2008 Woodie Awards
Painting Missouri: Landscapes by Billy O'Donnell
Cate Marquis
Issue date: 8/25/08 Section: Arts and Entertainment
The beauty of the Missouri countryside and its small towns are represented in colorful, lush impressionistic paintings by artist Billy O'Donnell in a current art exhibit at the St. Louis Mercantile Library on campus.
"An Artist Paints Missouri: Landscapes by Billyo O'Donnell" features paintings from the artist's project to paint all 114 counties in the state, plus the independent City of St. Louis, which is its own separate county. There are 115 paintings in the exhibit as well as some additional materials such as the artist's sketchbook, paints and brushes.
The beautiful paintings put the state of Missouri in its best light, and this exhibit offers students a relaxing break from classes nearly as good as a drive in the countryside.
The emphasis of the collected works are on the natural beauty of the state, but pastoral scenes of peacefully scenic small towns and rural activities such as harvesting crops, farmers' markets and fly fishing are also represented in postcard perfect fashion.
As the title indicates, the paintings are landscapes, mostly of rural scenes with a few that use historic buildings and small town streetscapes as subjects. There are a few paintings with people in the scenes, usually at a distance.
All together, the variety of scenes in the paintings presents a sort of snapshot of Missouri, particularly of rural life.
Besides the paintings of peaceful fields under dramatically cloudy skies, like Marion County's "Lover's Leap," and stately mansions and buildings such as the brightly lit "Greenfield Opera House" in Dade County, there are Missouri attractions and scenic locations as well.
Johnston Shut-Ins, Elephant Rocks, and the ruins at Ha Ha Tonka are represented, along with many favorite parks. One particularly striking painting is "Bollinger Mill" in Cape Girardeau County, a lovely red water mill, with the top half in sunlight and the water and ground below in shadow.
Along with being remarkably consistent in tone and style, the paintings are visually appealing, soothing and almost dream-like.
"An Artist Paints Missouri: Landscapes by Billyo O'Donnell" features paintings from the artist's project to paint all 114 counties in the state, plus the independent City of St. Louis, which is its own separate county. There are 115 paintings in the exhibit as well as some additional materials such as the artist's sketchbook, paints and brushes.
The beautiful paintings put the state of Missouri in its best light, and this exhibit offers students a relaxing break from classes nearly as good as a drive in the countryside.
The emphasis of the collected works are on the natural beauty of the state, but pastoral scenes of peacefully scenic small towns and rural activities such as harvesting crops, farmers' markets and fly fishing are also represented in postcard perfect fashion.
As the title indicates, the paintings are landscapes, mostly of rural scenes with a few that use historic buildings and small town streetscapes as subjects. There are a few paintings with people in the scenes, usually at a distance.
All together, the variety of scenes in the paintings presents a sort of snapshot of Missouri, particularly of rural life.
Besides the paintings of peaceful fields under dramatically cloudy skies, like Marion County's "Lover's Leap," and stately mansions and buildings such as the brightly lit "Greenfield Opera House" in Dade County, there are Missouri attractions and scenic locations as well.
Johnston Shut-Ins, Elephant Rocks, and the ruins at Ha Ha Tonka are represented, along with many favorite parks. One particularly striking painting is "Bollinger Mill" in Cape Girardeau County, a lovely red water mill, with the top half in sunlight and the water and ground below in shadow.
Along with being remarkably consistent in tone and style, the paintings are visually appealing, soothing and almost dream-like.
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