"Paint the Point" last week

"Paint the Point" in Mineral Point, WI was an event I participated in for the first time.  It was held this past week Tues., thru Sat.  An artist gathering was held on Tuesday evening with some wonderful appetizers complimented with local brewed beer.  We mingled and introduced ourselves to new paint buddies and sponsors of the event.

This being the first time being in Mineral Point, I had my friend John Preston, (which has participated  the past 3 years ),  take the wheel and drive my friend Carlene Dingman Atwater and I around Tuesday evening to check out the vistas and town of Mineral Point for potential painting compositions.

After having panels stamped at 7am on Weds., I headed out East of town to park along highway 39 and paint this view looking NW.  Photo's a bit washed out but you get the jest of the 14"x11" panel.  This work, along with the one below, SOLD during the Public viewing and sales on Saturday.  WhooHoo!

 Thursday I decided to hang out on Mineral Point's High Street which is the heart of some pretty awesome stone built buildings that house artist Studios, Deli's, Boutiques and other fine businesses.  If you're not familiar with the community, it's mainly an artists haven for potters, contemporary painters, and creative souls in general.  Mineral Point is approx. 39 miles SW of Madison, WI.

Below is the shop of a very talented weaver that specializes in high end fine scarves and clothing.  The owners did most the restoration work on the building themselves....including the removal of asbestos tiles on the floor. They hired a local carpenter to recreate the store front to as close to the original look as possible.  The doors alone are a solid 3 inches of beautiful Oak.  Glass in the windows have waves in it to look as authentic to antique glass as possible.  It was fun painting the reflections as wavy curves......like water.

Yep......it was the colorful wind socks that drew me in......they screamed to me..... "You W-A-N-T to paint me"!    I started this 12"x 9" oil one day and came back the next morning to finish it.

I've gotta learn to talk and paint at the same time.  I had a GREAT time visiting with passersby and overall this week, I've learned a lot about the origins and happenings of this historic town.

(P.S.  I took artistic license and added flower pots on the sidewalk.  The owner said she had the exact type of pots on the back porch of the building and offered to move them out front for me.....my my.... I met friendly/helpful people at every turn.