Fishing Opener is an original oil painting of several distant figures fishing on a beautiful spring afternoon on fishing opener weekend. I painted this piece standing along the Eau Claire River looking down river to where it meets the Chippewa River.

The city built a brand new and beautiful art center nearby and they called it “The Confluence” to celebrate the location. I participated in a 2-hour quick paint plein air competition through this art center in May 2021. Two hours can be a challenge for a painting this size. But sometimes, paintings just paint themselves, and this was one of those times. I was setup below the walking bridge on sandy stretch in the shade. If you get to Eau Claire, be sure to explore and check it out! It was a pleasant way to spend the afternoon, and on top of it, this painting won “Best in Show” for the quick paint.