Peggy Wilson/ Plein Air/ Portrait/ Painter: Steelville Plein Air

Steelville was a good time, and I was honored to receive three awards. This tiny town buzzes with people all day. It is the 'capitol of MO rafting'. Debbie Payne and I stayed in a really nice trailer on the property of one of the sponsors and committee members. Ellen and Jack has the trailer we stayed and and a very cool caboose! Our friend Marcia stayed in it. There is not a tremendous amount of social time at these events. Everyone is busy painting or framing or cleaning out their cars….which end up looking like a studio for art supplies. It took me a day to clean mine out and POWER wash it!

Marcia and Rusty Young. Rusty was married to one of the painters, Mary. He is the lead singer in POCO! Small world. Who would guess the lead member of the band POCO would be living in the wilds of Steelville?

The artists participating in the event.

One of the paintings I did which received an honorable mention award.

This venue was at a private estate we all painted for a sunset competition. The rest of the photos of this event are several pictures below. Out of order…..

The estate was amazing with lots of art, sculptures, and two musicians playing for us.

One of the feasts we were invited to partake in.

I read this AFTER I set up to paint.

I title it 'Not worth dying for".

Waiting for judging, we met in the bar next door.

Nyle Gordon won several top awards.

Craig Thomas, who paints on hollow core doors!

Paige is an amazing person. She has 5 kids and is adopting one from Letvainia or someplace I had never heard of.

one of mine

One of the horses at the estate we painted at one day. They had 4 or 5 kids, all home schooled.

This little church was a one room school house. They converted it to a chapel. It was so wonderful.

Meramac State Park

My host house took this painting as their host gift. It was one of my favorites.

Marty Coulter and I painted side by side one afternoon. He had finished two previously.

My block in.

This painting finished, won third place. It was auctioned the last day of the event.

These are a little out of order, but this is the private estate with the musicians. They had this wonderful open barn, where we had the reception.

This was the 'library'. The light was on by the door and I figured it would be a perfect evening painting.

Debbie's painting of the cemetery where the host said 'all my relatives are'. No need for a family tree!

This is my finished painting. After the purchase award was given, the owners also purchased my painting and Debbie's' painting. Lucky we picked the subjects they were hoping someone painted.

Dillard's Mill park. After we left and were driving out I saw the rattle snake below!

I was so worried about chiggers and ticks, I didn't think about snakes until I saw this one. It was huge. It had about 5 rattles. It was as thick as my wrist.

Two of the painters entertaining after the judging.

Steelville was full of surprises. This soda fountain was across from the gallery.

This artist's home was spectacular. She painted and he was one of the committee. They had a really nice potluck dinner for us the last night.

This is the Cob House. Craig Thomas stayed in this house during the event. Lucky dog. They built it first and lived there 3 years until the big house was finished. Now it is a studio!