Rea Valley Barn

Rea Valley Barn

6X8, Oil on Panel

SOLD

Long past due to add something here.  But this is old from the White River Plein Air this spring.  That was a cold, dreary day.  And now here it is, another cold dreary day before I return to this blog.  Time has a way of slipping through our fingers.

Deshields Creek Floodplain, Old Town Lead Hill, Boone County

Deshields Creek Floodplain, Old Town Lead Hill

9X12, Oil on Panel

Available

 

 

The White River Plein Air contest has a geographic limitation of a 30 mile radius from the town of Cotter.  I used almost all of that to get this scene from my home town.

Keesee Church, Monarch, Marion County

Keesee Church

8X10, Oil on Panel

SOLD

At the beginning of May, I attended my first ever plein air competition, Plein Air on the White River in the northern part of the state.  This area is close to where I grew up so I know it well.  The competition is centered around the town of Cotter.  The White River has been dammed up in several places, forming Beaver, Bull Shoals, and Table Rock Lakes.  The water that pours out of Bull Shoals Dam is cold and provides a great habitat for trout, making Cotter a haven for fly fishermen.  Most attendees spent a lot of time around the river near Cotter painting the typical scenes.  I, however, in typical contrarian fashion, struck out far and wide and found things no one else would have looked for.  This little church is tucked down a long valley about 20 miles from Cotter near Monarch.  Monarch isn't really a town anymore even though a lot of people still refer to it almost as if it is.  I used to pass by this church often.

White River Paint Out

As fellow Arkansas artist Bill Garrison reminded me in a comment a few days ago, the White River Artists will be having their 3rd annual plein air paint out on May 19-21.  I will be unable to attend but I'm sure there will be plenty of great painters there and lots of camaraderie for anyone interested in participating.  You can get more information at their facebook page.