Upcoming Oil Painters of America Event

Hosted by Illume Gallery of Fine Art

November 10 - December 9, 2017

Prepare for an event surrounded in beauty and culture. This picturesque community is referred to as Utah's "Dixie" because of its red soil and warm temperatures that are reminiscent of the Southeastern US. This area is nestled into a valley surrounded by the varied textures of mountains, mesas, vast lava flows and extinct volcanoes. With Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon, and Grand Canyon within a short drive, this community is surrounded by some of the most breathtaking natural beauty in the world. The area also offers a wide variety of things to do. This community has a vast history dating back to prehistoric times and offers world class museums, concerts, plays, historical sites and culture. Spend the day strolling the small shops and restaurants in the quaint downtown area or spend the day hiking in some of the most beautiful sites on the planet. You will be able to enjoy sporting activities in the area including golf, fishing, hiking and hot air ballooning, to name just a few. Illume Gallery of Fine Art, Authentique Gallery of Art & Design and The Mission Gallery are hosting an opening reception on Friday, November 10, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. with the awards presentation at 8:00 p.m.

JUROR OF AWARDS

William A. Schneider paints primarily from life, he seeks to capture the emotion of a particular moment and place. Sargent, Zorn, Fechin, and Sorolla have been influences. After careers in music and finance he returned to his first love, painting in 1990. His skills were honed during eight years at the American Academy of Art's Saturday Program in Chicago where he studied figure drawing with Bill Parks and oil painting with Ted Smuskiewicz. He continued his education through workshops with Carolyn Anderson, Dan Gerhartz, Scott Burdick, Harley Brown, Scott Christensen, Huihan Liu, David Leffel, and Richard Schmid among others. William commented, "The wonderful thing about art is that you can always get better. I view myself as a perpetual student!" William has been featured in numerous publications and has received awards in exhibitions including those of: American Impressionist Society, Oil Painters of America, The Pastel Society of America, Portrait Society of America, and Salon International. Bill was awarded signature status in Oil Painters of America (OPA). In addition the Pastel Society of America has recognized him as a "Master Pastelist," IAPS (The International Association of Pastel Societies) has named him to the Masters' Circle and AIS made him a Master Signature Member (AISM). His home is in Crystal Lake, IL with his wife Caren.