Oil Painters of America Exhibit

River Banks - Spring Thaw, oil on linen, 8x16, plein air

I am super excited! After numerous tries through the years, I finally have a painting accepted into the 2013 Juried Salon Show of Traditional Oils with the Oil Painters of America. Although I have had work accepted into national art competitions before, this show in particular was a goal to have my work accepted among many other fine OPA painters. Having a painting accepted into a show like this can really boost one's confidence! The best part, is that the show is here in Michigan at the Crooked Tree Art Center in the beautiful town of Petoskey. I have already signed up for a plein air painting workshop with the well known painter, Marc Hanson at the art center. The workshop starts right after the opening weekend of June 22 in Petoskey.
Taking a painting workshop really helps to recharge the artist and learn from someone else who has knowledge to share. I hope to always keep learning and improving my work!

I hope you have the opportunity to see this exhibit and visit beautiful Michigan this summer. The show runs June 22 through August 31, 2013.

Plein Air at Hemlock Crossing

Using my new EasyL Prochade box at Hemlock Crossing Park in West Olive, MI. I was here painting with the Plein Air Artists of West Michigan, and painting nearby was Barb Berens and Sharon Griffs-Tarr.
This is a very nice park with many walking trails, the Pigeon River and has a new educational nature center.

The day was overcast even though the forecast was for sunny weather! 

I decided to pushed the color a little to add variety and depth. You can see there are a lot of grays and browns in this landscape, so I mixed up a variety of warm and cool grays.

March Thaw, oil, 8x10, plein air on the Pigeon River.
The finished painting. I added a little more snow and warmed up the grasses.  I initially did not have any Yellow Ochre on my palette (I was mixing up a similar color), and then finally relented because the painting just needed the extra color intensity in the right bank and nearer grasses.