Billyo O'Donnell has been named one of the top 50 plein air artists in the country by The Laguna (Calif.) Art Museum. His painting style is called "en plein air," a style which became popular with the Impressionists. It simply means that the artist takes his easel outside and paints whatever is in front of him - if the light changes, the painting changes to reflect it. Billyo has received several awards and recognition for his artwork, including the 1999 National Oil and Acrylic "Best Use of Light and Color" and the 1996 Painters' Society Exhibition, for which one of his designs was selected for the Missouri license plate. He also is the first artist approved to paint the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra as it rehearsed, bringing together art directly related to music on canvas. He has since painted the Milwaukee Symphony as well. Recipient of many awards in painting, Billyo's work has been shown at selected exhibitions throughout the United States and is currently exhibited at Gallery Grace in Laguna Beach, California, and at the Kodner Gallery in St. Louis, Missouri.
