During the last part of September 2014, I made a road trip through the area that is included in the Illinois River Watershed Project whose headquarters is located in Cave Springs, Arkansas.  Below are some pictures, mostly from Arkansas, that represents some of the watershed land.  The weather was delightful, low 80s during the day and 60s at night, with lots of sun and no wind.  Some of these pictures will no doubt become painting projects.


Below are some pictures from Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park in Prairie Grove, Arkansas. 
 

A historic house on a hill overlooking Prairie Grove Battlefield.

A barn located between Siloam Springs and Prairie Grove, Arkansas

Land along the Illinois River south of Siloam Springs

An old dam located on the Illinois River south of Siloam Springs

HA HA TONKA, LATE SUMMER

16x20 Acrylic on Stretched Canvas, $375

This painting was available at Bill's Art Center and Gallery (573-317-1010) in Camdenton, Missouri.  It is now available through DailyPaintworks.com (PayPal).  This represents the view of Lake of the Ozarks from the Ha Ha Tonka State Park looking out toward the main body of the lake.  This was done from photo reference, from my favorite landscape colors, and from memory.  I think this boater is living on the edge, probably too close to the coastline.

This is one of my favorite painting places.  Great light, great colors on the water, and a variety of boats.  There is a large bluff there with the remains of a Missouri castle.  Lots of different subject matter.  Even though it's still cold now, summer is coming!

John Lasater 3-day Plein Air Workshop, IRWP, Arkansas

On November 7, 8 and 9 John held a 3-day workshop sponsored by the Illinois River Watershed Project group.  Somewhat cool but fall colors still hanging around, especially at the Crystal Bridges Museum. 

Here are some snapshots of activities:

John Lasater demonstrating ways to pre-plan a painting.  Value study, color study, shape study.

John's small studies for painting composition.

My small studies for a painting composition.  Hmmmm.

A sample of John's brush strokes.  Very loose and not totally blended.

Really enjoyed the workshop.  I love the northwest Arkansas area too, and the workshop was a great combination.  Enjoyed the artist networking and camaraderie!

A big Thank You to Bill Wood of Bill's Art Center and Gallery for the purchase of my "Old Time Living" 8x10 oil painting done at Truman Visitor Center on Truman Lake near Warsaw, Missouri.  This painting was completed on location with De Munden in the mid summer.  I was especially inspired by the historic open porch setting with plants all around the front of the porch and old picket fence.



Old Time Living, 8x10 Oil on canvas board, painted on location.

Several Springfield Plein Air artists went together down to the Buffalo River Boxley Valley to spend a few days painting and enjoying the outdoors.  You can check out my Facebook page for pictures of sketches I produced while there.  The weather was great, and the early fall colors, blue hills, and river views were so wonderful.  Here I was painting on an 8x10 canvas panel at the old Boxley Mill site (building no longer there), and the mid-morning colors were so nice. 

Here I'm painting at the Boxley Mill site with marshes.

Enjoyed the morning out painting with Larry Johnston and his brother Richard from Arizona at the Outlet Park on Pomme De Terre Lake near Hermitage, Missouri.  This little painting was looking upriver through early morning backlit trees with the blue haze above the river just sparkling.  I think one change might be to make the yellow-green leaves and foreground grass actually red orange to fill out the complementary color scheme yellow green, blue violet, and red orange (very light)

This little 8x10 painting was done with the Springfield Plein Air Group at one of their outings!  It's actually Dolores but it's really loose and so it could probably be anybody.  Looks fun tho!