Racing History
When I visit a racetrack with a long and rich history, like the oval at the Indiana State Fair track, I can almost...
Stars, Stripes, & Cowboys Foreve...
The rodeo arena was decorated with several huge American flags, which dwarfed the cowboys sitting below them. I’m...
Blind Side
He’s not really blind, just blinded by blinders. Trainers put all sorts of interesting contraptions on these harness...
Flare
A harness racing horse I photographed at the State Fair a couple of years ago. It’s painted in M. Graham gouache....
Bronc
This bronc in a holding pen at the State Fair rodeo caught my eye. He stood with his head held high, watching the...
Thunderstorm Warning
Does he hear tornado sirens in the distance? Summer storms are a common occurrence during State Fairs in the Midwest....
Clockwise
Know how to find state fairgrounds on a satellite image? Look for the racetrack. Almost every state fairground...
Painting the State Fair
State Fair, USA is artist Lesley Spanos' tribute to the American agricultural fair. "Just about anything I would want to paint can be found at the Fair."
The series is the culmination of years of research. Spanos has photographed and sketched her local fair - the Indiana State Fair - extensively for the past four summers, amassing a large collection of reference material for working in-studio. Ultimately the collection is destined for a book and fine art reproductions. (Read about the project in more depth here.)
Want to know when new paintings are posted? Subscribe today and have new posts delivered to your email or reader!
Subscribe via email or reader