St. Louis Children's Aquarium Gala
Plein air paintings by Brian Mahieu at auction

October 15, 2003
Marriott West Hotel
Cocktails & Silent Auction 5:30 pm
Dinner 7:00 pm
Information / Reservations:  RSVP 314-647-6011
You may place an Absentee Bid  by contacting the Aquarium*

New paintings will be added several times a week as they are completed.

Mahieu's Biography Page
In 1987 Mahieu traveled to Paris, France and lived in the Latin Quarter for one month.  During that time he was able to see the great impressionist masterpieces, and to visit "the shrine" -- Monet's home and garden in Giverny.  Upon his return from France, Mahieu devoted himself to painting exclusively en plein air --  outside, directly from nature.

HARVEST MOON (view to the East) October 8, 2003  12 X 24 inches, Lascaux acrylic on canvas

This scene immediately captured my attention.  As a lengthening shadow cast by a cottonwood tree to my right darkened the foreground the soybeans in the midground glowed neon orange in the setting sun.  Only as I was midway into the painting did I discover the harvest moon rising in the east.  Working very quickly I was able to capture the fleeting effects of the quickly transforming landscape.  This gave the painting great vitality and a muscular paint quality.  A great example of what I call "plein air expressionism."