landscape, but have always enjoyed every genre of subjects. Currently, my interests lean toward painting the figure in the landscape, portraiture and studying the emotion of color in art.”
In additon to the gallery exhibition which opens May 1, special events and programming include artist talks, a meet and greet dinner, artist demonstrations and the Plein Air Paint Out Competition and Sale, where artists are invited to explore and paint for two days on April 29 and 30, in the St. Simon’s Island area. Prizes will be awarded to top artists, and paintings will be on display throughout the exhibition.
Trish Wendt, Purple Reign, oil, 12 x 16 in.
A new event—portrait painting—will also be joining the programming. The gallery will provide a model for three hours for artists to observe and paint. This event is free for all attendees, so everyone is invited to join the fun.
On May 1, a luncheon and awards ceremony will be held at noon, followed by an opening reception at Anderson Fine Art Gallery from 5 to 7 p.m. Artists and collectors alike are encouraged to attend. Artworks will hang at the gallery through May 30. Visit the NOAPS website for additional details, and a closer look at this year’s participating artists and artworks. —
Best of America Small Works International Juried Exhibition
April 30-May 30, 2026
Anderson Fine Art Gallery
3309 Frederica Road, St. Simons Island, GA 31522
wwwnoaps.org
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