NATCHEZ — The visions of colorful balloons in Katelee Laird’s imagination could only float in her head for so long.

For years the Natchez artist had been asked to submit artwork to be considered for the Great Mississippi River Balloon Race’s T-shirts and posters. Each time her answer was the same.

“I was just too busy,” Laird said. “The first time I was asked, I was still in college, and I didn’t have any time.”

When she graduated from LSU with a fine arts degree, the Cathedral alumnus returned home to work with her mother, Nancy Laird, at Sign Graphics.

Each year when the balloon race came around Laird would again find herself too busy to sit down and paint.

“This year I told myself, ‘I am never going to have the time. I will always be busy,’” Laird said. “I couldn’t wait any longer. I had to make time”

Sitting in her Sign Graphics painting studio on Liberty Road, Laird let the colorful visions out.

Laird painted two canvases and submitted them to the balloon race committee for consideration.

“It was my first time to submit,” Laird said.

Two days later, Laird was picking out colors for T-shirts and tweaking the design to add titles for the annual poster.

“I am very honored to have been chosen,” Laird said. “I am excited.”

This year’s design features a collection of colorful balloons drifting across the Mississippi River. Painted from the point of view of a balloonist drifting high above the landscape, the Mississippi River bridges cross down below as the river disappears into the horizon.

Which way you are looking, depends on your point of view, Laird said.

“You could be looking south watching the sun set or you could be looking north watching the sunrise,” Laird said.

The inspiration for the design came from her daily morning walks along the bluff, where she took many pictures for this year’s artwork.

Without buildings and other landmarks, the design leaves the interpretation up to the viewer, Laird said.

Laird said the one thing that she loves to put in all of her artwork is color. This year’s design is no exception.

Vivid reds, yellows, oranges and blues from the sky and from the balloons pop off the page.

“I like stuff to be extra colorful,” Laird said.

Historic Natchez Foundation Executive Director Mimi Miller said the public response since the unveiling Monday has been good.

“After many years of featuring watercolor, we had three years of more graphic artwork,” Miller said. “This year we are delighted to return to painting.”

Miller also said the balloon race committee is especially happy to feature another one of Natchez’s young artists.

Miller said this year’s T-shirts will come in two colors — the traditional white and yellow.

Adult short-sleeve shirts will be $20 and long-sleeve shirts will be $27.

Large posters will be $30 and small posters will be $20.

T-shirts and posters will be available in early October at the Historic Natchez  Foundation and at the balloon race festival site on Oct. 14-16.