Programs: Lectures & Artist Talks

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.

Finding the Thread: Themes That Hold Your Work Together

All artists have recurring obsessions. Discover the connective tissue of your work.

Audience Takeaway: Identify one theme they return to over and over.

Presenter Prompt: Show two to three pieces that reveal a through-line in your art. 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.

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

Explore how artificial intelligence can become a creative ally in both your studio practice and professional growth. This workshop introduces artists to AI tools like ChatGPT, demonstrating how to craft effective prompts, streamline writing tasks such as statements and bios, and spark new ideas. We’ll also cover SEO basics and simple strategies to make your work easier to find online, with practical website examples using Wix. Participants will leave with clear, actionable ways to use AI to support their creativity and strengthen their digital presence.

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

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 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.

Materials as Meaning: What Your Medium Says About You

Every artist chooses a medium for emotional reasons, not just technical ones.

Audience Takeaway: A list of the emotional qualities of their medium.

Presenter Prompt: Share how your chosen medium amplifies your message or identity. 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.

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

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.

Storytelling Through Composition

How arrangement, angle, movement, and space tell a story.

Audience Takeaway: Three compositional tools they can experiment with.

Presenter Prompt: Show one piece and break down how composition communicates the emotion or narrative. 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.

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