Posted by Lorraine Ireland
Hi I am new with OPAS and was wondering if anyone would like to go painting in the rhododendron garden park in Port Credit. (Officially called the Brueckner Rhododendron Gardens). I checked it out today and the azaleas and rhodes are in full bloom - everything from frothy white, salmon, pale p...
Posted by Sheila Mitchell
We are starting Plein Air Sunday meetups in the Georgetown area. If you are interested email me and I will let you know where we decide to paint! Yours in art, Sheila
Posted by Dalibor Dejanovic
Quick report and a look from our first paint out of 2017. The location was perfect choice for a cold day. I settled in the biggest of five buildings, I call it the "banana hall" because of its tall banana trees. As usual, when painting in public we can expect strangers to c...
Posted by L. Michael Labiak
Looking forward to painting with the Ontario Plein Air Society. Hope to discover new and inspiring painting locations. Can't wait to develop a camaraderie with these fellow plein air painters. We are all painters of the light.
Posted by KeithThirgood
Etiquette for Artists at Plein Air Painting Festivals The following article is reposted with permission from Michael Chesley Johnson's blog. If you're thinking of attending a plein air festival this year, read this first. A lot of good insight. Keith Thirgood, President OPAS Etiquette for Artists a...
Posted by Doug Ware
http://highlandseastpleinair.wordpress.com/
Posted by KeithThirgood
We were a small group but had a blast canoeing and painting in Kawartha Highlands Provincial Park. Helen couldn't make the trip because she had difficulties with her breathing. So Brenda, one of our favorite students, stepped up and joined us. (I needed bow paddler.) Turns out she's a great camper/...
Posted by KeithThirgood
Here are a bunch of images from Helen and my Small Town Art Retreat with Don Cavin. Our students really enjoyed themselves in Newboro, Portland and Westport, Ontario. Painting up a storm. ...
Posted by sharon preen
I am not sure if this is the correct place to post this link but I would like to share this fun little piece written by Bob Bahr about a recent show that I was part of http://www.pleinaircollector.com/EXHIBITION-The-Outsiders-at-Artists-on-Elgin/19184918
Posted by KeithThirgood
A number of artists have asked us where we got our special, plein air easel set up. When I tell them that I built it, they all want to see plans. To respond to all those requests, I've put together a PDF, which goes through all the steps of building your own Wilson Street Studio plein air field ease...
Posted by KeithThirgood
We've often been asked what an artist should to bring when going plein air painting. Not that easy to say, as we are all so different, however, I can say what I bring. (This is for acrylic painting.)First, you need to control your selection of paint. Depending upon how far I expect to walk with my k...
Posted by KeithThirgood
Last year I had more time to come up with this list of shows. This year I'm a bit late in compiling a list.. I thought they might be of interest to other OPAS members. I invite you to add shows that you've heard of, where there is still time for members to sign up for. Here's what I've foiund this y...
Posted by KeithThirgood
I have had mixed responses from other artists when I tell them about this. Some have been thrilled as it cleared up so much that stymied them with colour mixing. A few others have already been practicing some variation of this, however, others have reacted vehemently against the idea. Almost accusin...
Posted by Doug Mays
I'm not a cold weather, plein air painter and first to admit it. But I plan to do plenty of it this winter in San Miguel de Allende (SMA) Mexico where you'll find me set up in the Jardine a few times each week capturing the light of this old colonial town. If you haven't experienced SMA before you h...
Posted by KeithThirgood
The following are ten steps I encourage all of our students to consider as they paint. Start with a Value Sketch. Break the scene into large shapes based upon values. This is the time and place to solve problems with your composition. If the value sketch doesn't look like a great painting in th...
Posted by Jennifer Smithwell
I will be painting a nocturne of the leuty life station. at leuty ave and the lake in the beaches tonight at about 9pm. havent really done a nocturne before. Anyway wanting to join me for impromptu nocturne is welcome.
Posted by KeithThirgood
Composition is an interesting subject. When you read some books, they delve into the exceedingly complex compositions of the old masters showing circles, lines, boxes and overlapping structures they believe underpin these great works. Showing you this is meant to help you with your own painting, alt...
Posted by KeithThirgood
Ask almost any professional painter and they will tell you that they don't paint objects, scenes or figures, they paint shapes. And to them, shapes are made up of areas of similar value. That is, how dark or light it is. In other words, what makes one shape separate from another shape is its value....
Posted by KeithThirgood
As you will have read in my message to you as a members, we have an opportunity to have an exhibition of the best of OPAS art in the Capital One Canadian Head Office in North York. Here's what I said in the message: Art Show Opportunity Your Board of Directors of OPAS have been in talks with Capita...
Posted by sharon preen
where would be the best forum to post impromtu paint outs...?.We don\t have a chapter in Sudbury, but other members seem to be painting in our back 40, including Killarney and LaCloche....Would love to be able to say...meet at Willisvllle mt or the Lighthouse on such a such a day.
Posted by KeithThirgood
OPAS member Ron Murdoch (Owner of Northern Art Supplies, Huntsville) has an offer for OPAS members. He is overstocked with high quality 8x10 canvases. (These are double-primed, 12 oz, Canadian-made stretched canvases. If you check, almost all canvases at Curry's and other art stores are only 7 oz.) ...
Posted by KeithThirgood
I've been on the hunt for juried art shows and juried Art in the Park style events, and I've come up with a few. I thought they might be of interest to other OPAS members. I invite you to add shows that you've heard of, where there is still time for members to sign up for. With some of these shows,...
Posted by KeithThirgood
Hosting a Paint Out is fun and not difficult. You don't have to be a long-standing member, or on the executive. You don't need a great organizer or even a great painter. It simply takes a few steps followed, as your role is to communicate and coordinate. At the basic level you choose a place, date ...
Posted by John Christie
John Mullenger and I got together to paint at the RBG again this week. Our plan is to get out at least once a week all winter and so far we have managed about five weeks in a row and some weeks more than once. When we got arrived at 10:00 it was just above freezing but the sun was warm and by the ...
Posted by KeithThirgood
One of the issues I've noticed is that, for the most part, artists don't know how to photograph their artwork. Taking good quality shots of your art is important when you post them online and even more important if you are entering shots of your art for a juried art show. I was trained as a professi...
Posted by KeithThirgood
If you're having trouble with the OPAS site, this is the document to read. This is a relatively comprehensive guide, based upon questions and issues that members have raised. If it doesn't cover a problem you're having, send me a message or post your question on this blog and I'll add the solution t...
Posted by KeithThirgood
David Sharpe suggested I start a new topic, that of keeping warm during the Canadian winter while painting plein air. So that's what this is. If you have any tips to share about keeping warm while your painting in the winter, please share them here. Here's what I've learned from other members of OPA...
Posted by KeithThirgood
Copied from the Wilson Street Studio blog www.wilsonstreetstudios.com After working with new plein air painters over the past couple of years I've found the following tips to be helpful.Bringing order out of chaosPainting out of doors can be overwhelming. There is just too much "stuff" in front of...
Posted by KeithThirgood
I've started this new post to carry on the discussion around the potential show at the Steam Whistle's gallery. If you want to comment about the Annual Show, please use that post. So far, a number of members are interested in participating. Questions have been raised regarding: Plein air or not ple...
Posted by KeithThirgood
Hi Everyone. While the 2012 OPAS Annual Show & Sale is still fresh in our minds, I would like input from all of our members on what you want out of an annual show and how might we achieve your goals. A little history. We've hosted the annual show in the JEH MacDonald House for the last three yea...
Posted by Dalibor Dejanovic
Great times people! It was awesome to see familiar faces and meet new artist at our annual show. We had tons of viewers come by on Saturday to check out the artwork displayed and to vote for the plein air challenge. Here are some pictures from that day. Thanks to Ingrid who took them! We had ten a...
Posted by KeithThirgood
Copied from Wilson Street Studio's blog Keith here today.I'm writing this from the deck of the luxury cottage we rented to run our Muskoka Art Retreat. The students have finished their three days and have gone home with their new paintings. I'm looking over the small sketches I did over the past f...
Posted by Dalibor Dejanovic
What I love the most about the Adriatic seacoast is the scent. It feels like walking trough some aroma therapy spa. The air is filled with the scent of salty sea, dry pine needles, agave, palms, wild lavender, rosemary, and myriad of other herbs. The sea is crystal clear, blue, light turquoise, it l...
Posted by Jennifer Smithwell
Hi I know it has taken me a long time to post about this. My camera is difficult to download so it took me a while to get pictures of my paintings. I enjoyed the paintout. My favorite of the other artists painting was the lovely watercolor by Doug Mays and I enjoyed Helen's work as well. Lots of...
Posted by John Christie
In a word "Wow!" I told a number of people that I learned more about myself and my art in three days in Wilberforce than in three years of lessons. Painting alone in isolation or even with the same group of painters all the time is limiting. Seeing my paintings hanging in the show with all the gr...
Posted by Dalibor Dejanovic
I just returned from visiting Adriatic seacoast in Croatia. If you haven't been and are planing to go to Europe this is the place to visit. The famous impressionist painter Edgar Payne once painted there, especially the brightly coloured sardine fishing boats. I spent nine days on Island Vis. This ...
Posted by Jane Boyd
Out on the water painting with my 5 x 7 thumb box heading to the wetlands to paint waterlilies.... a Muskoka Monet moment!
Posted by KeithThirgood
Doug Mays brought up a subject vital to plein air painters. Lyme disease. It is spreading throughout Ontario, and is no longer just a threat to painters visiting the States. Consider the following: Ticks thrive in wooded areas, leaf litter and in long grass. People who spend time in areas where th...
Posted by Doug Mays
Plein air artists are known for their intrepid ways and known to go into places the average mortal avoids such as fields of tall grass or thick forests. So be careful and take precautions - wear long sleeves and long pants, tuck your pants into your socks. For more about this debilitating disease cl...
Posted by KeithThirgood
I didn’t even know what painting "plein air" meant when we joined our first plein air class back in 2008. “En plein air”, painting in the open air. It sounds simple enough, however, it’s all very well to happily paint away in the comfort and security of our studio. It’s another thing to paint out of...
Posted by Dalibor Dejanovic
I just came back from a business trip in Asia. It was my first time in China and Korea. The weather was lousy, wet, cold and bleak almost every single day. I brought my plein air pack and I hardly got to use it. Regardless it was an awesome trip, made new friends, got to see an amazing part of this ...
Posted by Dalibor Dejanovic
I has been a wonderful first year for me here at OPAS. Met many new painters, got inspired and challenged. To keep this holiday spirit going I would like to thank all of you. I am giving away 3 of my paintings posted below. All you have to do is visit my blog and leave a comment. I will then randoml...
Posted by KeithThirgood
The Pine Ridge Arts Council held the opening of their Juried Show this evening. (October 28) Helen and I both managed to get one work each accepted. Both of our works were plein air. Helen's painted at the Brush for the Highlands this summer and mine painted on our very first OPAS paint out, last su...
Posted by Dalibor Dejanovic
Painting with pastels is a joy, that is until you accidentally drop your pastel box on the concrete floor and watch them smash to million pieces! left-overs Naturally, I started swearing in my mother tongue and feeling quite upset :) Well, after calming down, I tried to see the upside of this e...
Posted by KeithThirgood
Over the past few months, Helen and I have been doing a lot of painting, which I'll write about separately. We've also been entering juried shows and showing our work in other shows. During the winter, Helen and I each had two paintings accepted for display by Sunnybrook Hospital in conjunction wi...
Posted by OPAS, President
Call for Entry Scarborough Arts Annual Outdoor Art Show & Sale Entry deadline = Friday, May 20, 2011 drawing, illustration, painting, sculpture, mixed media, printmaking, pottery, jewelry, photography, glass works, original textiles, fibre arts, and more! Art in the Park is an annual juried out...
Posted by Helen Walter
Obituary: Landscape artist Doris McCarthy’s passion for life lasted 100 years “She lived life zestfully and her attitude was reflected in the way that she moved the paint around.” You can view this story at: http://www.thestar.com/news/obituary/m/article/897146--obituary-landscape-artist-doris-mccar...
Posted by KeithThirgood
Helen and I had a painting each accepted in the Markham Group of Artists Juried Show happening this weekend. My painting is one I did of an old shed at the Lake Clear OPAS retreat. However, Helen's studio work, Three Sisters was singled out for one of the two Honourable Mentions given by the jury. ...
Posted by OPAS, President
In conjunction with the Rouge Park management, OPAS is having an open fall paint-out at the Rouge Park on Saturday October 9 from 10 am to 1 pm. The park authorities will be promoting the paint out to their huge database of contacts and it is a high visibility paint-out for OPAS and OPAS members. We...
Posted by OPAS, President
THORNHILL – The Ontario Plein Air Society Canadian Landscape Show, November 12–14, 2010, for the first time brings almost 100 Canadian landscape paintings to public view from fourteen of Ontario’s leading landscape painters at the JEH MacDonald House in Thornhill. The show kicks off Friday, November...