A day in Freedom painting the view

Dallas Mayer of Hooker has been showing her work at the Graceful Arts Gallery in Alva since January. She attended the First Friday Artwalk at the gallery to talk with visitors about her paintings. "I really like Alva. It's a very artistic community," she said.

Mayer extended her stay in Woods County with a trip to Freedom and the Cimarron River Friday. "It's just beautiful," she said of the river and bluffs.

"I went to the city office and asked permission to go out on the old cement bridge," Mayer said. She'd obviously spent some time in the sun judging by the slightly reddening of her skin.

She said she "took my easel and plein-air equipment and paints and brushes." Plein-air comes from a French expression referring to painting outdoors instead of in a studio. Mayer said she "painted those beautiful red bluffs and the river."

However, she couldn't show off the resulting oil painting because she immediately sold it. "I went back and thanked them for allowing me to go out on the bridge today, and the city clerk (Dawn Wares) bought the painting," she said. Mayer said she titled her creation "Dawn's View."

Mayer's work is on display this month as part of the Art of the West exhibit at the Graceful Arts Gallery in Alva.