Submitted
The Hamilton County Artists’ Association’s (HCAA) own Walt Thacker is painting this rain barrel for Carmel’s Rain on Main Event.
He is one of 21 artists painting 21 rain barrels that will be displayed along Main Street in Carmel from Aug. 15 to 22 and moved to the Farmers Market on Aug. 23. There they will be judged and the silent auction will conclude at 11 a.m.
Photo provided
Thacker’s painting starts on one side with night and goes around the barrel to daybreak. He says this curved shape is a real challenge to paint. At night there are stars in the sky and a village on the hill. A steam locomotive with passenger cars skirt around the hill. The Cape Cod Lighthouse is prominently featured in the painting, being very popular and recognizable as well as all-American. The lighthouse keeper and his dog, which is a rendition of Thacker’s Cody Dog, are walking along the coastline.
As the morning brightens, there’s a clipper ship at full sail. There are seagulls wheeling and gliding throughout the sky. He finishes off the daybreak with a fantasy scene: a golden-haired mermaid playing a lyre and serenading a few gulls, some seals, a few dolphins along with Poseidon mounted on his seahorse.
HCAA promotes the arts in Hamilton County. Come check out this event later in August.