Plein Air Painting on the Mighty Mississippi

Perspectives from The Artist's Road

Frederick Oakes Sylvester

We believe in the truth of the adage that there are, “diamonds in our own backyards”. To live it instead of just talking about it, we made the short trip to paint the Mississippi River near St. Louis, Mo. just a few hours from our door. We have always been inspired by rivers big and small. Whether the subject is interesting wildlife or fabulous light or the raw power of nature, there is always something great to see and paint along them. Over the years, we have returned to these rivers to attempt to capture that special something they possess. The Mississippi always exceeds our expectations.

Our journey up the Mississippi got started at a little park on the northern shore of the river—at the spot where the Missouri River joins it. It is also the place where Lewis and Clark began their adventurous exploration of the American West, paddling hard upstream against the mighty current. Our ultimate destination was the 300-…