Painting the Future

Outdoor Painters Society (OPS) — Best of Show: “Farmhouse Morning” by Lon Brauer of Granite City, IL

Preparing the Palette for Painting Our Future

Submitted by the Outdoor Painters Society

The Outdoor Painters Society (OPS) held its first Salon Show and Sale for their associate members this past summer. The associate members are the backbone of any painting organization, the first level to put in years of hard work and participation to achieve the Signature and Master levels of membership. Change and expansion of any group is always risky, but we set out to nurture our base painters to ensure our future in the plein air movement.

OPS President Tina Bohlman once said, “It’s time to shake up the past and go a different direction.” This past May was the second successful year of transitioning the OPS premier Plein Air Southwest to a full-on plein air event. Next on the agenda was to advance the Associates level from a digital show to a Salon Show along with all the process of entering a large juried event. Finding a partner for an Outdoor Painters Society Associate Member Show and Sale was next on the list. The Navarro Council of the Arts (www.navarrocouncilofthearts.com) stepped up to host our show in Corsicana, TX, right in our home state of Texas. So we pulled money from the budget for cash prizes, called in some great sponsors for merchandise awards, recruited volunteers, and set to work.

Over 58 associate members entered from 13 states. Some had two pieces juried in for a total of 103 pieces for our first show. The juror, Kaye Franklin, OPS Master Signature Member and past president, was awestruck with the quality and demanded more award levels the afternoon before the opening reception. More ribbons were found, more award checks written, more excitement for the six-week show spanning from August 12 to September 26, 2019.

Our Associates Show winners took home some adequate awards plus achieved additional exposure, honors, and sales. Plans for the second annual Outdoor Painters Society Associate Member Show and Sale are already underway and our members are out there painting in anticipation of next year. As an active organization, we are preparing our paint palette for our plein air future with more opportunities for our members.

2019 Outdoor Painters Society Associate Members Show Winners:
Best of Show: Lon Brauer of Granite City, IL
1st Place: John Caggiano of Rockport, MA
2nd Place: Sherri Thomas of Larsen, WI
3rd Place: Kelly Pennington of Ada, OK
Honorable Mention: Jeanne Revis of Houston, TX
Honorable Mention: Nancy Sterling Tyler of Dallas, TX
Juror’s Recognition: Maryanne Brummer of Fort Worth, TX
Juror’s Recognition: Linda Delandre of Montgomery, TX
Juror’s Recognition: Rita Cirillo of Victor, CO

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