Evanston Plein Air Festival 2023

Evanston Made & Partners host the 2nd annual plein air citywide art competition and festival, July 9-16, 2023.

Plein Air Painters will descend on the city to compete for Best in Show. The juried invitational will be judged by Plein Air Painter, Nancie King Mertz. The community is invited to judge Festival Favorite. Awards will be given at Fountain Square on Sunday, July 16, 3:30p.

Artists of all ages and levels are invited to paint in the Plein Air style, all over Evanston, capturing the beauty of Evanston’s natural environment, favorite landmarks and built environment.

The festival’s grand finale on Sunday, July 16, is an exhibit of one piece from each artist submitted for judging for Best of Show, 4 Honorable Mention awards, and a community vote for Festival Favorite.

The July 16th exhibit and judging is complemented by an open air art exhibit of the participating artists’ additional work for sale.

In 2022, 50 plein air artists competed for Best in Show, over 300 attendees voted for Festival Favorite and hundreds of people enjoyed meeting the artists, viewing the exhibit and collecting Evanston art.

Enjoy daily painting competitions (Paint Outs) throughout Evanston and on Sunday, July 16th, attend the festival exhibit and art sale at Fountain Square, where you can vote for Festival Favorite. 

EVENTS

Paint Outs July 10-14

Paint Outs are “quick paint” competitions, inviting you to meet plein air painters and gather for awards ceremonies, July 10-14

PAINT OUTS

Paint Outs are “quick paint” competitions, inviting you to meet plein air painters and gather for awards ceremonies, July 10-14

Monday, July 10 

Greenwood Street Beach, Judge: Mark Cleveland 

Painting time: 8a – 12p

Award Ceremony: The Graduate Hotel, 1625 Hinman Ave, Evanston, IL 60201

Artist Reception: 5-6p. Refreshments served, public invited, artists are invited to sell directly “off easel” during event (no tables), 5-6p

Award Time: 5:30p, Mark Cleveland will announce the winner

Tuesday, July 11 

Painting Area: Downtown Evanston, Judge: Nina Weiss

Painting time: 12 – 5p 

Award Ceremony: The Alley Gallery, 1712 Rear 2, Sherman Ave, Evanston, IL 60201

Suggested area: Alley Gallery alley, Sherman Avenue shops like Seville Flowers, Marshall Fields building at Davis and Sherman, Fountain Square

INFO: Competing Artists must have work displayed in exhibition area at Alley Gallery by 5p

Artist Reception: 5-6p. Refreshments served, public invited, artists are invited to sell directly “off easel” during the event.

Award Time: 5:30p, Nina Weiss will announce the winner

Wednesday, July 12

Painting Area: Lighthouse, Judge: Maria Delton

Painting time: 9 – 11 a

Award Ceremony: Soul & Smoke Patio, 1601 Payne St, Evanston, IL 60201

INFO: Competing Artists must have work displayed in the exhibition area at Soul & Smoke by 5p.

Artist Reception: 5-6p. Refreshments and appetizers served, public invited, artists are invited to sell directly “off easel”.

Award Time: 5:30p, Maria Delton will announce the winner

Thursday, July 13

Painting Area: Central Street, Judge: Mark Cleveland

Painting time: 11a – 3p

Awards Reception: DiSalvo’s Pizza, 1945 Central St, Evanston, IL 60201

INFO: Competing Artists must have work displayed in exhibition area at DiSalvo’s Pizza by 3p

Artist Reception: 3-4p. Refreshments and appetizers served, public invited, artists are invited to sell directly “off easel”.

Award Time: 3:30p, Mark Cleveland will announce the winner 

Friday, July 14

Painting Area: Main Dempster Mile, Judge: Sarah Kaiser-Amaral

Painting time: 12-5p

Award Ceremony: Plein Air Festival Block Party in Train Station Alley, 600 Main Street

INFO: Competing Artists must have work displayed in exhibition area by 5p

Award Time: 5:30p, Katherine Gotsick will announce the winner 

Saturday, July 15

Nancie King Mertz will host a plein air painting demo in Fountain Square, 1601 Sherman Ave., Downtown Evanston, 9 – 11 a

Sunday, July 16

Festival Grand Finale

Plein air artists enter one work for judging at 12p at Fountain Square. Public viewing and voting for Festival Favorite take place 12-3p. 

Closed streets around Fountain Square, will have food and drink vendors and family-friendly activities hosted by Downtown Evanston and festival partners. Free for all to attend. Festival Award Ceremony: 3:30p, Nancie King Mertz will announce Best in Show and Festival Favorite. Fountain Square, 1601 Sherman Ave., FREE to attend with RSVP here.

EVANSTON PLEIN AIR FESTIVAL SPONSORS

• Alley Gallery
• Blick Art Supplies
• Block Museum of Art
• Central Street Business Association
• Chicago NorthShore CVB
• DeSalvo’s Pizza
• Downtown Evanston
• Evanston Arts Council
• Evanston Chamber of Commerce’s MashUp Fund
• Great Merchant Grant
• Mack’s Bike & Good
• Main Dempster Mile
• Masterpiece Framing & Imaging
• Northwestern University
• Soul & Smoke
• stumble & relish
• The Graduate Hotels

About Evanston Made

Evanston Made is a membership based, nonprofit arts org, that creates innovative programs and events that promote a thriving arts community. Learn more at evanstonmade.org