Painters preparing for nocturne painting during 2022 Plein Air Grand Marais.
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 2024 membership is over 200, 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.
News | Exhibits | Events
Rosters for some upcoming events are available on OPM's Members Only page. We encourage painters to contact each other for carpooling, painting pickup, and friendship.
MinnPost: 2023 Ban on Cadmium and Lead in Fine Art Materials has Artists "Seeing Red"
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Many of OPM's members are professional painters and educators who use traditional fine art materials comprised of cadmium and lead at levels now banned under a new statute, Minn. Stat. § 325E.3892, passed under the radar in 2023. Wet Paint, Blick, Art Materials, Michael's, and other brick-and-mortar art supply stores have had to remove cadmium yellows, oranges and reds and lead white from their shelves. Artists shopping online will find their orders unfulfilled due to the ban on the sale and distribution of art supplies with cadmium and lead in Minnesota.
While alternatives exist, these traditional pigments cannot be reproduced to achieve the effects sought by painters for centuries. Painters like Joe Paquet of Saint Paul have built their careers and reputation on skills using cadmium and lead pigments at a level that require decades of experience to perfect. To support a growing chorus of voices requesting an amendment to the new statute, contact your local representative and senator. Specific language and a suggestion for a narrow fix to limit the ban only to children's craft, jewelry making and art supplies can be found here. |
2025 Winter Plein Air Retreat & Exhibit
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Retreat: February 23-28, 2025 at YMCA Camp Menogyn
Exhibit: March 1-23, 2025 at Johnson Heritage Post Art Gallery, 115 W. Wisconsin St, Grand Marais, MN Public Reception: 5:00-7:00pm on Friday, February 28, 2025 We had 16 people signed up this year. Painters stayed at YMCA Camp Menogyn for five nights and painted the winter wilderness of west Bearskin Lake and adjacent BWCAW. An exhibit of paintings from the retreat began with a public reception on Friday night at JHP Art Gallery. |
MPAC Exhibit at Marshall Area Fine Arts Council
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Marshall Area Fine Arts Council
109 N 3rd St # 1 Marshall, MN 56258 Exhibit Dates: January 21–March 14, 2025 Opening Reception: February 1, 2025, 1:00-3:00pm Artists who participated in 2023 or 2024 Plein Air Grand Marais, Winter Plein Air Retreat, Red Wing Plein Air, or Prairie Lakes Plein Air display one or more paintings from each event at the 2025 MPAC exhibit. |
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Registration is Open for 2025 Plein Air Grand Marais
Paint-Outs
OPM members and community organizations are invited to contact our paint-out director to schedule paint-outs, which are open to all members and their guests. We try to schedule at locations with accessible parking and access to facilities. Pop-up exhibits and opportunities to sell off-the-easel are occasionally included. Please be welcoming of visitors' questions and consider yourselves ambassadors of OPM and of plein air painting.
Paint-Out at Como Park
Want to host a paint-out (or indoor paint-in)?
Contact OPM's paint-out director, Matt Kania, to suggest a good place and time to bring painters together.