FRAN MANGINO, Trustee - is an OPAS charter member, a signature member of the Central Ohio Watercolor Society, and a Trustee of Ohio Watercolor Society. She exhibits regionally and national in exhibitions such as OWS National Exhibition, and The Butler Art Institute of American Art. A repeating award winner at summer fine art festivals, Fran is frequently asked to jury, demonstration or teach workshops in watercolor.  Fran's work was accepted from 3,000 entries into “The Artist Magazine’s” 2001 art competition. Author of the  “Mid Life Series” of prints and cards, sold in gift stores throughout the US, her publications include the December 2001 issue of "The Artist Magazine"; the first issue of “Painting 1-2-3”; and Northlight Book's series “Splash 8” and “Splash 9”.  (Term ends 4th Quarter 2013)

GAYLA PARKS, Corresponding Secretary, was elected to the position of Secretary at the 2010 Annual Meeting. She was born and raised in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, where is was encouraged by her family and teachers to become an artist. Yes, she drew on the walls and loved crayons! Learning to paint with oils at the age of twelve, she continued through a college program of fine arts and teaching. After teaching high school level art, she returned to Oklahoma State University to earn a Master of Art Education degree. Work experiences have included teaching art at Mississippi State University including art appreciation, color and design, drawing, and ceramics. Others jobs pertaining to art were: art therapy with mentally ill adults and New Orleans gallery assistance. Gayla has been a member of many art organizations and is a Life Member of the Louisiana Watercolor Society. She is proud to have been a Charter Member of OPAS, in Ohio. She began to paint en plein air while living in New Orleans and taking a painting trip to New Mexico in 1978. Of all her art experiences her favorite is painting from life and plein air painting. She has been the Owner and Director of Studio 4 Art Gallery in Nelsonville, Ohio, since 2004. (Term ends March 2012)

JEFFREY RISNER, President, holds two Master degrees from Ohio University, Athens, Ohio: a 2006 Master of Management of Communication Policy and Technology; and a 1982, Master of Geology and Hydrology. But he has had an interest and desire in painting most of his life. Recently he has decided to do something about it and just paint. He believes that painting has traditions that need to be mastered by all painters and looks forward to helping OPAS uphold those traditions. His interests include: plein air, still life and nudes. He is a member of the International Carnivorous Plant Society, United States Chess Federation, and Ohio Plein Air Society. (Term ends March 2012)

MIKE STEGMAN, Trustee, is an Ohio native who grew up in Elyria. His photography hobby expanded into painting. He began struggling with oils in the 1960's, and later with more time on his hands, he began working with watercolors, took lots of classes, participated in art exhibitions, and exhibited his paintings at the Elyria Library. Currently, Mike is working in acrylic and oil, and since joining OPAS, he often works en plein air and loves it. Mike also enjoys painting outdoors with his fellow members of the "Firelands Area Art League". (Term ends March 2013)

RUTH ANN STURGILL, Vice President, was introduced to plein air painting in 2004 and has been hooked ever since, as working plein air has enabled her to combine her love of nature with her passion for art. Prior to that, she had concentrated on studio portrait painting. Founder and executive director of the "Visual Arts Network", a multi-media art group located in northwest Ohio, and co-founder of the Potpourri of Painters, Ruth Ann has served on the exhibition committee at Lima/Artspace, volunteered her time to work at OPAS plein air competitions, and has acted as publicity liaison for OPAS. Currently she is responsible for the installations of exhibitions in the Ellen Nelson Gallery and St. Rita's Gallery, both located in Lima. Her proposal to a regional gallery has resulted in a three-artist show of plein air work that will open in August.  (Term ends March 2012)

OPAS thanks to those who have served in the past.
PAST BOARD MEMBERS and OFFICERS: Richard Canfield (Executive Director & founder 2002 -03), Carol Cosgrove (secretary '03 - '07), John Daniels ('07 Vice-President); Kaye Michele Darling ('02 - '04 trustee & founder), Debra Joyce Dawson (founder, trustee, past-president '03 - 06, Board Chair '06 - '08, webmaster '04 - present); Rick Dziak ('06 Vice-President), Elaine Freeman ('07 Corresponding Secretary); Mark Gingerich ('02 - '04 trustee), Tom Harbrecht (founder, '03 - '06 Board Chair), Ray Hassard ('04 - '09); (John Hoberg (founder, '02 - '03 trustee), Richard Otten (founder, '02 - '04 trustee), and Bridgette Turner ('03 - '05 Vice-President, '04 - '06 treasurer & trustee).