Programs: Artist Alliance

Starting off our new and refreshed 2026 OMA Artist Alliance programming, Coffee and Conversation will reshape into a guided conversation/ presentation format. We are seeking THIRD SUNDAY Coffee & Conversation presenters.

Bring your artwork to share with the group, receive the feedback you’re looking for, and enjoy a supportive space for creative conversation. Each month, one artist will have the opportunity to give a longer presentation to practice sharing their work and ideas with the group in a supportive setting.

This month's presenter is Scott Bruckner!

*To be selected as a future presenter, please submit your name and website to cathy@artstudiosandiego.com

Ticket Prices:

Artist Alliance Member: Free

In this virtual workshop series, artists are invited to turn their journal into a studio companion and idea incubator. Through interactive Zoom sessions we'll explore simple, repeatable practices artists can use to generate content, clarify ideas, and deepen connection to their work.

MARCH TOPIC: WHAT IS YOUR ARCHETYPE, AND HOW CAN YOU USE IT TO WRITE FROM THAT POINT OF VIEW?

In this interactive journaling workshop, you’ll:

- Explore your core values and creative motivations

-Use guided journaling prompts to uncover your personal “Why”

-Shape words that inspire your art, fuel your career, and connect you with audiences

You will receive a Zoom link in the emailed RSVP confirmation receipt.

Ticket Prices:

Artist Alliance Member: Free

This workshop introduces artists to online tools (including AI) for crafting effective prompts, streamlining writing tasks such as statements and bios, and sparking new ideas. We’ll also cover SEO basics and simple strategies to make your work easier to find online, with practical website examples. Participants will leave with clear, actionable ways to use online tools to support their creativity and strengthen their digital presence.

This is the first session of a three-part professional development series with Cathy Carey, designed to help artists strengthen their careers and expand their reach in today’s evolving art world. From building a strong digital presence to confidently pricing and selling work, these workshops offer practical skills for every stage of an artist’s journey. Workshops may be taken individually or as a complete series. The next sessions will take place on May 5 (Building a Virtual Presence & Marketing Your Art) and July 21 (Pricing Artwork & Selling Online)

A limited number of scholarships are available for artists who wish to attend but cannot support the fees at this time, contact katie@oma-online.org to inquire.

Ticket Prices:

Adult: $65

Member: $60

Artist Alliance Member: $50

Note regarding the use of AI:

As a regional contemporary art museum committed to presenting and supporting living artists, Oceanside Museum of Art (OMA) affirms its dedication to artistic integrity, authorship, and human creativity. Our mission centers on amplifying the voices and lived experiences of Southern California artists, and we value work grounded in intentionality and personal vision. We recognize that AI technologies are increasingly integrated into everyday digital platforms and institutional tools. We encourage moderation, thoughtful engagement, and independent study of the ethical, legal, and cultural implications of these technologies.

Paint the cute umbrellas and victorian architecture, guests enjoying their pie, the steers views, or the nearby pier views. Free parking at the lot at the corner of Seagaze and S Cleveland drives or metered street parking. Public restrooms available nearby at the pier.

Open to All Levels!

Whether you're a seasoned plein air painter or just starting your artistic journey, this event is for you! Beginners and experienced painters can find fresh inspiration in the urban and natural landscape.

How to Participate:

Register for the event on the San Diego Plein Air Painters Meetup Group site: https://www.meetup.com/painter-86/

Bring your painting supplies, easel, and canvases. Don't forget sunscreen and a hat for the California sun!

This is a non-instructional event.

Paint to your heart's content and enjoy the dynamic surroundings.

Become an OMA Artist Alliance Member:

Join and learn more about Artist Alliance and the activities at Oceanside Museum of Art at: https://oma-online.org/membership/

Ticket Prices:

Artist Alliance Member: Free

Hangar 76

OMA Artist Alliance members and their guests are invited to gather each month for a lively social meetup hosted at rotating venues throughout San Diego and North County. These informal get-togethers offer a relaxed opportunity to connect with fellow artists, share ideas, and build community while exploring a range of hotspots across the region. Whether you’re catching up with familiar faces or meeting someone new, each gathering encourages conversation, collaboration, and camaraderie within the Artist Alliance network.

This is a no-host event, attendees are welcome to purchase their own food and beverages.

Join OMA’s Free First Sundays for Art for All! Each month, OMA welcomes friends and neighbors on Free First Sundays to join in Art for All, our fun hands-on art-making experience led by artists and cultural partners from our community.

In celebration of the Big Read in partnership with Oceanside Public Library, this April’s Art For All draws inspiration from The Seed Keeper. Participants will create native plant clay seed bombs. These are small, sculptural clay forms filled with local, pollinator-friendly native seeds. These unfired clay shapes can be placed in your yard or garden, where the clay will naturally break down and allow the seeds to take root in the soil. 

Whether you’re new to art or have your own creative flow, Art for All is the time to let your imagination soar. Visit our current exhibitions to spark your creativity! Explore different art-making materials through creative projects at each session while learning from local and regional artists. Check back each month to see what we’re up to next!

These informal drop-in workshops are open to all ages. Children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult. All materials are provided free of charge, while supplies last. All levels welcome!

Ticket Prices:

Free

Relax over a steaming cup of coffee, and bring your artwork to share with your fellow Artist Alliance members! Each month one artist will have the opportunity to give a longer presentation, and practice sharing their work and ideas in front of a supportive group setting.

April's presenter is Theo DeHart!

*To be selected as a future presenter, please submit your name and website to cathy@artstudiosandiego.com

Ticket Prices:

Artist Alliance Member: Free

Park for free in the Civic Center Parking Lot and come paint next to the fountain in front of the library. You could venture street-side or focus on the palms, nearby church or even OMA. So many options. Restrooms in the library.

Open to All Levels!

Whether you're a seasoned plein air painter or just starting your artistic journey, this event is for you! Beginners and experienced painters can find fresh inspiration in the urban and natural landscape.

How to Participate:

Register for the event on the San Diego Plein Air Painters Meetup Group site: https://www.meetup.com/painter-86/

Bring your painting supplies, easel, and canvases. Don't forget sunscreen and a hat for the California sun!

This is a non-instructional event.

Paint to your heart's content and enjoy the dynamic surroundings.

Become an OMA Artist Alliance Member:

Join and learn more about Artist Alliance and the activities at Oceanside Museum of Art at: https://oma-online.org/membership/

Ticket Prices:

Artist Alliance Member: Free

In this virtual workshop series, artists are invited to turn their journal into a studio companion and idea incubator. Through interactive Zoom sessions we'll explore simple, repeatable practices artists can use to generate content, clarify ideas, and deepen connection to their work.

APRIL TOPIC: WRITING AN ARTWORK STATEMENT

In this interactive journaling workshop, you’ll:

- Explore your core values and creative motivations

-Use guided journaling prompts to uncover your personal “Why”

-Shape words that inspire your art, fuel your career, and connect you with audiences

You will receive a Zoom link in the emailed RSVP confirmation receipt.

Ticket Prices:

Artist Alliance Member: Free

Enjoy refreshments and experience a fast-paced and in-depth artwork critique of up tp 10 juried artworks! Jurors Danielle Deery, Independant Curator, Patric Stillman, The Studio Door, Hillcrest, and a third juror to be announced will select the works from submissions and will also run the in-person session.

Submit your artwork here for jurying consideration.

Ticket Prices:

Adult: $10

Member: $5

Artist Alliance Members: Free

About Artist Alliance

OMA's Artist Alliance serves as an affiliated membership group accessible to OMA members at any tier for an extra annual fee of $20 per person. This alliance fosters interaction, visibility, and professional growth for artists within the region. OMA holds a number of events that either feature Artist Alliance members’ artwork (both on-and-off-site exhibitions), are exclusive to Artist Alliance members (i.e. Artist Alliance Biennial), or offer free or discounted admission. Learn more about Artist Alliance here.

Join OMA’s Free First Sundays for Art for All! Each month, OMA welcomes friends and neighbors on Free First Sundays to join in Art for All, our fun hands-on art-making experience led by artists and cultural partners from our community.

Whether you’re new to art or have your own creative flow, Art for All is the time to let your imagination soar. Visit our current exhibitions to spark your creativity! Explore different art-making materials through creative projects at each session while learning from local and regional artists. Check back each month to see what we’re up to next!

These informal drop-in workshops are open to all ages. Children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult. All materials are provided free of charge, while supplies last. All levels welcome!

Ticket Prices:

Free

In today’s art world, a strong online presence is just as important as the work itself. This workshop helps artists identify their actual and ideal audience and understand who they are really speaking to—collectors, curators, or community. From there, participants will explore how to define a clear brand voice, using archetypes to guide how they present themselves authentically. We’ll break down the major social media channels, showing how to choose the right platforms for your goals, and share practical strategies for creating posts, reels, and videos that truly connect. Artists will leave with the tools to confidently market their work online and build relationships that last.

A limited number of scholarships are available for artists who wish to attend but cannot support the fees at this time, contact katie@oma-online.org to inquire.

Ticket Prices:

Adult: $65

Member: $60

Artist Alliance Member: $50

This is a small little beach where you can paint waves, palm trees, lifeguard towers, the cute local cafe, or the inlet. Parking is easy and restrooms are convenient.

Open to All Levels!

Whether you're a seasoned plein air painter or just starting your artistic journey, this event is for you! Beginners and experienced painters can find fresh inspiration in the urban and natural landscape.

How to Participate:

Register for the event on the San Diego Plein Air Painters Meetup Group site: https://www.meetup.com/painter-86/

Bring your painting supplies, easel, and canvases. Don't forget sunscreen and a hat for the California sun!

This is a non-instructional event.

Paint to your heart's content and enjoy the dynamic surroundings.

Become an OMA Artist Alliance Member:

Join and learn more about Artist Alliance and the activities at Oceanside Museum of Art at: https://oma-online.org/membership/

Ticket Prices:

Artist Alliance Member: Free

Relax over a steaming cup of coffee, and bring your artwork to share with your fellow Artist Alliance members! Each month one artist will have the opportunity to give a longer presentation, and practice sharing their work and ideas in front of a supportive group setting.

May's presenter is Dawn Harrison!

*To be selected as a future presenter, please submit your name and website to cathy@artstudiosandiego.com. Positions are filled until July.

Ticket Prices:

Artist Alliance Member: Free

In this virtual workshop series, artists are invited to turn their journal into a studio companion and idea incubator. Through interactive Zoom sessions we'll explore simple, repeatable practices artists can use to generate content, clarify ideas, and deepen connection to their work.

MAY TOPIC: HOW TO UNDERSTAND YOUR STORY

In this interactive journaling workshop, you’ll:

- Explore your core values and creative motivations

-Use guided journaling prompts to uncover your personal “Why”

-Shape words that inspire your art, fuel your career, and connect you with audiences

You will receive a Zoom link in the emailed RSVP confirmation receipt.

Ticket Prices:

Artist Alliance Member: Free

Artist Alliance members, along with their guests, are welcome to engage in a group art share and critique, aimed at fostering professional growth. Not yet part of the alliance? No worries, you can join either before the event or on-site!

Ticket Prices:

Artist Alliance Member: Free

Join OMA’s Free First Sundays for Art for All! Each month, OMA welcomes friends and neighbors on Free First Sundays to join in Art for All, our fun hands-on art-making experience led by artists and cultural partners from our community.

Whether you’re new to art or have your own creative flow, Art for All is the time to let your imagination soar. Visit our current exhibitions to spark your creativity! Explore different art-making materials through creative projects at each session while learning from local and regional artists. Check back each month to see what we’re up to next!

These informal drop-in workshops are open to all ages. Children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult. All materials are provided free of charge, while supplies last. All levels welcome!

Ticket Prices:

Free

Relax over a steaming cup of coffee while engaging in lively conversations with local fellow artists and explore the captivating exhibitions at OMA for free. OMA's Artist Alliance extends a warm invitation to sculptors, painters, photographers, and artists of all backgrounds to join in the experience.

The Emotional Palette: Color as Communication

Color is powerful—learn how artists use it to guide feeling, mood, and meaning.

Audience Takeaway: Name the emotional intention behind one color in their palette.

Presenter Prompt: Share how you choose colors and what emotional language they carry for you. Presenter to be determined*

*Please submit your name and website to cathy@artstudiosandiego.com to be selected as a presenter.

Ticket Prices:

Artist Alliance Member: Free

In this virtual workshop series, artists are invited to turn their journal into a studio companion and idea incubator. Through interactive Zoom sessions we'll explore simple, repeatable practices artists can use to generate content, clarify ideas, and deepen connection to their work.

JUNE TOPIC: WRITING YOUR MISSION STATEMENT

In this interactive journaling workshop, you’ll:

- Explore your core values and creative motivations

-Use guided journaling prompts to uncover your personal “Why”

-Shape words that inspire your art, fuel your career, and connect you with audiences

You will receive a Zoom link in the emailed RSVP confirmation receipt.

Ticket Prices:

Artist Alliance Member: Free

This is a small park with great views. There are lots of lovely mature trees, ocean vistas from the west side, playgrounds, and paths as well as plenty of shade. Parking is free and restrooms are available.

Open to All Levels!

Whether you're a seasoned plein air painter or just starting your artistic journey, this event is for you! Beginners and experienced painters can find fresh inspiration in the urban and natural landscape.

How to Participate:

Register for the event on the San Diego Plein Air Painters Meetup Group site: https://www.meetup.com/painter-86/

Bring your painting supplies, easel, and canvases. Don't forget sunscreen and a hat for the California sun!

This is a non-instructional event.

Paint to your heart's content and enjoy the dynamic surroundings.

Become an OMA Artist Alliance Member:

Join and learn more about Artist Alliance and the activities at Oceanside Museum of Art at: https://oma-online.org/membership/

Ticket Prices:

Artist Alliance Member: Free