Oil Painters of America

After Dry Falls, I went to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho to see the opening of the Oil Painters of America National Exhibition. In addition to the spectacular show opening, there were painting demonstrations, talks by artists and vendors, as well as opportunities to do some plein air painting in the area. It was a worthwhile trip. The show itself is inspiring. I took some time the morning after the packed opening to study styles and techniques. The bar has been raised and I have new goals.

Although I didn't attend to many of the sessions, I did enjoy a talk by Charles Movalli. He lives and paints in Cape Ann, Massachusetts – one of my (many) favorite locations. It has been an artist’s haven for nearly two hundred years. Who isn’t familiar with Motif #1? Mr. Movalli shared insights about four specific artists from Cape Ann – Aldro Hibbard, Carl Peters, William Lester Stevens and Emile Gruppe. Mr. Movalli is an engaging speaker with fascinating personal stories of these painters. He explained how their work developed and influenced others, including himself, and he inspire us all to go out be better painters. Here's a photo of Charles Movalli with one of his paintings.