The Chimes

Issue date: 11/20/08 Section: News

Experience "Beautiful Ohio" without leaving Bexley at the Schumacher
Gallery's Ohio Plein Air Society Exhibit through December 5th. The
exhibit presents oil paintings by 45 artists depicting scenes from all
around the state. Most of the works are available for purchase.
The exhibit was judged and the results were announced Friday night at
the "Meet-the-Artists" reception. The event coincided with Bexley's
Art Walk, the third and final one this semester.
This is the second time the OPAS exhibit has visited the Schumacher
Gallery. Dave Gentili, assistant to the director in the Schumacher
Gallery, contacted founding member Debra Joyce Dawson about a year ago
to arrange this exhibit.
Plein Air translated means "in the open air." OPAS is a group of Ohio
artists who gather to paint outdoors.
"Plein air painting became a movement in California and some places
on the east coast where impressionist painters had a historical
connection," Dawson said.
OPAS members used to look at historic sites for their paint-outs.
Now, most of the sites are scheduled by members themselves. Rain or
shine, the paint-outs go on for the artists, Sharon Weaver said.
Weaver owns a portrait studio in Mansfield and recently joined OPAS.
OPAS Web site explains, "through painting in different styles, and
working in a variety of media, we come together to paint and learn,
from nature and each other."
Paint-outs are from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and artists complete two,
sometimes three paintings. Weather conditions, as you would imagine,
have an affect on the artists' works. In the cold, the paints will
harden and they need to make adjustments for that or they need to work
quickly, says Weaver. The sun also plays a role in their paint-outs,
for instance, if an artist wants to paint a sunrise. On cloudy days,
brightness may not be as much of a factor and the artists will have a
longer painting time.
The Ohio Plein Air Society began in August, 2002, with seven members.
That number has grown to over 193. Dawson attributes it to word of
mouth by the artists; and she also feels much of the interest in OPAS
comes from an article in the Columbus Dispatch in August, 2002,
detailing the Paint Ohio Project.
OPAS always welcomes new members, and they offer a student discount.
You can read more about them at their Web site:
www.ohiopleinairsociety.com.
dhoover3@capital.edu

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