OPM's annual award for Best Landscape Painting at the Minnesota State Fair Fine Arts exhibit goes to Minneapolis painter Carl Bretzke for his oil painting titled "Behind the Massage Parlor."  Congratulations!

OPM made a commitment this year to sponsor a $100 "Best Sense of Place" award for each of Minnesota's four plein air competitions:  Grand Marais, Duluth, Aitkin, and Red Wing.  The award is for the painting that best captures the instantly recognizable spirit of a place painted in the competition.  Awards are administered by the sponsor.  Here are three of the summer's award winners so far:

Grand Marais Plein Air is coming up in September.