Plein Air Paint Outs
Paint outs are offered the first three Saturdays of each month. On the fourth weekend, we offer a Friday night nocturne and Sunday morning paint out. At least once a month, a celebrated guest artist is on hand to demo and critique.
Everyone is invited to paint along with us, as we enjoy each other’s companionship and enhance our artistic skills. As members, we have fun exploring Chicago’s neighborhoods, watching demonstrations by well-known artists, sharing painting insights, and learning from critiques. At the end of each plein air season, all of us – from beginners to professionals – feel a great sense of satisfaction when we frame and exhibit the paintings we created during our paint outs.
Paint Outs are listed by month below, and also on our Events Calendar page.
April
Paint Out: Lincoln Park Zoo South Pond
April 2 @ 9:00 am - 12:00 pm CDT at Lincoln Park ZooLincoln Park Zoo at the South Pond is a perfect venue to kick off the 2022 Plein Air season. If yo...
Paint Out: Lawrence’s Fish and Shrimp
April 9 @ 9:00 am - 12:00 pm CDT at Lawrence’s Fish and ShrimpWhat’s better than painting an iconic Chicago restaurant with city views next to a bridge and ...
Paint Out: Devon Ave, near Washtenaw/Western
April 16 @ 9:00 am - 12:00 pm CDT at Devon AveThink lively and colorful when you come to this paint out. This Indian neighborhood has an array o...
Paint Out: Historic Wagner Farm in Glenview
April 24 @ 9:00 am - 12:00 pm CDT at Wagner FarmNote this Paint Out is on a Sunday. This is a treat as we leave the city and make our way to the...
Zoom Critique with Richard Laurent (Members Only)
April 27 @ 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm CDT at zoomJoin us in the zoom critique with master painter Richard Laurent. He brings a wealth of knowledge ...
Paint Out: Montrose Harbor and Montrose Beach
April 30 @ 9:00 am - 12:00 pm CDT at Montrose ParkThe Montrose Beach and Harbor covers a large area and offers a variety of painting possibilities. Th...
May
Paint Out: Dearborn Station
May 7 @ 9:00 am - 12:00 pm CDT at Dearborn StationThis Saturday contains the excitement of city streets and the historical Dearborn Station along with...
Paint Out: Humboldt Park Boat House
May 14 @ 9:00 am - 12:00 pm CDT at Humboldt Park Boat HouseIf you like choices at your paint outs then this is the place for you. The very active Humboldt ...
Nocturne: Apple Store on the Chicago River
May 21 @ 7:30 pm - 10:00 pm CDT at Apple StoreThis is an easy place to paint your perfect nocturne. The Michigan Avenue Apple Store is located o...
Paint Out: Astor Street area
May 29 @ 9:00 am - 12:00 pm CDT at Cardinal’s residenceThe Astor Street neighborhood is filled with tree-lined streets and magnificent homes. The residence...
June
Demo and Paint Out: Guest Artist Errol Jacobson/Sheffield and Armitage El Stop
June 4 @ 8:00 am - 12:00 pm CDT at 1000 W ArmitageThis is a paint out that can’t be missed. Plein Air master Errol Jacobson will demonstrate h...
Nocturne: Diversey Harbor
June 11 @ 8:00 pm - 9:30 pm CDT at Diversey Parkway and Lake Shore Drive WestMeet us on this Saturday evening at sunset at Diversey Harbor, Diversey Parkway and Lake Shore Drive...
Zoom Critique with Errol Jacobson (Members Only)
June 15 @ 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm CDT at zoomJoin us in the zoom critique with master painter Errol Jacobson. Errol is an award winning artist ...
Paint Out: Admiral on the Lake Rooftop
June 18 @ 9:00 am CDT at Paint Out: The Admiral on the LakeThis is a new venue for our group and should prove to be spectacular with city and Edgewater neigh...
Demo and Paint Out: Guest Artist Stuart Fullerton in Andersonville 9:30
June 26 @ 9:30 am - 12:30 pm CDT at AndersonvilleTake note, this takes place on a Sunday and starts at 9:30. From the early 1800s until 1960, Swede...
July
Paint Out: Michigan/Wacker Riverwalk
July 2 @ 9:00 am - 12:00 pm CDTGet off to a good start on this 4th of July weekend by joining us for this fun paint out. We will ...
Paint Out: Bucktown Garden Walk
July 9 @ 9:00 am - 4:00 pm CDT at 1850 N. Hermitage AvenueThis is a multi-event day! We will meet at St. Mary of the Angels church, at the corner of N. Wood...
Paint Out: Sundays on State
July 10 @ 11:00 am - 6:00 pm CDT at Chicago TheaterPaint Out: Dawes Park and Arrington Lagoon
July 16 @ 9:00 am - 1:00 pm CDT at Dawes ParkFlanked by the Greenwood Street Beach, this little patch of greenery is a tranquil place with a manm...
Paint Out: Osaka Japanese Garden of the Phoenix
July 24 @ 9:00 am - 12:00 pm CDT at Osaka Japanese Garden of the PhoenixTake note, this paint out is on a Sunday. This beautiful garden offers both tranquility and beauty....
Zoom Critique with Nancy King Mertz (members only)
July 27 @ 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm CDT at zoomWe are honored to host Nancy King Mertz who will be critiquing our work on this Wednesday evening at...
Paint Out: North Park Nature Center
July 30 @ 9:00 am - 12:00 pm CDT at North Park Village Nature Center ParkLocated on the northwest side of Chicago, North Park Village Nature Center features a 46-acre nature...
August
Paint Out: Robie House and Rockefeller Chapel
August 6 @ 9:00 am - 12:00 pm CDT at Robie HouseLocated on the University of Chicago campus, the Robie House by Frank Lloyd Wright offers us challen...
Paint Out: Chicago Botanic Garden
August 13 @ 9:00 am - 12:00 pm CDT at Chicago Botanic GardenOne of our favorite locations, the Botanic Garden offers a variety of painting opportunities. From...
Paint Out: Hutchinson Street Historic District
August 20 @ 9:00 am - 12:00 pm CDT at Hutchinson Historic DistrictOne of the best collections of Prairie-style architecture in the city, several of the homes were des...
Sundays on State: painting opportunity
August 21 @ 11:00 am - 6:00 pm CDT at State and Lake StreetsChicago’s most iconic street, State Street, closes to vehicular traffic for select Sundays this su...
Demo and Paint Out: Guest Artist Rich Weber/640 West Hubbard Street
August 27 @ 8:30 am - 1:00 pm CDT at corner of Des Plaines and Hubbard StreetsGuest artist Rich Weber will demonstrate his method of blocking in a cityscape, using various tools ...
Zoom Critique with Rich Weber (Members Only)
August 31 @ 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm CDT at zoomWe are fortunate to have Rich Weber, an accomplished award winning plein air painter, for this month...
September
Paint Out: Lincoln Park Conservatory
September 3 @ 9:00 am - 12:00 pm CDT at Lincoln Park ConservatoryIf you like a park, flowers, people and shade this is the paint out for you. The Conservatory of...
Sundays on State: painting opportunity
September 4 @ 11:00 am - 6:00 pm CDT at State and Lake StreetsChicago’s most iconic street, State Street, closes to vehicular traffic for select Sundays this su...
Paint Out: Gross Point Lighthouse and Harley Clark Mansion
September 10 @ 9:00 am - 12:00 pm CDT at Gross Point LighthouseThis paint out offers many options and the hardest part of the day is deciding what to paint, the ic...
Paint Out: Giddings Plaza in Lincoln Square
September 17 @ 9:00 am - 12:00 pm CDT at Giddings PlazaCome on out to see why Giddings Plaza is often called the best plaza in Chicago. It offers buildin...
Paint Out: Pilsen Neighborhood Note: Date has been changed to Saturday Sept. 24, 9-12
September 24 @ 9:00 am CDT at Jumping Bean CafeThis colorful, ethnic neighborhood is always a Plein Air pleaser. The stores and restaurants a...
October
Paint Out: Green City Farmer’s Market
What a wonderful way to start your weekend, plein air painting at the Green City Farmer’s Mark...
October 1 @ 9:00 am - 12:00 pm CDT at Green City Farmer’s MarketPaint Out: Prairie Avenue Historic District, Glessner House
Before the Gold Coast, there was “Millionaire’s Row,” a dense cluster of mansions belonging to...
October 8 @ 9:00 am - 12:00 pm CDT at Glessner HousePaint Out: Gillson Park and Baha’i House of Worship, and OHC
This Saturday we have several options! Option one – Gillson Park and Beach is option one, with...
October 15 @ 9:00 am - 12:00 pm CDT at Gillson ParkPaint Out and Demo: Miami Woods Forest Preserve 8:30 Sunday
This is a very exciting Sunday as Bill Marvin will demo how to approach painting trees. We will ha...
October 23 @ 8:30 am - 12:00 pm CDT at Miami Woods Forest PreserveZoom Critique with Bill Marvin (members only)
Bill Marvin is privileged to be able to capture the ever changing moods of nature, out in the open, ...
October 26 @ 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm CDT at PAPC Members Only Virtual EventPaint Out: Graceland Cemetary New entrance 4264 Clark at Hutchinson
It’s that time of the year again. Brilliant red and orange trees, a cool chill in the air an...
October 29 @ 9:00 am - 12:00 pm CDT at Graceland Cemetery
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