INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — The impressions of agriculture by 10 award-winning Indiana artists are now touring the state, giving Hoosiers a glimpse of farming’s past, present and future.

Painting Indiana II, The Changing Face of Agriculture traces images of the family farm along with its new counterpart based on biotechnology and global positioning. The art exhibit features 40 selections of more than 100 paintings by 10 members of the Indiana Plein Air Painters Assoc., which follows the French style of open air painting.

Rather than painting from photographs, plein air painters work outdoors to create realistic landscapes, objects and characters. Mediums include watercolor, pastel and oils.

Artists painted a broad spectrum of the agriculture industry, from livestock farms to lumber harvesting, beehives to futuristic combines, and meat-packing plants to farmers’ markets.

The contributing artists were Bill Borden, Hanover; Mark Burkett, Mooresville; Mary Ann Davis, Indianapolis; Lynn Dunbar, Louisville, Ky.; Bob Farlow, Winchester; Jeff Klinker, Lafayette; Ron Mack, Indianapolis; Nancy Maxwell, Martinsville; Carol Strock-Wasson, Union City; and Scott Sullivan, Bloomington.

The exhibit opened at the 2006 Indiana State Fair and is now touring the state.

Just in time for Ag Week, the Johnson County Museum of History in Franklin is hosting the exhibit through April 14.

The museum will host a reception from 2-4 p.m. March 24 when guests can meet the contributing artists, tour a special agricultural exhibit and enjoy a farm-style dessert buffet. Reservations are required by calling 317-736-4655 no later than March 16.

Other tour dates and locations include:

•April 22 to June 9, Jefferson County Historical Society, Madison

•June 17 to July 21, Richmond Museum of Art, Richmond

•July 29 to Sept. 8, Anderson Fine Arts Center, Anderson

•Sept. 15 to Oct. 20, West Lafayette Public Library, West Lafayette

Following the tour, the paintings will be sold at auction on Oct. 28 at Wickliff & Associates Auctioneers, Inc., in their Carmel gallery. Portions of the proceeds from the auction will benefit the Center for Agricultural Science and Heritage, Inc., known as “The Barn,” and the Indiana Plein Air Painters Assoc.