We’re proud to highlight the winners of the OPA Spring 2015 Online Showcase. Enjoy some brief biographies below, detailing their painting history and journey to becoming award winning artists.
I am Canadian but lived for many years in England where I painted watercolours of English and European street scenes, attracted by the weathered buildings, the textures and colours of old brick, stone and peeling paint and plaster, and the narrow streets offering interesting perspectives. I have often returned to the streets of Europe for my inspiration, sometimes in watercolour but now more often in oil.
I also enjoy everything the local landscape has to offer although the subject within the landscape is secondary to my main inspiration and focus which is the light, the shadows, the interplay of warms and cools, and the subtle colours of the seasons.
Landscape painting is a challenge, one that is endlessly fascinating and deeply fulfilling.
Damien Gonzales is a self-taught artist from Albuquerque, New Mexico. He paints in oils and concentrates on landscapes. Damien divides his time between painting outdoors and in the studio. Outdoors he enjoys the spontaneity required to quickly capture the essence of a place, the most accurate color and value information possible and the other transient elements that are present only for hour or two, at most. The paintings he completes in the field are sometimes framed and shown as they are when he leaves a location or used to produce additional paintings back in the studio.
Damien is influenced by many artists and styles but particularly enjoys representational works and aspects of impressionism that impart more sublime qualities to paintings. Damien’s engineering background helps him develop as an artist.

“Mummy Cave – Cañon del Muerto”
by Damien Gonzales
11″ x 16″ Oil
Marci Oleszkiewicz, grew up in the city of Chicago in a family of four. Her mother home schooled all four children where each child’s gifts were nurtured and encouraged. Marci’s father was a carpenter and there wasn’t a moment in childhood that he was not renovating or working on some
project for their home. Looking back Marci attributes much of her creativity to seeing her father always working on something, creating something out of nothing. “My dad would say see Marci if you work at something little by little you will see your idea come about. Seeing my Dad’s work ethic and learning from my Mom the value of self discipline as a home schooler, I believe gave me some of the foundational tools I would need later in life to succeed as an artist.”
Marci’s passion for art was inspired at a young age. As a child, she remembers sitting at her little desk making pictures. “It seemed I often communicated visually. Whether it was in a Christmas card to family or a personal journal entry, there was always a drawing to be found. I remember imagining my little creations coming alive as I made the final touches.”

“Summer’s End”
by Marci Oleszkiewicz
20″ x 16″ Oil
“The Lord has blessed me with this passion for art and I am delighted to be able to share what I
see with my students and collectors to show them the beauty and love that surrounds them.”