MIDDLEFIELD — As part of the recent ribbon-cutting ceremony and groundbreaking presentation, well-known local artist Bill Mast presented the Geauga County Airport Authority board of directors with a rendering of a Cessna 172 taking flight from the runway.

Mast is known locally for the mural he recreated and unveiled in October 2023 on the west side of the Middlefield Tavern building and a December 2024 gift to the people of Middlefield that depicts a Christmas tree standing in the center of town that hangs in the Middlefield Village Hall.

He has done many paintings for the racing industry and has one work he completed for drag racer, John Force, hanging in a racing museum in California that thousands of people view every year. Mast is an artist for the state department, who has commissioned him to do paintings for the military. He is also an official artist of the United States Coast Guard and has been painting boats and ships for the past few years.

He is working on a portrait of President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump at the inauguration that he hopes to unveil for them early next year.

Mast was inspired to complete the Cessna painting by a Facebook video about the airport created for Destination Geauga by Kim Breyley. The full-color painting was crafted from a photo he took of the aircraft while visiting the airport earlier this year.

Mast said was moved by his love of aviation and of this particular type of aircraft.

“I have a sweet spot for aviation and airplanes so, I decided I wanted to do a painting for them as a gift that they could hang here and display,” he said.

Approximately 90 people gathered inside hangar 3 at the Geauga County Airport for the unveiling. Airport Authority Board President George (Chip) Hess II expressed his gratitude, stating, “It is great to see the impact the airport has on the community and how it has inspired a renowned local artist to provide such a beautiful painting.”

Airport Manager Ric Blamer was humbled by Mast choosing his aircraft and added, “It is a real honor that Bill felt a desire to give back and become a part of the airport community.”