Over the years Penix’s work has changed greatly and continues to evolve with each painting. “I never want to be stuck painting only one way or only one subject matter. Variety is what is exciting.”
Penix has had the opportunity to work under Quang Ho and later with C.W. Mundy. “They have helped me as an artist immensely. I am so thankful that they have been willing to feed into my life as they have.”
Penix has been recognized and won awards in almost 100 national competitions since 2010. As of 2021 ArtDataIntel collected data on artists around the country and their findings found that Derek, to date, is the most awarded artist in the country. Penix paints full time and also teaches art workshops around the country. He currently lives in Laguna Beach, California.
Voices of Experience – Derek Penix
The fresh, energetic works of Derek Penix invite us in to explore them—and the more we explore, the more we discover as our eyes travel from corner to corner. The patterns and colors often defy the tradition of a central focal point and instead guide us to spend time discovering treasures across the canvas. Penix has won awards in almost 100 national competitions in the last twelve years. He teaches art workshops around the country and currently lives in Laguna Beach, California. We asked Penix to write us about his inspiration, his ability to combine technical skill with suggestive gestural image-making, and his direction into the abstract. He started by telling us about growing up in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
My mother and grandfather painted. I never had interest in it until after graduating high school though. My parents encouraged me to paint and one day on a trip to Laguna Beach, California (where I live now), I walked into a gallery with my dad and saw the paintings and thought “I could do this!” Shortly after that trip I painted my first painting and my mom took it into a local gallery and they sold it immediately. After that I was hooked. I am still with that gallery today (Royce Myers Art Gallery in Tulsa, Oklahoma). I am grateful he gave me a chance and believed in me in the beginning and all of these years later.
I really knew nothing until Quang Ho. He helped me with some of the basics, like blocking in a painting and understanding how the eye can flow around a painting. I never went to college or any school to learn art techniques. C.W. Mundy has been a close friend and mentor to me for the last ten or so years. I have enjoyed his friendship and that we call and chat about everything from personal topics to whatever we are currently painting.
Would you tell us something about your process and your materials?
I’ve never really been a plain air painter as I tend to not like my work when I paint outside. I don’t create thumbnails. I usually just find a photo that I took that I like and paint it. I mostly paint in the studio. However, I plan going forward to paint more plain air pieces now that I live in Laguna Beach, California. I love it here and don’t ever want to leave.
I currently just use a simple pallete of warms and cools of the primary and secondary colors. I mostly usually paint on
Claussens 13 oil primed canvas.
This is my workshop supply list:
Filbert brushes sizes #10 #8 #6, #4, #2, #0
Rosemary Shiraz Filbert brushes (what I mostly use)
Pallete knife
Gamsol
Gamblin Neo Megilp (optional)
I tend to use the following colors.
Titanium White
Cadmium Yellow Light
Cadmium Yellow Medium
Cadmium Yellow Deep
Cadmium Orange
Cadmium Red Light
Permanent Rose
Cerulean Blue
Cobalt Blue
Ultramarine Blue
Viridian Green
Yellow Ochre
Vandyke Brown
Have you explored other mediums in addition to oils?
Yes, watercolor, one time and I gave that up a few minutes later. I make too many mistakes and have learned to embrace them in oil painting. I’m not sure if watercolor would ever work for me.
Would it be right to say that many of your paintings have very strong visual pathways throughout them, sometimes without a singular focal point? Can you tell us a little bit about this and how you are able to structure them to be so engaging?
Any words of wisdom you might give to beginning artists?
Learn how you see as a person. and understand believability more than realism. Learn what’s important to paint and what is not needed.
And, just for fun, if you could sit down and have a long conversation over dinner with an artist from the past, who would you choose, and why?
Richard Diebenkorn—probably because he is my favorite painter now. I would want to understand what he would say about color theory and design as I am becoming more interested in the abstract.
I think I’m more of an equalization painter by nature. I just am attracted to that style and like the eye to flow around. But I do hope to experiment in my compositions with dominant focal points.
Any words of wisdom you might give to beginning artists?
Learn how you see as a person. and understand believability more than realism. Learn what’s important to paint and what is not needed.
And, just for fun, if you could sit down and have a long conversation over dinner with an artist from the past, who would you choose, and why?
Richard Diebenkorn—probably because he is my favorite painter now. I would want to understand what he would say about color theory and design as I am becoming more interested in the abstract.
source: theartistsroad.net
Painting by Derek Penix
Painting by Derek Penix
Painting by Derek Penix
Painting by Derek Penix
Painting by Derek Penix
Painting by Derek Penix
Painting by Derek Penix
Painting by Derek Penix
Painting by Derek Penix
Painting by Derek Penix
Painting by Derek Penix
Painting by Derek Penix
Painting by Derek Penix
Painting by Derek Penix
Painting by Derek Penix
Painting by Derek Penix
Painting by Derek Penix
Painting by Derek Penix
Painting by Derek Penix
Painting by Derek Penix
Painting by Derek Penix
Painting by Derek Penix
Painting by Derek Penix
Painting by Derek Penix
Painting by Derek Penix
Painting by Derek Penix
Painting by Derek Penix
Painting by Derek Penix
Painting by Derek Penix
Painting by Derek Penix
Painting by Derek Penix
Painting by Derek Penix
Painting by Derek Penix
Painting by Derek Penix
Painting by Derek Penix
Painting by Derek Penix
Painting by Derek Penix
Painting by Derek Penix
Painting by Derek Penix
Painting by Derek Penix
Special Honors/Competitions:
Oil Painters of America Fall Online Showcase Signature Division 2nd Place (2023)
PleinAir Salon Art Competition Best Landscape October (2023)
Boldbrush: 3rd Place October (2023)
PleinAir Salon Competition “Best Animals” (August 2022)
Boldbrush Judge July (2022)
Best Outdoor Still-life- (October 2021)
Boldbrush: February Finalist (2021)
Featured on Kinwoven- Robeson’s Designs Show (2021)
MOST AWARED ARTIST: FINE ART CONNOISSEUR (2021)
Oil Painters of America 29th National Juried Exhibition: Best Signature Award of Excellence (2021)
PlainAir Magazine Salon Art Competition: Best Animal/Birds (April 2020)
PleinAir Magazine Salon Art Competition: First Place Overall (February/March 2020)
The Artists Magazine Annual Art Competition: Landscape Finalist (2019)
Boldbrush: September Finalist (2019)
American Impressionist Society 20th Annual National Juried Exhibition: Artist Choice Award (2019)
American Impressionist Society 20th Annual National Juried Exhibition: Third Place (2019)
9th Annual Plein Air Salon Bi-Monthly June/July: Best Outdoor Still-Life (2019)
Judge of The Hoosier Art Salon (2019)
National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society Spring Online International Exhibition: 3rd Place (2019)
Oil Painters of America 28th National Juried Exhibition: Ted Goerschner OPAM Memorial Impressionist Award of Excellence (2019)
Oil Painters of America 28th National Juried Exhibition: Member’s Choice Honorable Mention Award (2019)
8th Annual Plein Air Salon: Honorable Mention (2019)
Plein Air Salon Competition December/January: “Best Outdoor Still-Life” (2019)
Oil Painters of America Fall Online Showcase: Second Place (2018)
Boldbrush: Best of Show (Oct. 2018)
8th Annual Plein Air Salon Competition August/September: Best Outdoor Still-Life (2018)
American Impressionist Society 19th Annual Juried Exhibition: Southwest Art Award of Excellence (2018)
National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society 28th Best of America Exhibition: Second Place (2018)
Oil Painters of America Summer Online Showcase: Honorable Mention (2018)
Salmagundi Club SCNY Nautical Exhibition: Best of Show (2018)
Oil Painters of America 27th Annual National Juried Exhibition: Animal Award of Excellence (2018)
Oil Painters of America Spring Online Showcase: Honorable Mention (2018)
National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society Small Painting National Exhibition: Award of Excellence (2018)
Boldbrush: Honorable Mention (March 2018)
American Impressionist Society 2nd Annual Small Works Showcase: Honorable Mention (2018)
The Getaway International Online Showcase: Finalist (January 2018)
Oil Painters of America Online Showcase: “First Place” (Fall 2017)
The Getaway International Painting Competition: Finalist (November 2017)
PleinAir Magazine Salon Art Competition: “Best Building in Landscape” (Oct/Nov 2017)
The Getaway International Painting Competition: Best of Show (October 2017)
Oil Painters of America Western Regional: Award of Excellence 2017
The Getaway International Painting Competition: Finalist (September 2017)
Boldbrush: Best of Show (August 2017)
Daily Paint Works: Third Place (August 2017)
The Getaway International Painting Competition: Finalist (August 2017)
Boldbrush: Second Place (July 2017)
Daily Paint Works: Judges’ Pick (July 2017)
Boldbrush: Finalist (April 2017)
National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society Spring On-Line International Show: Merit Award (May 2017)
PleinAir Salon Competition: 3rd Place Overall (Oct/Nov. 2016)
Boldbrush: Best of Show (November 2016)
Oil Painters of America Western Regional Juried Exhibition: Second Place (2016)
American Impressionist Society 17th Annual National Juried Exhibition: Michael Harding Handmade Artist Oil Colours Award of Distinction (2016)
Oil Painters of America Summer Online Showcase: Honorable Mention (2016)
Boldbrush: 2nd Place (July 2016)
Oil Painters of America 25th National Juried Exhibition: Gold Medal Award (2016)
Boldbrush: 2nd Place (February 2016)
Oil Painters of America Fall Online Showcase: First Place (2015)
American Impressionist’s Society 16th Annual AIS National Juried Exhibition: Honorable Mention (2015)
Boldbrush: Finalist (June 2015)
NOAPS Online International: Best of Show (Spring 2014)
Daily Paint Works: 2nd Place (March 2014)
Boldbrush: Finalist (February 2014)
Daily Paint Works (February 2014): 2nd Place
BAA 61th Annual Spring Show 2014: First Place
Southwest Art Magazine Artistic Excellence: Honorable Mention (2014)
The Artist Magazine Annual Art Competition: 2nd Place Landscape (2013)
National Oil and Acrylic Painter’s Society: Best Landscape (2013)
American Impressionist Society 14th Annual Juried Exhibition: 3rd Place (2013)
RayMar: Finalist (August 2013)
The Laumeister Competition: 2nd Place (2013)
RayMar: Finalist (June 2013)
RayMar: Finalist (April 2013)
Oil Painters of America Online Showcase: First Place (Spring 2013)
Oil Painters of America 22nd National Juried Exhibition Associate Signature Division: Seascape Honorable Mention (May 2013)
BAA 60th Annual Spring Show 2013: Best of Show
Boldbrush: Third Place (March 2013)
RayMar: Finalist (March 2013)
RayMar: Finalist (February 2013)
RayMar 6th Annual Fine Art Competition: 3rd Place (2013)
RayMar: Finalist (November 2012)
Oil Painters of America Western Regional Exhibition: Award of Excellence (2012)
Boldbrush: “Best of Show” (August 2012)
Oil Painters of America Online Showcase: Honorable Mention (Summer 2012)
Oil Painters of America 2012 National Juried Exhibition Associate Signature Division: President’s Award of Excellence
Boldbrush: Finalist (May 2012)
RayMar: Finalist (May 2012)
Oil Painters of America Online Showcase: Honorable Mention (Spring 2012)
BAA 59th Annual Spring Show 2012: Best of Show “The Beach”
BAA 59th Annual Spring Show 2012: 3rd Place “Boats in the French Riviera”
RayMar: Finalist (March 2012)
Boldbrush: Judge (January 2012)
RayMar: Finalist (Dec. 2011)
Oil Painters of America Online Showcase: Honorable Mention (Fall 2011)
Boldbrush: “Best of Show” (October 2011)
Boldbrush: Finalist (July 2011)
Boldbrush: Finalist (June 2011)
RayMar: Finalist (May 2011)
Southwest Art: 21 under 31 Finalist (September 2010)
RayMar: Finalist (April 2010)
Education:
Quang Ho- Art Student’s League of Denver and studied privately
C.W. Mundy- Studied Privately
Memberships:
Oil Painters of America
American Impressionist Society
National Oil Acrylic Painters’ Society
Selected Exhibitions:
2022 Solo Show Claggett Rey
2021 Legacy Gallery Holiday Small Works Show
2021 Vanessa Rothe Fine Art Art Nouveau Group Show
2021 Oil Painters of America 30th National Juried Exhibition
Solo Show Royce Myers Gallery Dec. (2020)
2020 Plein Air Salon
2020 Oil Painters of America 29th National Juried Exhibition
2019 Oil Painters of America Western Regional Juried Exhibition
2019 American Impressionist Society 20th Annual Juried Exhibition
2019 “Five and Under” Group Show at Arcadia Contemporary
2019 8th Annual Plein Air Salon
2019 Oil Painters of America 28th National Juried Exhibition
2019 American Impressionist Society 3rd Annual Impressions Small Works Showcase
2019 Gallery 1261 Escape Group Show
2019 Mondo Tondo Group Show at Arcadia Contemporary
2018 American impressionist Society 19th Annual Juried Exhibition
2018 Oklahoma National Heritage Museum Annual Small Works Great Wonders
2018 Salmagundi Club NYC American Masters Show
2018 Arcadia Contemporary “Five and Under”
2018 National Oil and Acrylic Painters 28th Annual Best of America
2018 National Oil and Acrylic Painters Best of America Small Painting National Juried Exhibition
2018 19th Annual American Impressionist Society National Juried Exhibition
2018 Salmagundi Nautical Exhibition
2018 American Impressionist Society Impressions Small Works Showcase
2018 Oil Painters of America 27th Annual National Juried Exhibition
2017 18th Annual AIS National Juried Exhibition
2017 Oklahoma National Heritage Museum Annual Small Works Great Wonders
2017 Oil Painters of America Western Regional Juried Exhibition
2017 Salmagundi Club NYC American Masters Show
2017 Oil Painters of America 26th Annual National Juried Exhibition
2017 American impressionist Society Impressions Small Works Showcase
2016 The Salmagundi New Members Showcase
2016 National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum- Small Works, Great Wonders
2016 Gilcrease Collector’s Reserve Show
2016 Oil Painters of America Juried Western Regional Exhibition
2016 Oil Painters of America Juried Salon Show of Traditional Oils
2016 17th Annual AIS National Juried Exhibition
2016 The Bennington Center for the Arts Laumeister Competition
2016 Salmagundi Annual Non-Member Painting & Sculpture Exhibition
2016 Oil Painters of America 25th National Juried Exhibition
2016 717 Gallery Fine Art International Invitational Show
2015 Gallery 1261 Group Exhibition
2015 Gallery 1261 Small Works
2015 Gardner Colby Group Show
2015 American Impressionist’s Society’s 16th Annual AIS National Juried Exhibition
2014 National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum- Small Works Great Wonders
2014 BAA 61th Annual Spring Show
2013 National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum- Small Works Great Wonders
2013 Scottsdale Salon of Fine Art 3rd Annual Juried Salon Show
2013 National Oil and Acrylic Painters Society’s Best of America Exhibition
2013 Howard Mandville Small Works Show
2013 American Impressionist Society National Juried Exhibition
2013 Oil Painters of America Western Regional Juried Exhibition
2013 California Museum of Fine Art Fall Exhibition
2013 Gallery 1261 “Group Exhibition” (July 26-Sept. 14)
2013 Gallery 1261 “New Works/New Voices” (April 19th-June 1st)
2013 Gallery 1261 “Rethinking Western” Group Show (January-February)
2013 National Oil and Acrylic Painter’s Society 23rd Annual Best of America Exhibit
2013 American Impressionist Society 14th Annual Juried Exhibition
2013 The Laumeister Competition
2013 Oil Painters of America 22nd National Juried Exhibition Associate Signature Division
2013 BAA 60th Annual Spring Show
2012 Oil Painters of America Western Regional Exhibition
2012 Oil Painters of America National Juried Exhibition Associate Signature Division: President’s Award of Excellence
2012 BAA 59th Annual Spring Show
2012 BAA 59th Annual Spring Show
2012 American Impressionist Society National Juried Exhibition
2012 Gallery 1261 Small Works Show
2012 Abend Gallery 22nd Annual Holiday Miniatures Show
2012 Waterhouse Gallery Great American Figurative Artist Exhibition
2012 American Impressionist Society 13th Annual National Juried Exhibition
2012 Oil Painters of America Western Regional Juried Exhibition
2012 Oil Painters of America 21st Annual National Juried Exhibition
2012 Abend Gallery’s Artist Show
2012 Waterhouse Gallery’s Small Gems Show
2011 Abend Gallery 21st Annual Miniature Show
2011 Waterhouse Gallery’s 6th Great American Figurative Artist Exhibition
2008 Guest Artist for Oklahoma Society of Impressionists
Publications/Videos:
American Artist Magazine “American Art Collective” Podcast (2022)
The Artist’s Road “Voices of Experience” Article (2022)
Scottsdale Artists’ School Interview (2021)
Scottsdale Artist’s School- “Fast Demo” (2021)
Oklahoma Magazine: “Art an Ongoing Quest” (2021)
Tulsa World “Tulsa artist named top in the country by national magazine”(2021)
Fine Art Connoisseur “Who are the Top 6 Artists?” (January 2021)
Appreciation for Artist Derek Penix (2021)
“2019 Blank Slate Time Lapse” (2019)
Tulsa People 2019 Blank Slate Challenge (Feb 2019)
Tulsa People- “Blank Slate Challenge (March 2019)
American Art Collector “Editor’s Focus: Still-Lifes” (January 2019)
American Art Collector “Transformation Series” (February 2019)
Plein Air Magazine “Best of Category Awards” (January 2019)
American Art Collector “Transformation Series” (January 2019)
American Art Collector “Tree Series” (December 2018)
American Art Collector “Artist Focus” (December 2018)
American Art Collector “Tree Series” (November 2018)
Plein Air Magazine “Cityscapes” (November 2018)
American Art Collector “Ode to Autumn” (October 2018)
American Art Collector “Cityscape Series” (October 2018)
Fine Art Connoisseur “Koi Series” (Sept/Oct 2018)
Fine Art Connoisseur “Something New in Realism” (May/June 2018)
American Art Collector Magazine: Artist Focus (June 2017)
Lori Putnam Blog: My Struggle: Balancing Creativity and Technical Ability, Derek Penix 2016
Plein Air Magazine “Meet the $30K Prize Winner” (September 2016)
Fine Art Connoisseur “Three to Watch” (Jan/Feb 2016)
NewsOK “Oils come alive in painting exhibit by Tulsan | News OK” (2015)
Art of the West (May/June 2015)
American Art Collector (May 2014)
Oklahoma Magazine “40 Under 40” (April 2014)
Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition (2014)
Fine Art Connoisseur: “Contemporary Impressionists Receive Recognition” (2013)
The Artist Magazine (December 2013)
Fine Art Connoisseur: Exploration and Expression in the Paintings by Derek Penix (2013)
Fine Art Connoisseur: “Stunning Portraits and a Steel Deer at the Bennington” (2013)
Fine Art Connoisseur: “OPA Spring Online Showcase Award Winners” (2013)
Southwest Art Magazine: Feature Article (October 2012)
Informed Collector Recommends: Issue #880 (May 21, 2012)
Lines and Colors: (May 2012)
Canvoo Focal Point: (March 2012)
Fine Art Views Spotlight: (Nov 2011)
Informed Collector Recommends: Issue #698 (August 2011)
Southwest Art: 21 under 31 Finalist (September 2010)
Fine Art Views: (June 2010)
Western Art Collector (2010)
Performance Magazine (January 2007)
Tulsa People Magazine (January 2007)