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. View the schedule below for this season’s Paint Outs by month or download the schedule below.
| Downloadable Paint Outs Schedule | Paint Outs Schedule 2020 |
| Downloadable Personal Safety & Packing List | Personal Safety and Packing List |
April
| 4 Sat | Cafe Brauer, Lincoln Park, 2021 N. Stockton Dr, 60614 | 9:00 am – 12:00 | Street parking. Restrooms in Café Brauer. |
| 11 Sat | Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Rd, Glencoe | 9:00 am – 12:00 | Carpool or rides from train. Walk in free. Parking $25. Restrooms at the Garden |
| 18 Sat | Webster Avenue Bridge (Ashland & Webster) | 9:00 am – 12:00 | In Honor of Lee Radtke – Parking on street; restrooms at Mariano’s at 2112 N. Ashland |
| 24 Fri | NOCTURNE Ontario and Clark | 7:00 pm – 10:00 | Nocturne – Hard Rock, Portillos, McDonalds, Street Parking, Restrooms in restaurants |
| 26 Sun | Montrose Harbor: Meet west of Bird Sanctuary midway to harbor entrance. | 9:00 am – 12:00 | Event (Optional) – 3 Pigment Sunday – 3 Random colors will be chosen from your palette, plus white. Paint with this limited palette. Street and paid public parking; rest rooms at boathouse and near harbor. |
May
| 2 Sat | The Coffee Studio, 5628 N. Clark St., 60640 | 9:00 am – 1:00 | Paint out and exhibit, 11×14″ max, must wire and frame for 1:00 pm submission. Street parking, restrooms in Coffee Studio, May bring up to one other painting. |
| 9 Sat | Merchandise Mart, 222 W Merchandise Mart Plaza, 60654 | 9:00 am – 12:00 | Riverwalk. Public Parking near Merchandise Mart. Recommend using Spot Hero. Restrooms at the Mart. |
| 16 Sat | Loyola University Campus, 1032 W. Sheridan Rd., 60660 | 9:00 am – 12:00 | Main Parking Structure-Devon Ave/W Sheridan Rd |
| 22 Fri | NOCTURNE Art Institute of Chicago, 111 S Michigan Ave, 60603 | 7:45 pm – 10:45 | Nocturne – Recommend using Spot Hero. Restrooms at Starbucks. |
| 24 Sun | Wicker Park Fountain, 1425 N Damen Ave, 60622 | 9:00 am – 12:00 | Guest Artist Stuart Fullerton, Paint Out & Critique. Street Parking. Ave Parking Restrooms at Starbucks, Stans Donuts. |
| 30 Sat | Uncommon Ground, 1401 W Devon Ave, 60660 | 9:00 am – 12:00 | Paint on street or from rooftop, Lunch afterward. Park on street rather than parking lot. Restrooms in Café. Uncommon Ground Exhibit 7/13. |
June
| 6 Sat | Chinatown: Meet at Cermack and Wentworth across from Chinatown Gate. | 9:00 am – 12:00 | Guest Artist Errol Jacobson Demo & Critique followed by Dim Sum. Street or Public Parking: 2001, 2155 or 2141 S Wentworth Ave. |
| 13 Sat | Berger Park Cultural Center 6205 N. Sheridan Rd |
9:00 am – 12:00 | Mansion and Lake Views, Edgewater Street parking will be tight, restrooms at the Cultural Center. |
| 20 Sat | Community Garden | 9:00 am – 12:00 | TBD |
| 26 Fri | NOCTURNE Buckingham Fountain, 5 S Columbus Dr, 60605 | 7:45 pm – 11:00 | Nocturne – Street Parking or Millennium Park |
| 28 Sun | Lincoln Park Zoo, 2400 N Cannon Dr | 9:00 am – 12:00 | Guest Artist Frankie Johnson, Paint Out & Critique followed by lunch. Street parking. |
July
| 4 Sat | Wrigley building with the American Flag; meet on the Riverwalk at Wells | 8:00 am – 1:00 | Guest Artist Stephanie Weidner, Paint Out & Critique followed by lunch. Recommend using Spot Hero. |
| 11 Sat | Foster Avenue Beach, at Foster Ave and Lake Michigan, 60640 | 9:00 am – 12:00 | Parking lot and restrooms at beach. |
| 13 Mon | Uncommon Ground Drop Off Paintings 1401 W. Devon, 60660 | 10:00 AM | Exhibit |
| 16 Wed – Oct 12 | Uncommon Ground Opening | 6-8 pm | |
| 18 Sat | Humboldt Park Boat House, 1301 N. Humboldt Dr, 60622 | 9:00 am – 12:00 | Parking lot and restrooms at Boat House. |
| 24 Fri | NOCTURNE Fulton Market, Fulton and Randolph Streets. | 7:45 pm – 11:00 | Nocturne |
| 25 Sat | The Cliff Dwellers Club, 220 S. Michigan Ave, 60604 | Guest Artist Nancie King Mertz, Paint Out, Lunch & Critique, with Cliff Dweller members. |
August
| 1 Sat | Lincoln Square; meet at Lincoln Avenue and Leland Avenue 60625 | 8:00 am – 1:00 | Guest Artist Steve Puttrich, Paint Out & Critique. |
| 8 Sat | 9:00 am – 12:00 | ||
| 15 Sat | Argyle Street, South side of Argyle St near the El. | 9:00 am – 12:00 | Street parking, restrooms in local restaurants. |
| 21 Fri | NOCTURNE SE side Wacker at Michigan | 7:15 pm – 10:15 | Nocturne – View of Wrigley Building, Apple Store, River Restroom in hotel. |
| 23 Sun | Grosse Point Light House, 2601 Sheridan Rd, Evanston IL 60201 | 9:00 am – 12:00 | Parking lot. Onsite restrooms. |
| 29 Sat | Anti Cruelty Society, 510 N. LaSalle St. 60654 | 9:00 am – 12:00 |
September
| 5 Sat | Garden of the Phoenix/Osaka Garden, Jackson Park, 6300 S Cornell Ave, 60637 | 9:00 am – 12:00 | Wooden Island, Behind Museum of Science and Industry. |
| 12 Sat | Clocktower at Sydney R. Marovitz Golf Course, 3600 N. Recreation Drive, 60613 | 8:00 am – 1:00 | Guest Artist , Don Yang Paint Out & Critique followed by Lunch at Clocktower Café. |
| 19 Sat | Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Rd, Glencoe | 9:00 am – 12:00 | Carpool or rides from train. Walk in free. Parking $25. Restrooms at the Gardens. |
| 25 Fri | NOCTURNE Navy Pier, 600 E Grand Ave, 60611 | 6:15 pm – 10:00 | Nocturne – Recommend using Spot Hero. |
| 27 Sun | Cloud Gate (The Bean), Millennium Park, 201 E. Randolph St, 60602 | 9:00 am – 12:00 | Not verified, dependent upon permissions |
October
| 3 Sat | Robie House, 5757 S Woodlawn Ave. 60637 | 9:00 am – 12:00 | Plein Air Restaurant Lunch – pending |
| 10 Sat | Adler Planetarium, 1300 S Lake Shore Dr, 60605 | 9:00 am – 12:00 | Street parking; Recommend using Spot Hero. |
| 12 Mon | Uncommon Ground Pick Up paintings | ||
| 17 Sat | Open House Chicago | 9:00 am – 12:00 | TBD |
| 18 Sun | Open House Chicago | TBD | |
| 23 Fri | NOCTURNE Chicago Theater, 175 N. State St, 60601 | 5:00 pm – 9:00 | Nocturne – Recommend Spot Hero for parking Restrooms at Blick, McDonalds, Starbucks. |
| 25 Sun | Rush Triangle; Rush, Division and Bellevue Streets | 9:00 am – 12:00 | Promote the Annual Exhibit Followed by End of Season Potluck, Restrooms at Starbucks, Palette & Chisel. |
| 31 Sat | Roscoe Village, Roscoe and Damen Ave. | 9:00 am – 12:00 | Street parking, restrooms at Starbucks. |
Become a Member
Join the Plein Air Painters Chicago today and receive all of the wonderful membership benefits.
Only $75 a year.
$50 for students with I.D. & current enrollment.