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O'Keefe Art Award The O’Keefe Art Award was created by the O’Keefe Brewing Co. Ltd. of Toronto in 1950 and available to artists between the ages of 18 and 30. There were four prize levels – $1,000.00, $750.00, $500.00 and $200.00. The first prize that year went to Kenneth Lochhead, second prize to Joseph Purcell, and third prize to Ghitta Caisserman. Fred Ross was in a group of 15 who were each awarded $200.00. The group included John Bennett, Pierre de ligny Boudreau, Roy Kiyooka and Ronald Spickett. All 18 winners were featured in an exhibition that year at the Art Gallery of Toronto [now Art Gallery of Ontario]. Sources: Google News Archives, and "The Shawinigan Standard", Shawinigan Falls, Quebec, July 5, 1950. Submitted to askART by M.D. Silverbrooke
Oakroom Artists Oakroom Artists is the only membership-by-invitation artists association in the Albany, New York area. Membership is limited to 24 artists in order to allow each artist the opportunity of a solo exhibit every two years. Solo exhibits are held at our Home Gallery at the Unitarian Universalist Society of Schenectady. Group shows are also organized at area colleges and museums. Methods of artist members are painting, sculpture, fiber arts and printmaking. Source: Website of Oakroom Artists, 2023. Since 1991, the Oakroom Artists home gallery has been located at the Unitarian Universalist Society of Schenectady (UUSS) at 1221 Wendell Avenue. The building, created by architect Edward Durrell Stone, provides an especially pleasing setting because the interior walls were designed as an exhibition space for art.
Objective Abstraction Objective abstraction was a form of abstract art developed by a group of British artists in 1933. Experimentation was prevalent in British art at the time. The main figures were Graham Bell, William Coldstream, Edgar Hubert, Rodrigo Moynihan and Geoffrey Tibble. The movement was short-lived lasting only a few years. Many of the artists involved went on to be part of the realist Euston Road School. Method William Townsend told the Tate Gallery that 'the style originated with Geoffrey Tibble in the latter half of 1933. It was immediately taken up by Rodrigo Moynihan [...] and at the same time or shortly after by Edgar Hubert. According to Townsend, early paintings by the group were derived from external objects but they became increasingly abstract. The more abstract paintings, that came to represent the movements style, were created using improvised freely applied brushstrokes. In 1934, the exhibition Objective Abstractions was held at the Zwemmer Gallery[5] showing the group's work, except Hubert's. The exhibition catalogue states that Graham Bell, Rodrigo Moynihan, Ceri Richards, Ivon Hitchens, Geoffrey Tibble and Victor Pasmore exhibited paintings. Source: Wikipedia, 2021
Objet d’art French for “art object”, the term is used to refer to an artwork’s size, often diminutive or miniature.
Odalisque Nineteenth century virgin female slave figures often found as attendants in Ottoman seraglios, they became popular subjects for artists who did Orientalist-theme paintings such as Frederick Bridgman, Francois Boucher, Hovsep Pushman and Jean Leon Gerome. While access to private homes or interior courtyards was difficult even for locals, artists such as Gérôme and Bridgman seemed to have succeeded better than many others in befriending locals enough to sketch and paint their domestic lives. In turn, fascination about this secret life of odalisques created a strong market for artists depicting them. Source: Abby M. Taylor, Fine Art; Wikipedia
Odsherred Painters Odsherred Painters (Danish: Odsherredsmalerne) is a term applied to Danish artists from various periods with connections to Odsherred in the northwest of Zealand, Denmark. Some were born there while others settled in the area or painted there. While the term includes painters from the 19th century such as Johan Thomas Lundbye, Vilhelm Kyhn and Vilhelm Melbye, it is applied more specifically to the painters who created landscapes from 1930 to 1970 and who formed an artists' colony. They include Karl Bovin, Kaj Ejstrup, Viggo Rørup, Ellen Krause, Lauritz Hartz, Povl Christensen, Victor Brockdorff and Sigurd Swane.The group of Odsherred Painters which emerged in the 1930s was the most recent of Denmark's artists' colonies, the others being the Skagen Painters, the Funen Painters and the Bornholm school of painters. Source: Wikipedia
Oeuvre The total or substantive body of life-work produced by an artist, the term is French for “work”. Source: www.merriam-webster.com
Ogunquit Art Association, Maine On September 16, 1928, Charles Woodbury called a group of artists together to form an art association for Ogunquit, which had become a major art colony. Joining Woodbury were Bernard Karfoil and Henry Strater. Woodbury served as the first president but Karfoli and Strater held back because of local perception it was a "leftwing radical" organization. Early active members included Charles Allen, Leon Bonnet, Elizabeth Sawtelle, and Gertrude Fiske. In 1929, members began selling their works at the Ogunquit Beach Pavillion, and in 1936, the Association moved to a yellow barn on Shore Road. From that time, the Association has been active with exhibitions, and education programs. Source: Louise Tragard, "A Century of Color, 1886-1986"
Ogunquit School of Painting and Sculpture Opened in 1935 in Ogunquit, Maine, by Robert Laurent, it was a re-opening of what had been a summer art school run by Hamilton Field. Ogunquit School teachers and students had close connection to the New York art scene and shaped the art world of Ogunquit before and after World War II. Classes led by Laurent allowed much freedom and interaction with each other and the local environment; in fact students were not taught theory as much as they were taught a sense of independence of style. There were daytime and evening classes. Among teachers besides Laurent who taught stone cutting, modeling and wood carving were Bernard Karfiol and William von Schlegell, and Ernest Fiene for landscape and life painting. Elyot Henderson was an administrator. Students included Barnett Newmann. In the 1950s, the school began a slow decline, and it closed in 1962. Source: Louise Tragard, "A Century of Color: Ogunquit Maine's Art Colony."
Oil Paint Artists' medium, it is made by grinding pigment in linseed oil or another vegetable oil to a smooth paste-like consistency and then mixing in a drier, a stabilizer and plasticizer such as wax to give each color the same consistency. Since 15th century Europe, oil paint has been the most traditional medium, replacing tempera, because it results in rich coloration; dries slowly, allowing for changes; does not alter colors when dry; allows both opaque and transparent effects; and matte and gloss finishes. Today a group of western painters called Oil Painters of America actively promotes oil as a medium. Members include Howard Terpning, Roy Andersen, Joan Potter, George Carlson, Clyde Aspevig, David Leffel, Sherrie McGraw, Mian Situ and Ramon Kelley. Sources: Ralph Mayer, "A Dictionary of Art Terms and Techniques"; AskART biographies.
Oil Painters of America Begun in 1991 and founded by Shirl Smithson, the group is dedicated to advancing the cause of traditional, representational painting and to providing a forum for artists working in that style. Several national and regional shows are held throughout each year. Members include David Leffel, Peter Adams, Ken Carlson, and Howard Terpning. Sources: "Southwest Art" magazine, April 2002; AskART biographies.
Oil Painters of Ireland A group dedicated to promoting traditional, realist style art, OPI was founded in Dublin in the early 21st century by Norman Teeling, Paul Kelly, Henry McGrane, John Morris and David Nolan. Source: Online Encyclopedia of Irish and World Art: Norman Teeling
Old Lyme Colony, One of many art colonies originating between 1890 and 1910 and devoted to landscape painting, it was in Old Lyme, a small village at the confluence of the Connecticut River and the Long Island Sound. The colony was first called “The American Barbizon” because of its founder, Tonalist-style painter Henry Ward Ranger. However, Ranger's stylistic influence was overshadowed by the 1903 arrival of Impressionist Childe Hassam, which resulted in the Colony becoming "the most famous Impressionist-oriented art colony in America” (Gerdts 221). To its detriment, Colony painters clung to that style after World War I when Impressionism lost its popularity. In its heyday, many painters stayed on Main Street at the Griswold House, a Georgian-style home of Florence Griswold, who took in boarders because she needed the income. Today it houses the Lyme Historical Society. Colony artists included Willard Metcalf, Clark Voorhees, Frederick Sexton, Charles Ebert, Walter Clark and Walter Griffin. Sources: William Benton Museum of Art, “Connecticut and American Impressionism”; Helen K. Fusscas, “Frederick Sexton, 1889-1975”; William Gerdts, “American Impressionism” (221-227.
Old Master A rather vague and very general descriptive term, it references skillful, fully-trained European artists who worked before 1800. The term has also come to be loosely applied to any revered deceased European artist of pre-modernist styles. Included as an Old Master are Leonardo Da Vinci (1452-1519), Rembrandt Van Rijn (1606-1669), Diego Velazquez (1599-1660), Titian (1483-1490), and El Greco. Source: Wikipedia; ASkART database
Old Water Colour Society See Royal Watercolour Society
Oleography Also called chromolithography, it was a method of coloring lithographs by preparing a separate stone for each color. As many as 30 stones were used for a single print. The method was pioneered in the 1930s with William Harring being a recognized pioneer of the method. By the 1860s, oleography was widely used for colour reproduction. Source: Encyclopedia Britannica; askART biography of William Harring
Omega Workshops In the artwork of of their artwork was on vivid Fauve colors, simplified forms and fragmentation as influenced by Cubism. In 1913, the Bloomsbury Group applied their aesthetic to functional, handmade items such as rugs and tableware and, with the financial help of writer George Bernard Shaw, oversaw the making of those types of items through an entity they named Omega Workshops. Described as a "curious amalgam of the idealistic socialism of the Arts and Crafts Movement" and chic "Aestheticism, this arts and crafts endeavor flourished for a few years but folded in 1919 with the pressures of World War I and the unwillingness of people to spend money on non-essentials. Source: Robert Atkins, "Artspoke"
One Ear Society An arts society in the Miami, Florida area, it has this mission statement: "To help support area artists by providing continuous juried exhibition, promotion and sale opportunities in donated venues in and around greater Miami-Dade, and by sponsoring professional development and cultural enrichment activities within the community.We are an inclusive rather than exclusive organization, and exhibit quality art in all styles, created by seasoned professionals as well as talented amateur artists." Ongoing, the One Ear Society continues to explore ways to further serve the needs of the community and the artists who live and work here. Recently, members partnered with the Wolfson Campus of Miami-Dade Community College to offer a visual arts component of their classes and workshops (non-credit. Source: www.oneearsociety.com
Online Art Market Includes all art objects available to buy and sell online (computer technology), whether from galleries, auction houses, e-commerce companies, or online art platforms. Why It Matters: In 2018, the online art market grew 10% to hit a new high of $5.4 billion. This segment accounts for roughly 8.5% of the overall art market, which reached a total of $63.7 billion in sales in 2017, according to Art Basel and UBS’ 2018 Art Market report. One of the biggest advantages of the online art market is its ability to reach a vast number of collectors and connect them to galleries and auction houses across the globe. Since its emergence, the online art market has dramatically expanded the overall art market, increasing opportunities for selling and collecting art. Source: '12 Online Art Terms to Know in 2018', Website of "Artsy", July 31, 2018
Online Art Platform Also known as third-party marketplaces, they connect buyers and sellers around the world by enabling galleries, dealers, and auction houses to list their inventory online. Why It Matters: Today, more and more collectors are turning to online art platforms to engage with, discover, and collect art. Online art platforms, such Artsy, allow galleries to exhibit shows exclusively online, make sales when foot traffic is slow during the offseason, and connect with international collectors regardless of their location. As noted by Hiscox, the number of galleries partnering with online platforms is dramatically increasing. In 2018, three-quarters of galleries partnered with online art platforms to sell art online, an increase of 59% from 2017 and 41% in 2016. Additionally, galleries are becoming more and more reliant on these marketplaces to help them make sales—“19% of galleries are now using these marketplaces as an outlet for at least half of their online sales (up from 3% in 2017). Source: '12 Online Art Terms to Know in 2018', Website of "Artsy", July 31, 2018
Online Buyer A collector or prospective buyer who purchases art online, either through a third party platform or directly from a gallery or auction house’s website. Why It Matters: The emergence of a younger generation of art collectors has led to a rapid increase in the number of online art buyers, as collectors are becoming more comfortable buying works they have not seen in person. According to a survey conducted by U.S. Trust, millenials are currently the fastest growing segment of art collectors. Just this year, 78% of millennial collectors purchased art online, up from 69% in 2017. Additionally, the internet provides an opportunity for collectors to connect with galleries around the world, regardless of their location. Per the 2018 Hiscox Online Art Trade report, “70% of galleries this year sold their artworks online to international clients – up from 54% in 2017.” Source: '12 Online Art Terms to Know in 2018', Website of "Artsy", July 31, 2018
Online Sale An online sale is “a sale where any part of the art sales process has an online element” (TEFAF Art Market Report: Online Focus). Similar to the means by which we assess Art Fair sales, if a user discovers an artwork on an online platform but then purchases the work from the gallery offline, the sale is still considered an “online sale” because the online platform facilitates the initial connection between user and gallery. Why It Matters: According to Hiscox, “52% of online buyers who bought art last year said they will be buying more art over the next 12 months.” Positioning your gallery in the online market introduces you to new collectors and increases your gallery’s reach, positioning you to take advantage of online sales. Source: '12 Online Art Terms to Know in 2018', Website of "Artsy", July 31, 2018
Ontario College of Art and Design See Ontario College of Art
Ontario College of Art and Design University See Ontario College of Art
Ontario College of Art, Ontario College of Art and Design University Located in Toronto, Ontario, the school is tied to several entities, the first one being the Ontario School of Art, founded in 1879. In 1890, it became the Central Ontario School of Art and Design, the Ontario College of Art in the early 1900s, the Ontario College of Art and Design in 1996, and Ontario College of Art and Design University in 2008. The Ontario School of Art, founded in 1879 was an art school run by the local Board of Education. Under George Agnew Reid, teacher, principal and artist, it became a separate entity named the Ontario College of Art and moved into a building designed by Reid. Currently (2011) it is the largest art school in Canada, and operates under the name of Ontario College of Art and Design University. Submitted to askART by M.D. Silverbrooke, Art Historian, West Vancouver, British Columbia.
Ontario Institute of Painters The Ontario Institute of Painters [Canada] was devoted to the exhibition of non-abstract artists. It was formed in 1958 by traditional or representational artists, and their supporters who were disgruntled with the Ontario Society of Artists (see glossary) and the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts (see glossary) accommodation of abstract art. The OIP founders included Kenneth Forbes, Archibald Barnes, Manly MacDonald, Robert Allan Barr (see all previous in AskART), Gordon Conn (collector) and Samuel Weir (collector). Perhaps their most famous exhibition was “Points of View”, Museum London, Ontario in 1959. Then the works of 10 OIP members were hung with those of the abstractionist group Painters Eleven (see glossary) and figurative abstractionists like York Wilson (see AskART). The point of the show was to illustrate the conservative, experimental and intermediate trends in painting. Submitted to askART by M.D. Silverbrooke, West Vancouver, British Columbia. Sources: “The Consummate Canadian: A Biography of Samuel Edward Weir, Q.C.” (1990), by Mary Willan Mason; “Art and Architecture in Canada” (1991), by Loren R. Lerner and Mary F. Williamson; and the Art Gallery of Ontario –http://www.ago.net/assets/files/pdf/special_collections/SC016.pdf
Ontario School of Art Founded in 1879, it became Central Ontario School of Art and Design in 1890, the Ontario College of Art in the early 1900s, the Ontario College of Art and Design in 1996, and Ontario College of Art and Design University in 2008. See Ontario College of Art and Design. Source: Ontario College of Art and Design University. Courtesy, M.D. Silverbrooke, Art Historian, West Vancouver, British Columbia
Ontario Society of Artists Founded in 1872, the Ontario Society of Artists is Canada's oldest continuously operating artistic society. Its founders were John Fraser, J. W. Bridgman, R. F. Gagen, James Hoch, Marmaduke Matthews, C. S. Millard and Thomas Mower Martin. The Society’s mandate was ‘the fostering of original art in the province, the holding of annual exhibitions, and the formation of an art library and museum and a school of Art.’ To date (2010): it has held annual exhibitions continuously since 1873; in 1876 it founded the art school now known as the Ontario College of Art & Design; in 1900 it founded the museum now known as the Art Gallery of Ontario; and it is the parent organization of the Canadian Society of Graphic Arts, the Ontario Association of Architects, the Sculptors' Society of Canada, the Canadian Society of Painters in Water Colour, and the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts. Sources: Ontario Government Archives - http://www.archives.gov.on.ca/english/on-line-exhibits/osa/index.aspx; Centre for Contemporary Canadian Art - http://www.ccca.ca/history/osa/english/references/osa100yr-2.html?languagePref=en&o; and the Ontario Society of Artists - http://ontariosocietyofartists.org/about_the_osa. Prepared and contributed by M.D.Silverbrooke.
Onteora Club An artist’s colony in Tannersville, New York, it was founded in 1887 by design pioneer Candace Thurber Wheeler and her brother Frank Thurber. Early visitors included Mark Twain, conservationist John Burroughs and painter George Bellows. Some of the first residents included writers Mary Mapes Dodge and Elizabeth Custer, actress Maude Adams, as well as painters John White Alexander and Carroll Beckwith. Submitted to askART by M.D. Silverbrooke, Source: Onteora Club website – http://onteoraclub.com/heritage.php.
Op Art A short term for Optical Art, it is an abstract style popular in the 1960s and based on optical principles and optical illusion creating sensation of movement. Op Art deals in complex color interactions to the point where colors and lines seem to vibrate before the eyes. The term was coined in 1964 by George Rickey when he was talking with Peter Selz and William Seitz, curators at the Museum of Modern Art, and was first used in a publication in a 1964 "Time" magazine article to describe paintings "that manipulate visual cues in order to reorder viewers' perceptual responses." ("Southwest Art") Antecedents of Op Art go back to Josef Albers and his classes on color theory at the Bauhaus School in Germany during the 1920s. In 1965, the Museum of Modern Art gave the movement its most public attention to date with its exhibition, "The Responsive Eye". However, the uniqueness of the movement and popular interest subsided when fabric designers adopted it and made the optical designs commonplace. American Op artists include Julian Stanczak, Yaacov Agam, Richard Anuskiewicz, Larry Poons, Bridget Riley and Victor Vasarely. Sources: Robert Atkins, "Art Speak"; 'Op Art', "Southwest Art", April 2006, p. 62.
Op-Ed Art Characterized by black and white crosshatching and moody imagery, it was visual commentary and interpretation on editorials. John-Claude Suares, illustrator for "The New York Times", was one of the early Op-Ed artists. His goal was to get emotional reaction, and he and many he trained, used surreal symbolism. In 1973, the Musee des Arts Decoratifs in Paris hosted an Op-Ed art exhibit with a catalogue written by Suares. Source: AskART biography of Jean-Claude Suares including his New York Times obituary.
Optical Color Mixture The tendency of the eyes to blend patches of individual colors placed near one another so as to perceive a different, combined color. Also, any art style that exploits this tendency, especially the pointillism of Georges Seurat. Source: http://studiochalkboard.evansville.edu/c-optics.html
Order of Canada Established in 1967 by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the Order of Canada is the centrepiece of Canada’s honours system and recognizes a lifetime of outstanding achievement, dedication to the community and service to the nation. The Order recognizes people in all sectors of Canadian society. The Order has three ranks – Companion of the Order of Canada (C.C.) is the highest, then Officer of the Order of Canada (O.C.) and Member of the Order of Canada (C.M.). Canadian artist recipients include William Kurelek, Edward Hughes, Alexander Colville, Doris McCarthy, Charles Comfort, Jack Shadbolt and Jessie Oonark. Sources: The Office of the Secretary to the Governor General of Canada and AskART biographies. Submitted to askART by M.D. Silverbrooke.
Order of Saint Michel, France A French dynastic order of chivalry, founded by King Louis XI of France on 1 August 1469, it was in competitive response to the Order of the Golden Fleece founded by Duke Philip the Good of Burgundy. As a chivalric order, its goal was to confirm the loyalty of its knights to the king. Originally, there were a limited number of knights, at first thirty-one, then increased to thirty-six including the king. An office of Provost was established in 1476. The Order of St Michael was the highest Order in France until it was superseded by the Order of the Holy Spirit. Source: Wikipedia, 2021 Although officially abolished by the government authorities of the July Revolution in 1830 following the French Revolution, its activities carried on. It is still recognised by the International Commission on Orders of Chivalry.[7]
Order of the Palmes Academiques A French recognition for distinction, it was founded in 1808 by Napolean to honour university members, and later (1866) expanded to honor eminent French and foreign contributors to the education and culture of France. It is awarded in three grades – Chevalier, Officer and Commander. Sources: Consulate General of France in Toronto; and the Association of Members of the Order des Palmes Academiques. Courtesy of M.D. Silverbrooke
Oregon College of Arts and Crafts In Portland, Oregon, the original name was Oregon College of Arts and Crafts, and later changed to Oregon School of Arts and Crafts. The College grants BA degrees in drawing, painting, book arts, metals, photography, fibers and wood. In 1907, photographer Julia Hoffman was the founder with the desire to perpetuate the Arts and Crafts movement through classes and exhibitions. In 1978, the campus was much expanded and boosted financially. Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oregon_College_of_Art_%26_Craft
Oregon School of Arts and Crafts See Oregon College of Arts and Crafts
Organic An image, it shows a relationship to nature or living matter as opposed to man-made images. The term references any shape that resembles a naturally occurring form or that suggests a natural, growing, or expanding process. Source: Free Online Dictionary
Organic Abstraction An artistic style of three dimensional work, which has wavy abstract or rounded forms which resemble works in nature. Artists who have done work of that style include Isamu Noguchi, Charles Eames, Henry Moore, Frantisek Foltyn, and Eero Saarinen. Source: websites of Wikipedia and Prague Art & Design
Organic Art An art form that emphasizes an object alive in its own right and not contrived.
Organic Cubism See Orphism
Orientalist / Orientalism A 19th-Century movement, predominantly in France and England and reflected by American artists and writers, it reflected fascination with the cultures of North Africa, the Middle East and Asia. The geographical concept of most Orientalists was that the Orient was one vast region with a cohesive, uniform culture composed of rather simplistic, passive peoples. Much of the interest grew from western perceptions that these Eastern peoples were exotic, sensual, and attuned to mysterious religion and philosophy. The first Orientalists were 19th-Century English scholars who translated writing of the 'Orient' into English and French so that occupying westerners such as the English would have knowledge of the people they dominated. The period from 1870 to 1880 was a formative period for Orientalism among American artists, and general interest in Orientalism grew among western people with increasing travel opportunities. Fascination with Orientalism was expressed at the Chicago World's Fair of 1893 where Oriental villages were fabricated with snake charmers, Algerian dancers, odalisques and turbaned Moors. Artistic expression embraced many subjects including realistic and imaginary genre scenes, harems, landscapes, eroticism, and religion. The movement in art played out with the advance of Modernism such as Cubism in the early part of the 20th Century. Among Orientalist American artists are Henry Ossawa Tanner, Maurice Braun, Hovsep Pushman, Theodore Wores, Frederic Arthur Bridgman and Helen Hyde. Sources: AskART biographies; Susan Fort, Sotheby's New York; http://www.english.emory.edu/Bahri/Orientalism.html; 'Henry Ossaw Tanner and the Lure of Paris', "American Art Review", December 2005.
Origami Origami is the Japanese name for the art of paper folding, and comes from the Japanese verb oru (to fold) and the noun kami (paper). The word "origami" is now commonly used around the world. An origami artist is usually called a paperfolder. The only requirement for origami is a piece of paper, making it one of the most accessible arts. Almost any paper may be used, but standard "origami paper" is thin, strong, and holds a crease very well. It is also usually white on one side and colored on the other side, and is cut into 15 cm squares (about 6 inches). The basic technique of origami is folding, and many complex folds have been developed. Many paperfolders enjoy folding models of animals (including all living creatures). Besides the many animal models, there are models of almost all physical objects including people, faces, plants, vehicles and buildings. Some paperfolders fold abstract or mathematical shapes, and others specialize in modular origami, where many copies of a simple folded shape are assembled to form large elaborate structures. Paperfolders are a diverse group of people ranging from artists to scientists to therapists. Artists and craftspeople use origami as a way to express themselves creatively. Scientists, architects, and mathematicians explore the geometry of origami for its own beauty and for practical applications. Therapists and teachers use origami as a tool to help their patients recover from illness or to help their students learn. Many people fold paper simply because it is fun. Origami artists include Akira Yoshizawa, a pioneer of origami, John Montroll, Robert Lang and Joseph Wu, whose website is the source of this information.
Orphism, Orphic Cubism An abstract art movement from 1912 to 1914 in Paris, it paralleled the geometry of Cubism but with a brighter palette of overlapping planes of contrasting colors. "The color combinations were based on the 'law of simultaneous contrast of colors' developed by French chemist, Michel-Eugene Chevreul in the 19th century." The name, Orphism, also called Orphic Cubism, was taken from the Greek poet and musician Orpheus, and was first used in 1912 by the poet Guillaume Apollinaire to describe the paintings of Robert Delaunay. Other artists in the movement were Marcel Duchamp, Francis Picabia, Fernand Leger, Franz Kupka, and Sonia Delaunay, wife of Robert Delaunay. Source: World Wide Arts Resources
Ottawa Group Canadian artists who organized in 1923 and held an exhibition the following year at Hart House at the University of Toronto, they appear to have disbanded the following year. Members included Paul Alfred, Harold Beament, Frank Hennessey, Florence H. Mc Gillivray, Graham Norwell, Yoshida Sekido and David Milne. Sources: Charles C. Hill, "The Group of Seven"; Submitted to askART by M.D. Silverbrooke, Art Historian and Collector, West Vancouver, British Columbia.
Ottoman Painter's Society Established in 1909, the Society of Ottoman Artists (Osmanli Ressamlar Cemiyeti) was the first professional organization of artists in the Ottoman Empire. Initiated by the artist Mehmet Ruhi Arel and financed by Prince Abdülmecid, it aimed to integrate artistic production and consumption into the modern society envisioned after the Second Constitutional Revolution. By including practitioners of traditional book arts in addition to artists working in Western modes of painting and sculpture, it reflected an integrated vision of modern local cultural production. It disseminated technical and historical information about the arts in the Ottoman and European traditions through its Journal of the Society of Ottoman Artists. After its dissolution in 1919 due to the instability of the Ottoman Empire, similar organixations were established including the Society of Turkish Painters (Türk Ressamlar Cemiyeti, 1921), the Union of Turkish Fine Arts (Türk Sanayii Nefise Birligi, 1926), and the Güzel Sanatlar Birligi (1929). Source: Ottoman Painter's Society
Ottoman Painters Associarion See Ottoman Painter's Society
Outer Art A movement dating from 1990 as a protest against random modern art, 'outer artists' asserted that anything could mean art. Focus is on making artwork that is ugly as possible, wrong as possible, and generally as impossible as possible. Outer-art was initiated by artist Florentin Smarandache, a Rumanian now living in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Source: AskART biography of Smarandache.
Outfootage Outfootage, a filmaking term, it refers to footage mostly unprinted camera original but contains important information not included in the final film. Outfootage could also be found as a work print that ended up in the editor's bin. Source: Internet, Karl Spreitz Film Collection, Maltwood Museum.
Outsider Art A term whose meaning is a bit vague, it has become a catch-all description of artwork not based on tradition and not marketed traditionally through galleries or private dealers. Outsider Art was first used publicly as a description in 1972 by British art writer Roger Cardinal in his book with that title. In this context, it is the equivalent of the French term "art brut", which means art of the insane. However, this description is subjective in that it often reflects the opinion of the viewer or critic and not necessarily a professional diagnosis. In the United States, Outsider Art is an umbrella term referencing artwork by creative persons outside the mainstream of society including prisoners and artists in psychiatric treatment. It also includes folk art that is memory painting, meaning dreams or fantasy depictions by non-academically trained artists. Names associated with Outsider Art include Martin Ramirez, Ike Morgan, Henry Darger, Steven Ashby, Joseph Yoakum and Ted Gordon. Sources: Chuck and Jan Rosenak, "Museum of American Folk Art Encyclopedia of Twentieth-Century American Folk Art and Artists; Christie's New York; Robert Atkins, "Art Speak".
Outsider Fair, New York City Opening in 1993 in the Puck Building in SoHO and continuing into the 21st century, the Fair was founded by Sanford Smith to feature 'self-taught creators.' Most of these artists worked in isolation, beyond the borders of professional artists. Among artists whose work has been included are Adolf Wolfli, Bill Traylor, Henry Darger, and Morton Bartlett. Source: Roberta Smith, the "New York Times" exhibition review, January 19, 2017.
Overbeck Pottery Pottery produced in the midst of the Arts and Crafts movement in Cambridge City, Indiana, Overbeck Pottery was a family enterprise ceramics factory founded in 1911. It was run exclusively by the Overbeck sisters, educated women who had been raised to be independent, industrious and avoiding of marriage because it could thwart their potential: Elizabeth (1875-1936; Hannah (1870-1931); Margaret (1863-1911) and Mary Frances (1878-1955). In the book about the operation, "The Chronicle of a Studio Pottery”, Elizabeth Overbeck was quoted as saying that initially “No one concerned in the enterprise had any practical experience in clay working or was even personally familiar with the simplest of pottery making as carried on in a factory.” (59). Margaret Overbeck is credited as the main initiator of the operation, and the other sisters were already adept at china painting, having won many design competitions in a monthly pottery and decorator magazine. Before embarking on the business venture, Margaret and Mary studied with Arthur Dow, a leading figure in the Arts and Crafts movement. The same year the business opened, Margaret died, and the remaining three stayed the course with Elizabeth being the potter and firing technician, Mary painting, finishing and glazing; and Hannah doing the decorative designs, sometimes from sketches left by Margaret. The sisters lived simply, wore simple clothing and remained in the family home, using the parlor for a studio and another room as the showroom. The kiln was in a shed in the backyard. The early pieces were utilitarian such as cups and saucers, but the later work was more purely decorative. Most pieces are identified by the incised initials “OBK”, and sometimes to the left under the monogram is the first initial of the potter. In 1936, Elizabeth was elected a Fellow of the American Ceramic Society, making her the most publicly visible of the group. Eight months later she died, which brought an end to the unique enterprise as Hannah had died five years earlier. Mary carried on until her death in 1955, which ended the production of Overbeck pottery, whose formula went to the grave with Mary but whose pottery has become highly collectible. The production had numbered many thousands of pieces, and it was written that “their real genius lay in their complex Art Deco designs and subtle matte glazes . . . the sisters’ design contribution alone should secure their firm’s position as one of the best art potteries in the country”. (69) Source: Judith Vale Newton and Carol Ann Weiss, "Skirting the Issue"
Overlap Effect Spatial relationships achieved by placing one object in front of another, it gives the effect of the object closest to the viewer blocking out the view of any part of any other object located behind it. In other words, where the two objects overlap, the one in back is obscured. Source: ArtTownGifts.com
Overpainting Layers of paint applied to a painting after the first layer has dried, the process allows for detailing, whereas the preliminary paint generally sets the form and design. Source: Kimberley Reynolds and Richard Seddon, "Illustrated Dictionary of Art Terms"
Ox-Bow Artists' Colony, Art School Located in Saugatuck in western Michigan, it became a gathering place for artists in 1896, when Bessie Bandle, student at the Chicago Art Institute invited fellow students Albert Krehbiel, John Norton, Walter Enright, Galin Perrett and Horace Brown to her family resort just north of Saugatuck Village. One-hundred fifteen acres later became the summer school campus of the the Art Institute of Chicago. The area, now part school, part camp, part artist colony and major tourist attraction is scenic with the Kalamazoo River running through the middle of the town on its path to Lake Michigan. Source: R.H. Love Galleries; AskART biographies
Ox-Bow School of Painting See Saugatuck (Ox-Bow) School of Painting
Ozalid Print A trademark name, it refers to a process with sensitized paper and ammonia vapor for reproducing line drawings, manuscripts and the like and is an alternative to blueprinting. Ozalid prints are positive and made directly from a drawing. Sources: "Random House Unabridged Dictionary", Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease; and "Britannica Compton's Encyclopedia" (online). Submitted to askART by M.D. Silverbrooke, West Vancouver, British Columbia
Ozark Society of Painters See Society of Ozark Painters

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