Out for an early morning painting session in Wimberley.  Mima's Kitchen is the perfect place to find a delicious breakfast, or lunch.  

Today was the culmination of a great festival, and it started by dropping two framed paintings off for judging and display - Each artist had to choose two from what they had done during the week.  After that it was back to painting with the "Quick Draw".  Artists participating in this are given two hours to paint an image, and then have 30 minutes to get it framed and delivered for hanging.  I think that were about 20 artists participating and we were strung along Main Street.  At the same time, the Buda Arts Festival (of which the Plein Air Competition is part) was going on, so there were lots of people walking along and watching the progress.  I did a painting looking into the town center from a block or so away.

After the quick draw, it was off to see the show.  I was pleased to learn that, although I didn't win any cash prizes, I did get two "Honorable Mentions" for the two pieces that I entered - "Morning Mist" and "Waiting to Move".  A great even and a lot of fun!

This morning was wet and foggy as I drove in.  Right across from the cement plant that I painted yesterday, was this ranch covered in fog and mist. With a couple of cows grazing in the near field, I couldn't resist!  The painting came together quickly and I scurried into town to capture the railroad trestle.  I saw the trestle early in the week, but there were workers doing road work and I couldn't get to it.  Today they were gone, so I jumped in as the sun was coming across the bridge.

On the second day of the Budy Plein Air Festival, I started the day by stopping to paint the cement plant on the road into town.  I am often drawn to the parts of town that aren't quite as "pretty" as most people like, but they are still part of our world, and I love the challenge.  Later in the morning, I moved into town and explored Garison Park, along Onion Creek.  What a little gem this place is.  Very few people (one other artist and a fisherman) and a shade covered trail along the creek.  I found these two canoes tied up across the creek, and thought that the splash of color played nicely against the earth tones of the creek bank.

I started out this festival painting what I love most - Old buildings.  The two cabins and the barn (along with a silo that I didn't capture) came off of a local ranch several years ago.  They are sitting along Main Street, just outside the center of town with the I-beams used to support them in the move still installed.  I guess someone had a vision to save them and do something useful with them, but there they sit.  Hopefully the find a home soon!

The Inspired Minds Art Center in Buda Texas is hosting their fourth annual Buda Plein Air Festival September 12-16.  This is my first year participating in this and am looking forward to it.  I'll post daily with what I find to paint out there.