Inclement weather, including lightning, did not deter the participants in Callaway Plein Air, held recently in and around Fulton, Missouri.
The tone was set on the opening night, when judge Brian Mahieu gave a sunset painting demo that was punctuated with lightning strikes. According to attendee Susan Rogers, most participants took shelter, but Mahieu kept painting until he nailed down a nice piece. Rain and overcast skies lingered over the next couple of days, clearing up for the last day of the event. This worked out fine for Rogers, who painted her First Place-winning piece on the final evening.
“Before the Sunset,” by Susan Rogers, 2016, pastel, 16 x 20 in. First Place
“The weather was wonderful, and my friend Michele Wells and I were able to paint along a country road,” Rogers says. “I chose a 16 x 20 inch piece of LaCarte paper to create ‘Before the Sunset,’ which won First Place. The real show was after I completed it. The most spectacular shades of orange, yellow, and pink infused the cloud formations — a wonderful ending to a busy, productive day.”
A typical view in Callaway County
Other winners at Callaway included Linda Hoffman, Second Place for “Prairie Trust”; Catherine Mahoney, Third Place for “Mokane Peace & Rest” and Paint the Town winner for “Rainy Night, Brick District”; Marty Coulter, winner in Non-Landscape/Direct Observation for “A Walk in Memorial Park” and Quick Paint winner for “John’s Delorean”; and Michele Wells, Sunrise/Sunset winner for “Evening Light.”
Brian Mahieu paints a demo under threatening skies
Daniel Fishback, Ellen Heislen, Cindy Logan, and Debra Scoggins-Myers won Honorable Mention.
The art will be on display at the Art House in Fulton until the end of July.
