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William Turman Plein Air Event, Terre Haute, June 2024

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Courthouse from the ISU campus, 9×12 ins, oil on linen canvas

On June 13-16, 2024 I took part in the second Plein Air Event in Terre Haute. This year we were allowed 10 blank canvases, up from 5 last year. I could not manage to paint 10! I ended up with 5 paintings.

I decided to have the Courthouse as my focal point this year, painting it from different directions at different times of day.

Thumbnails on the first morning, from the N East
First block in
Another view
Detail, oil on linen canvas board
Finished on the second morning
How I kept the sun off my palette

I decided to try this view again on Gessobord, so I went back later on the second day to block in the shapes, and then returned on the morning of the third day to finish it.

This view received an Award of Recognition!

I also painted to the west of the Courthouse, at Dewey Point at the Wabashiki wetland, over two evenings:

The view across the Wabashiki Wetlands to the Courthouse, and a poor photo of my painting of it. I had lots of fun interactions with people at this spot, I was in a hurry to go to the next spot to finish painting there, and forgot to photo any of the painting process!

My third location was in Fairbanks Bank, on the banks of the Wabash River, but this year I turned my attention to the Courthouse instead of the river. I painted two paintings from slightly different locations.

Unfortunately, I also forgot to take progress photos here, and this is not a clear photo. I like this composition, and I was happy with my use of greens, and the brushwork.
The top 3 photos are from the 1st visit—a beautiful calm, quiet evening; I painted the ‘block-in’ (first layers of colors). I felt I was getting into my stride.The last photo here is a poor representation; I was hurrying out of the door to get them all delivered to the collection point.

When I returned to complete it the next evening, lots of people started arriving for a family concert (a local Wind Band) playing in the Amphitheater! I had not expected this, and it was a very different atmosphere! It turned out to be really fun. Lots of people stopped to look at what I was doing and make comments, or tell me their story; children were especially vocal and engaged. A girl told me she loved my painting and it ought to be in an art museum, and then she picked a clover and gave it to me as my award! Beautiful experiences!