How one makes a masterpiece

While all of the artists were inside the Expedition Island Pavilion sculpting clay statutes or painting, one was outside in the hot sun to finish his paining.

Green River resident J.T. Schmidt was busy painting, but not with brushes. Schmidt took a more unconventional approach his painting and started off with spray paint and followed it up with the air brush.

Schmidt said he uses just about everything on his paintings from spray paint and air brushes to markers and traditional brushes.

Whatever he thinks the painting needs, he said.

"This is my one day a year I get to forget all my responsibilities and focus on art," he said.

Schmidt said he never knows what he's going to paint he just starts by making swirls on the canvas and goes from there.

"I normally do graphic design, but I wanted to change it up," he said.

For Schmidt, owner of Unique Signs and Design, this was a day away from his graphic designing and time for him to follow his painting passion.

"It's on a shelf the rest of the year," Schmidt said.

Schmidt started out painting when he was a student at Green River High School. He then went to art school in Denver where he had the opportunity to try various forms of artwork.

Schmidt said he has dabbled in graffiti art, but he has never done it illegally.

"I just used that as my base because it covers quickly," he said about spray painting.

As Schmidt painted, he said he realized he probably should have entered the amateur category instead of professional because he doesn't paint professionally, but then he decided it didn't matter because he was having fun.

Inside the building

Meanwhile in the pavilion itself, artists were busy sculpting clay or painting.

Jeff Rudolph of Cody was busy sculpting a forest ranger on top of a horse for this year's entry. For Rudolph, Art on the Green is a bit of a tradition.

"I have been here every single year since the inception," he said. "There's just so many great artists here. It's fun to see all the unique ideas. It's very inspiring."

He also enjoys the fact that the competition is timed.

"It forces me to do something in a hurry," Rudolph said.

Green River resident Mary Shaw was making a kayaker for her entry this year. Shaw said she has made it to every Art on the Green competition except for the first year. Shaw admitted to being intimidated by the other artists and that's why she didn't participate. However, after she saw how friendly everyone was the first year, she decided to compete.

Mary Parker of Springville, Utah, entered because it's a fun environment and her husband competes on the professional level. She said she enjoys the event and how well the Art on the Green Council treats them.