Forum Posts

• May 2, 2016 2:42 PM EDT

  in the topic opas card?? in the forum General Art Discussions

  I am still trying to get caught up. No member has volunteered to help me. I am teaching art tonight so I won't have a chance to do any cards until tomorrow. I hope to have this all cleared up by the end of the week.
• October 23, 2012 8:25 PM EDT

  in the topic Holiday Gift Exchange-2012 Version in the forum General Art Discussions

  Hi Folks, So far we have the following signed up: Jennifer Smithwell Fiona Reid Pam Cunningham Ingrid Brooks Helen Walter Keith Thirgood Judi Myers Lynda Sellar Perry Chow We were going to provide everyone with a mini canvas. However, some people want to use their own materials. How about each of us chooses their own painting surface, as long as it's 4 x 5 of smaller. This cuts down on the mailing. This way there's nothing to stop the early birds from beginning their painting now. You just won't know who you are sending it to until November 12. More people please sign up. Cheers, Keith
• October 21, 2012 3:06 PM EDT

  in the topic Holiday Gift Exchange-2012 Version in the forum General Art Discussions

  Hi Everyone, It's obvious that members want to repeat our successful Holiday Gift Exchange, first started in 2010. Last year, the Christmas Exchange of small paintings was a great success. OPAS will again be providing the canvases for you to paint your masterpiece on. Here's how it will go: Indicate your desire to participate by responding to this Discussion by November 9. All of the names submitted will be randomly matched to another participating Member Send your mailing address to keith@wilsonstreetstudio.ca) After all names are in November 9, names will be randomly matched. Matching names will be posted in this discussion by November 12. On a small canvas (board or paper), no larger than 4 x 5, you create your mini artistic gem. Mail it to your “Exchange Recipient”. (We will e-mail you your recipient's address.) Once you receive your exchange gift from your Exchange partner, please photograph and post their mini masterpiece to this discussion so we all can share. No excuses! It costs you very little, it's painless and it's all part of the OPAS spirit. You can begin right away. On November 12, you will know who to mail your gift to. If you want to participate, please post your willingness to this discussion and send me your postal address to keith@wilsonstreetstudio.ca asap. There is no theme other than sharing your skill and passion for painting. You don't even have to create the mini-canvas en plein air. Although bonus points if you do. :-) Already signed up to do this are: Jennifer Smithwell Fiona Reid Pam Cunningham Ingrid Brooks Helen Walter Keith Thirgood We have more than double the members we had last year. We should be able to get 30 or 40 people in the exchange this year. Cheers, Keith Thirgood President, OPAS
• April 5, 2012 8:52 PM EDT

  in the topic Guidelines for adding Member Events in the forum Member Events

  A More Detailed Guideline for Submitting Events to the OPAS site There are two main areas where members can submit events, plus certain events qualify to run at the top of the Events Column on the left hand side of the OPAS homepage. This document explains the kinds of events you can post, where they might go and how OPAS decides if they are acceptable or not. Member-posted events should no longer be placed in either the Discussion Forum or the Blog areas. OPAS Events In this area OPAS’ own events are posted, plus certain other events not run by OPAS. The following are acceptable types of events. *Member organized for-fee events where there is a direct, appropriate benefit to OPAS members, such as a discount, extra coaching, or some such other tangible benefit. Events run by another organization where there is a co-marketing agreement between OPAS and the event organizer. Events run by another organization where there is an acceptable benefit to OPAS or OPAS members. Events run by another organization where OPAS is an integral part of the event. Such as giving an OPAS award, having an OPAS directed workshop or allowing OPAS to have free space in order to promote OPAS. *Events run by another organization that pays $250 for a three-month listing. If you feel your event is suitable for this area, open up the OPAS Events section, click the Add button and fill out the event information. This will put your event in a moderation area for the Board to review. If the benefit or suitability is not clear, a Board member will contact you for more information. Member Events This is where most members’ own events are posted, plus certain other events not run by members but where a member has an involvement, such as a show where a member’s art is on display. Member organized free or for-fee events where there is no direct, tangible benefit to OPAS members. In other words, no discounts, etc. Events in which members are participating but not running, such as paint outs, shows or workshops, organized by a non-OPAS member where there is no discount, etc. If you feel your event is suitable for the Members’ area, use the Add button and fill out the event information. This will put your event in a moderation area for the Board to review. If the event’s suitability is not clear, a Board member will contact you for more information. If the Board feels your event is suitable to be an OPAS Approved event, and you have not submitted it as such, we will contact you to see if you are interested. Event Column All events listed in the OPAS Events section automatically show up in the Events Column, below the “Featured Event” space at the top of the column. They show up as they come due. The event with the closest run date will be at the top, with events further in the future listed below, by event date. The OPAS Events above, marked with an *, also qualify to be run in the Featured Event space at the top of the Event Column. Events in this space can run for a maximum of three months and will show up for at least two weeks in total over that time. Normally, events swap in and out of that space on a weekly rotation, in the order in which they were received. Advertising Box This area, at the bottom of every page, is reserved for events the Board feels are of especial value to both our members and the organization. It will be almost exclusively used for OPAS-originated events, or very special events with a strong OPAS presence. All of these guidelines are subject to change without notice.
• March 26, 2012 1:46 AM EDT

  in the topic Guidelines for Using the Critique Section in the forum Critique

  Please read this before posting or commenting. This section is where all members can safely post paintings on which they want to get feedback from other members. Only members can post and comment. Rules: Be civil. If you don't like the style or genre, saying so is not helpful. Focus on objective issues. Try to keep your comments to the effectiveness of the work posted, rather than totally subjective responses. Be of help. Although we won't object if you want to praise a painting, most members will be posting paintings which they are looking for help with. Don't be afraid of giving or taking criticism. Don't give praise without explaining what it is that works and don't point out the bad bits without first pointing out the good bits. Please post only plein air work for critique. (Plein air, for the purposes of OPAS, means a painting started out doors, on location. It can have a reasonable amount of finishing/correcting done in the studio. Around 25% maximum.) In order to post a painting, you first begin by clicking "Add", Give it a title, Then a description of what you are trying to achieve, then click the little blue icon that looks like a scene. It's the second icon (to the right of "LINK"): above the comment area screen. Do not use LINK or the icon that looks like a film strip. Have fun with this.