24 paintings in 24 hours

Artist John Lasater met the challenge of creating 24 paintings of Siloam Springs in 24 hours last weekend.

He started painting at 1 p.m. on Friday and completed his painting marathon at 2 p.m. on Saturday, moving to locations throughout Siloam Springs during the 24-hour span. Live video of Lasater's work was broadcast using the video streaming app Periscope and more than 1,000 people from all over the world watched, including several people from Russia and Ukraine.

After Lasater's marathon was complete, he took a short nap before a reception at Lokalen Frame Shop, which partnered with him for the painting event and framed all of his pictures. His paintings were auctioned online and most of the buyers were local.

The event was Lasater's second painting marathon in Siloam Springs and the fourth time he has done 24 paintings in 24 hours, he said. He first challenged himself to try the idea two years ago in Siloam Springs. Since then he has done a 24 paintings in 24 hours event in Washington State and Carthage, Mo.

Lasater paints en plein air -- outdoors and on-sight -- and describes the style he uses for the 24 paintings in 24 hours events as in impressionistic response to nature or architecture.

The painting marathons are a great way for Lasater to challenge himself to grow as an artist, but they also are a great way to stimulate public interest in art and help small towns express their artwork, he said.

When Lasater is working outside about 70 percent of the people who come up and talk to him have never watched an artist paint other than watching Bob Ross on TV. The 24 paintings in 24 hours events expose people to painting in a way that goes beyond painting, Lasater said. The marathon element adds a twist and gives people something they can participate in. They can come and watch him work and then attend the shows at local galleries, he said.

Matt Feyerabend, who owns Lokalen Frame Shop with his wife Meghan, said they have a shared mission with Lasater to introduce people who don't have much exposure and connection to traditional arts.

"It's a great way to get people to go 'wait, a guy is doing what? I can go down there and watch him?'" said Feyerabend.

The painting marathons have also helped Lasater to learn to use his intuition more. Artists often focus on the technical side of painting, but Lasater said something happens when he gets really tired that lets the technical side of painting fade away so that he quickly responds to what he is looking at.

"For me the 24 paintings are one piece of work that describe how I responded to different times of day all together as one," he said.

Spending 24 hours painting outdoors also has its physical challenges. Lasater came prepared for the cold, but it was still a bit miserable during the night. He said he noticed the temperature and the dampness most between paintings when he wasn't engaged in his work.

A highlight of the evening was painting during the Sons of Otis Malone concert at Red Beard Fitness, he said.

Several of Lasater's friends stayed with him throughout most of the marathon. His friend Jason Sacron painted alongside him through the night and into the day Saturday. Another friend, Tony Molina, helped with the filming, and Jim Berger and Stacey Conrad also provided support.

Lasater said he plans to continue doing 24 paintings in 24 hours. His next scheduled event is in April in Clifton, Texas.

A gallery of his work is available for viewing at Lokalen Frame Shop during business hours. All but five paintings have already sold by online auction.

For more information about Lasater and his work visit lasaterart.com/24-hour-tour, 24paintingsin24hours.com or on Facebook at 24 Paintings in 24 Hours.