Winning Painting to Hang in Clayton Center

The painting "Morning Bridge" by local artist Dan Lee, a depiction of one of the town's most beautiful scenes, has been donated to the Town of Clayton and will soon be hanging in the Clayton Center.

The oil painting won this year's "Clayton Poster Competition." It was presented to Mayor Jody McLeod by Clayton Visual Arts President Dorothy Demboski.

"This painting is awesome," beamed Mayor McLeod. "The thing I like best about it is that it represents a gateway into Clayton."

Lee said he began working on the painting back in March, and, despite some setbacks during the process, got it finished just in time for this year's contest. He said deciding on what to paint for this year's contest was difficult, but he couldn't resist "Clayton's most pleasant gateway."

"Much can be found in and around the town of Clayton that exemplifies the best in southern charm and hospitality, and in my opinion, the south gateway into historic downtown serves as an excellent introduction and first impression," Lee said. "Since the inception of the Clayton Poster Competition, a great number of portrayals, renderings and interpretations have been submitted over the past eight years or so; depicting familiar and cherished scenes and landmarks around the town of Clayton. So many so, it has become more challenging each year to paint what hasn't been painted before. But, it is a challenge every artist continually faces; to see and share what is being overlooked in a more appreciative or creative way. The desire to inspire lies at the core of meaningful works and creativity."

Prints of the painting will be available for purchase soon.