The Oil Painters of America (OPA) welcomes its 2026 National Juried Salon to Cassens Fine Art in Hamilton, Montana, opening in late July. The exhibition will feature around 200 small oil paintings, measuring 16 by 20 inches and smaller, offering collectors a wonderful opportunity to purchase high caliber pieces at a lower price point.

Attendees gather at the last National Juried Salon hosted in 2024.

 

“In addition, [exhibiting smaller works] allows us to maximize the number of paintings in the show,” explains Kurt Anderson, OPA executive director. “We have so many members, and the quality of the submissions is so high, we want to do everything possible to expand the opportunity for these artists to showcase their work, compete for prizes and gain recognition.”

While the focus of OPA is on traditional representational painting, many members work in a wide variety of styles and approaches. “For instance, some members are very academic and have trained in traditional academies or ateliers,” says Anderson. “Some are very impressionistic and participate in the plein-air competition circuit, while others began their careers in commercial illustration.” Attendees will also find photo realists or those that work in trompe-l’oeil. You’ll see the best art being produced today in a wide variety of styles, subjects and traditions.

Eileen Wong Cervera, Noon at Eagle Falls, oil on archival panel, 14 x 11 in.

 

Paige Weber, Steadfast in Spirit, oil on linen on ACM panel, 8 x 16 in.

 

Anderson adds that the diversity of styles embraced by OPA can be seen in the piece that won the Gold Medal award at the last National Juried Salon in 2024. “It was given to Blair Atherholt for a stunningly beautiful trompe-l’oeil still life,” he shares. “We have separate awards for our Master Signature entries, and the Gold Medal in that division went to loosely painted tonalist landscape by Mark Hanson.”

Examples stemming from the 2026 exhibition and event, are powerful works like Calvin Liang’s Spider Rock. Liang is best known for his representational landscape paintings, particularly his seascapes and coastal scenes, but Spider Rock is a desert scene depicting the rock formation found in Canyon de Chelly in Arizona. “One of the central themes of the painting is the relationship between light, space and the vastness of the desert environment,” Liang notes. 

Calvin Liang OPAM, Spider Rock, oil on canvas, 20 x 16 in.

 

“I was particularly interested in conveying the canyon’s luminous air quality through the use of warm sunlight—not only defining the form of the rock formations but also creating a sense of depth and atmosphere throughout the composition.”

 Whether painting the ocean, a harbor or a dramatic landscape, Liang’s goal is to create a sense of place while conveying the mood and emotional response that the scene inspires.

Elizabeth Robbins, known for floral still life, showcases her impressive piece, Heaven Scent. “I grow many of the flowers I paint in my own garden, tending them through each season and witnessing their quiet transformation from tender shoots to abundant blooms,” the artist shares. “Caring for these flowers creates a deep personal connection that finds its way into my work. I know the weight of a peony heavy with spring rain, the fragrance of a rose gathered at dawn, and the fleeting beauty of lilacs that bloom all too briefly. When I paint them, I am not simply recording their appearance; I am honoring the time spent nurturing them and celebrating the small, sacred moments of beauty they bring into everyday life.”

Elizabeth Robbins OPAM, Heaven Scent, oil on linen, 14 x 18 in. 

 

Blair Atherholt OPAM, Cantaloupe with Stoneware Vessel, oil, 12 x 12 in. Gold Medal winner from the National Juried Salon in 2024.

 

For Heaven Scent, Robbins depicts roses, one of the artist’s favorite flowers to paint. “I grow over 100 varieties in my garden,” she says. “In this painting, there’s Mustead Wood, Love Song, Tranquility and Sharifa Asma. As I was painting them, the scent was ‘heavenly,’ thus the name.”

Eileen Wong Cervera will be showing Noon at Eagle Falls, measuring 11 by 14 inches, and inspired by a family trip to South Lake Tahoe in California. “Eagle Falls was one of those places that stayed with me long after we came home,” shares the artist. “I don’t just paint what I see in a photo, I paint from memory, bringing back the feeling of standing beside the rushing water under the bright midday sun. My goal is to capture not only the place, but also the experience of being there. I hope my paintings encourage people to slow down, enjoy nature and remember the places that have touched their own lives.”

Bill Farnsworth OPAM, The Flats, oil, 14 x 18 in.

 

Paige Weber’s show piece Steadfast in Spirit depicts four draft horses harnessed together on a summer day. The long horizontal format captures the curve of each horse’s neck as they move together. “Only the lead horse’s head is fully visible, suggesting both leadership and offering a focal point for the viewer,” says Weber. “By focusing on gesture rather than showing each horse in full, the composition invites the viewer to experience the team’s collective presence. Light is used to define the form of these working horses, emphasizing their strength and steadfast spirit.” 

Head to Cassens Fine Art to witness all the fun, starting with the opening reception on July 31 from 5 to 7 p.m., with awards presented at 5:30 p.m. The show be on view at the gallery, and on the gallery’s website, through August 29.  —

2026 OPA National Juried Salon: Exhibition of Small Paintings
July 31-August 29, 2026
Cassens Fine Art
215 W. Main Street, Hamilton, MT 59840
(815) 356-5987, www.oilpaintersofamerica.com

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