Outdoor Painters of Minnesota is a 501(c)3 charitable nonprofit formed to promote and share the practice of outdoor (plein air) painting. We are governed by an all-volunteer board of directors. Our 2021 membership was about 160, and we welcome new members of all backgrounds at every level of experience. OPM strives to coordinate outdoor painting activities, develop opportunities to exhibit together, educate both artists and non-artists in plein air painting, and inspire awareness of the beauty found in nature through painting outdoors.
Email us with questions about OPM and about opportunities to volunteer.
Your contributions directly support our educational workshops and exhibit opportunities.
Your $40 calendar-year membership provides access to paint-outs, workshops, exhibits, and events.

2022 Plein Air Grand Marais

​Competition and Festival of Outdoor Painting
on the North Shore of Lake Superior
Eligible Painting Period: August 15 to September 16, 2022
Competition Week: September 9-16, 2022
Competition Exhibit: September 16 – October 9, 2022

You can still apply for Open Class till September 9th

2022 PAGM Mini-Workshops

11 Mini-workshops offered during PAGM from Sat Sept 10th to Wed Sept 14th
​Click the REGISTER buttons to see a complete description of each workshop.
Cost is only $50 for a 3 hour workshop with some of the best painters in the state
Choose your favorites and sign up today.

​Workshop with 2022 PAGM Juror: Krystal Brown 

Saturday Sept 17 and Sunday Sept 18, 2022 - 9am-4pm
​This is after Plein Air Grand Marais
Where:  Grand Marais Art Colony, 21 W Hwy 61, Grand Marais, MN 55604, USA 
​This is offered through the Grand Marais Art Colony

Upcoming Paint-Outs

Check this page often to learn about and sign up for our monthly paint-outs. Click Sign Up to learn details and let organizers know who's coming so we can message participants.

Aug 13 & 14, 2022: ​Paint-Out with Jack Dant in Solon Springs and Amnicon Falls State Park

September 9-16, 2022: Plein Air Grand Marais

News | Exhibits | Events

Paint-Outs + Members' Exhibit at Boreal in St. Anthony Park

"Painting the Park" Exhibit
August 2022

Boreal Art Loft
2276 Como Ave
St Paul, MN 55108

​OPM members have mounted an exhibit of plein air paintings at Boreal Art Loft, an upstairs art gallery at a gift shop in the St. Anthony Park neighborhood of St. Paul. Our theme is "Painting the Park:" paintings from around the historic St. Paul neighborhood, including Gibbs Farm Museum and Bell Museum on Larpenteur Avenue, the University of Minnesota's agricultural campus and Como Lake.
Public Reception​: 5:00-7:00pm on Friday, August 12, 2022

2022 Art Materials Scholarships

OPM and Wet Paint teamed up again this year to offer three Art Materials Scholarships, each including a $200 gift card for art supplies at Wet Paint, plus art materials contributed by suppliers. 

Our winners this year are Starla Xiong, Jacob Thao, and Ava Marti. Congratulations and best wishes on your art journeys!

Special thanks to our partner and sponsor, Wet Paint Art Materials & Framing in St. Paul, for helping create this opportunity for young artists.
2022 Scholarship Winners with OPM board members at Wet Paint for presentation on April 2, 2022