Artist Sharla Valeski at The Next Gallery is finishing her latest painting, her vision of the Elks Building on Laura Street where the gallery is located. It was commissioned by the building’s owners and Valeski has been working on it since March. “I set up my easel on the corner across the street,” said Valeski, who added the plein air (in the open air) exercise was a challenge. “The sun really dried the paint quickly and sometimes the wind coming around the buildings almost blew the canvas off the easel,” said Valeski. She also said setting up on the sidewalk Downtown always drew a crowd of onlookers. “One man took a picture and put it on his Facebook page,” said Valeski.