September 9-11, 2026 • YMCA Camp Menogyn • 55 Menogyn Trail, Grand Marais, MN

OPM and YMCA Camp Menogyn are thrilled to once again offer a two-night stay at camp right before Plein Air Grand Marais' Competition Week!

This trip is open to anyone, any skill level, painters, spouses, friends… you do not need to be a member of OPM or participating in the PAGM competition. During this time on the edge of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, we have nothing to do but paint, explore, paddle, relax, and enjoy each other's company over staff-prepared meals in the dining hall.

Registration includes two nights lodging in shared cabins, use of canoes and gear, and all meals: dinner on Wednesday; breakfast, lunch, and dinner on Thursday; and breakfast on Friday.

NO HANDICAP ACCESSIBILITY: Please be aware that Menogyn is a wilderness camp with no facilities for wheelchairs or facilitating limited mobility. Camp is located across Bearskin Lake from the parking lot and is accessible only by boat. We sleep in group cabins with bunk rooms with 6 single beds. Enclosed pit toilets are located on trails near the cabins, and at the parking lot. On the camp side of the lake, the dining hall and toilet facilities are located a 5 minute walk uphill from the boat landing.

We'll meet at the Menogyn parking lot at 4:00pm on Wednesday, September 9, where staff will meet us to help load our gear for a pontoon ride across the lake to camp. The address to enter in Google or Apple Maps before leaving town is 55 Menogyn Trail. Follow the Gunflint Trail to the intersection right before Trail Center, and take a right on Hungry Jack Road (County Rd 65). Keep left and follow to the end, about 2 miles, to the big parking lot.

What to bring

• Sleeping bag or bedroll and pillow

• Plein air rig and art supplies

• Sun, rain, and insect repellent

Cancellation Policy

Menogyn charges per person based on actual number of participants. OPM will hold funds until the day of departure and can issue refunds in case of cancellation until payment is made to Menogyn. No refunds are made for early departures, nor any discount for shorter stays.

Compose and Decompose

Saturday, September 19, 2026 • 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. • Includes Lunch

Composition Rules!

Good planning and correct values do the work in your paintings. Compose first, then paint, to create compelling designs and skip that high failure rate that results from just flinging paint and hoping for a good result. For this workshop, you’ll have the opportunity to “decompose” — to learn to evaluate your own work through a juror’s lens.

We’ll start with a demonstration, probably finishing the painting begun for the Juror’s Demo on Friday. Bring your questions about composition and designs, and 2-4 paintings or pics of your paintings to review.

The workshop will be at Harbor Park across from JHP. In case of rain we will go in to JHP or the Rec Hall.

Rocks Rock II - Painting rocks, rock groups, and stone slabs in Plein Air

Saturday, September 12, 2026 • 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. • Artists Point

This workshop offers considerations when painting individual rocks, rock groups, and stone slabs in a plein air setting. A demonstration will offer techniques and insights into capturing beauty, variety, and unity with the goal of painting rocks that look and feel like rocks.  Participants will then have an opportunity to practice newly learned insights by starting a painting of their own. 

Materials List:

• Notebook & pen for taking class notes

• Painting supplies including portable easel

• Preferred paint palette: include a warm and cool version of each of the primary colors, white, black, alizarine crimson

• A panel or stretched canvas (I prefer linen) toned with a slightly warm color. I use a thin layer of raw umber mixed with a touch of white.

The Anatomy of Trees

Saturday, September 12 • 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. • Artists Point

Dan Mackerman will demonstrate formulas for trees that work in any painting style. There are observable effects common among all species, easily overlooked but critical to making your trees looking believable. The workshop begins with a “looking session” accompanied by a demonstration. Participants will then get to try these tips out for themselves in the remaining time.

Mass Appeal

Sunday, September 13 • 1:00–4:00 p.m. • Artists Point

Neil Sherman will focus on starting a painting by using connected masses of color with average values intead of a line drawing.  The fist part to the class will be a demonstration. The second part will be at-the-easel critiques so students should come prepared to paint. Bring a camp chair and notebook for the first part of the workshop, and your painting rig for the second.

Plein Air with Watercolor + Gouache

Monday, September 14 • 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. • Grand Marais Marina

David R. Becker will demonstrate his process from value study to finished painting using transparent watercolor and opaque gouache. Bring your painting rig, brushes, and painting surface. David will provide watercolor and gouache to paint along.

Shape of Water in Color

Monday, September 14, 2026 • 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. • Artists Point

Kami Mendlik will offer a workshop about painting the color relationship among rocks, water, and reflections. Understand the fundamental properties of painting abstractions pulled from the land and seascape that can give life to a successful painting.

Sunset to Twilight

Monday, September 14 • 6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. • Campground Rec Hall

Learn to understand and paint evening light effects.  We will start with a 30 minute classroom PowerPoint presentation and then relocate to Harbor Park for a partial demo and paint along with individualized help.

Materials:  Small panels are recommended (ie.6x8’ or 8x10”). Any color palette works, but at least 2 reds, 2 yellows and 2 blues are recommended.  A nocturne light of any kind is helpful but you could also paint beneath a streetlight.

Capture the Beauty of the North Shore in Watercolor

Tuesday, September 15 • 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. • Artists Point

In this workshop, David R. Smith will share unique techniques for painting skies, trees, rocks, water, rocks under water, and anything else we can squeeze in during our time. Come prepared to paint along with David, but feel free to just observe and take notes if you’d prefer.

Top Ten Outdoor Painting Tips

Tuesday, September 15 • 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. • Campground Rec Hall

This workshop shares the 10 most powerful lessons I’ve seen to help artists paint better. Learn these practical principles that can transform the way you approach painting in any medium. We’ll begin with a presentation in the Campground Rec Room, followed by an outdoor demonstration showing the tips in action.

Materials: This will be a presentation and a demo. Bring a notebook and a chair for the demo outside.

Simplifying Complexity

Wednesday, September 16, 2026 • 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. • Grand Marais Marina

Logan will begin with a brief demonstration in simplifying a complex scene. He will emphasize the importance of big shapes as well as value grouping. Students will then start paintings of their own, applying these techniques with one on one guidance from Logan. 

Materials not included; bring your rig. Recommended painting surface size is between 6x8 and 11x14.