Winner!

This is my Winning painting that Won "Second Place" in the Augusta Missouri Plein Air Event.  
A well deserved,  "First Place" went to Joshua Been, who is one of the nicest and most talented painters on the Plein Air circuit!   We were painting in the town of Defience in and around the "Yellow House Vineyard."   I saw this view the week before, and thought it would make a great painting.  We had a lot of rain during the plein air event but it wasn't raining on THIS day, so capturing the scene should be a piece of cake! 
There was a strong breeze that would come and go just as I was about to paint a bit of detail!   And I would have to stop now and then to retrieve my umbrella!  (The umbrella was to keep the sun off my panel while I trying to paint.)

Along with the popping umbrella, and high wind gusts, I also had a visitor stop by to watch me paint.   He wanted to talk and gave me a history lesson on the different types of grapevines that were planted on the hillside.   I tried to be polite, but the light was changing fast at this point and I really needed to finish and get the painting to the judging station.   After awhile he asked what I was going to do with that painting?   I told him at the end of the plein air event there would be an Art Show.  
I'm Happy to report,  it SOLD!

Augusta Missouri Plein Air Event

This was the lake in Augusta, and when I first saw it I knew it was a painting!  
Water is my favorite subject, and there were tall lacey trees that was just starting to bud and best of all reflections to paint! 

So here I am in a beautiful setting, painting equipment at the ready!  Day seven of the "Augusta, Missouri Plein Air Event,"  and it is raining!  It has rained everyday of the Paint-Out and today for added interest we have a cold wind.  So as the rain pours down, I would occasionally stop, and pour the water out of my paint box, retrieve my umbrella from the wind gusts, and paint on!
I only stopped a few times to go to the car, to put on another layer of clothes, ending up with four layers of clothes and a flattering plastic poncho.  Wish I had a picture of this fashion statement!  :)  

  But through all this, I think I painted my BEST painting.          SOLD