Oil Painters Of America Blog

Chewing gum, a soda bottle, and a paper clip and supposedly we can MacGyver our way out of anything!  I want to share one way you truly CAN MacGyver your way out of those times you feel like no matter which way you turn you are ... Read More...

Let me begin by saying that 2018 was the most challenging year of my life. Through a series of mind-expanding experiences and difficult decisions, I made some big changes. The brain is a very flexible tool. A ... Read More...

August 5, 1926 - May 26, 2019 How can it be possible, that one of the greatest painters of our time, dropped out of high school at age 15 to take a job as a comic book inker? Within a year he was drawing stories and illustrating pulp ... Read More...

Painting by Thomas Moran Growing up I was always outside exploring the woods and loving the changing light but never thought about painting it. It wasn’t until after a career as an illustrator that I began taking my easel outside to ... Read More...

"Buccafola Children" by Denise Franzino24" x 30" A moment in time means a couple of things to me. I think each of our lives is defined by moments in time. Decisions we make along the way in our journey through life that define our ... Read More...

"The object isn't to make art, but be in that wonderful state that makes art inevitable" - Robert Henri For many years now this quote by Robert Henri has tickled my core self. It resonates with me, heart and soul.  But why?  ... Read More...

I think every artist has them. Paintings that for some reason just do not work out. They are usually fun and exciting while the artist is in the process of creating them, be they plein air or studio pieces, but when viewed once the novelty ... Read More...

OPA thanks Artwork Archives for being one of its 2019 sponsors.  We appreciate your support! Eight questions to ask yourself before making the leap You already love painting. Other people love your paintings. You can see it ... Read More...

One day a painter friend gave me a linen panel. It was a primed with four coats of an oil based ground. It was beautiful. After that, painting on canvas from the hobby/craft store would never be the same. I was used to painting on canvasses ... Read More...

What makes portraits of kids so delightful? Besides the fact that children are active and endearing, there are differences an artist needs to consider when painting a child’s face.  Proportion is especially important. My early ... Read More...