I had a great time at this year's Fair! I demonstrated art every day with the Trumbull Area Artists, I ate a Chyro, I won a Blue Ribbon...and the last time I wrote this, the whole thing dumped. And I'm just pretty sick of this. I would like to show you Fair pictures, but I can't. I had a great time at the Fair but I am struggling endlessly just to make a blog post. And that stinks.

First place! The pony is a Welsh pony named Kiara.

This is my entry in this year's Open Air Fair Plein Air Painting Competition. Five artists went out to paint whatsoever they chose in the heat and humidity of late August in Canfield Ohio, using oils, acrylics, pastels, markers. I went to the South Ring next to the Pony Palace and painted the ring and the barns. Waited for just the right pony to come in for a practice session--this Welsh pony reminds me of Max, my gray Arab. So yes, I painted the ring, and then I painted the pony into it. The judging is happening tonight, but whether I get a ribbon or not, I am very happy with my painting! Oh, I used chalk pastels. Size is 16" x 20".

 

One of my regular vacation activities is demonstrating art at the Canfield Fair. (Mahoning County, Ohio, for those in less blest parts of the world.) This year will be no different: artists from the Trumbull Area Artists will fill the gazebo behind the Palace of Fine Arts every day from 1100 Am—2:00 PM. We paint in pastels and watercolors and oils and acrylic. Colored pencils, wood block prints, weaving, hand-spinning will appear also. And I will have multiple opportunities to sample the wonderful foods the fair offers, and take many photos from which to paint my pastels. I also regularly exhibit in the Fair’s Art Show—wish me luck! The photo below is last year's Plein Air painting competition. Mine is the giant pumpkin lower right. (Pink ribbon, Homorable mention