Evanston Plein Air Paint Outs

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 on Sunday, July 16, 3:30p, at Rotary International, 1560 Sherman Ave., Downtown Evanston

Monday, July 10 – Friday, July 14, registered plein air painters will compete at daily painting competitions called Paint Outs, throughout Evanston.

Painting location and times are listed below; watch plein air painters paint on site! Award ceremony locations and times are listed below; attend a free artist reception and party!

RSVP to watch and attend Award Ceremonies & Receptions hosted at businesses across Evanston; enjoy complimentary drinks and snacks, meet plein air painters, support this festival and make ART friends!

PAINT OUTS

Monday, July 10

• Painting Area: 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, 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. 5-6p. Refreshments served, public invited, artists are invited to sell directly “off easel” during the event.
• 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. 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. Rain location at Sketchbook Brewing Company, 821 Chicago Ave.
• 5-6p. Refreshments served, public invited, artists are invited to sell directly “off easel” during the event.
• Award Time: 5:30p, Katherine Gotsick will announce the winner

PLEIN AIR FESTIVAL EVENTS

Saturday, July 15

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

Evanston Plein Air Festival Award Ceremony and Art Sale

Artists will submit one work for judging at 12p. Public viewing and voting for Festival Favorite 12-3p. Artists are invited to sell their work “off the easel”. This event will be hosted in the lobby and the outside promenade of the Rotary International building, 1560 Sherman Avenue in Downtown Evanston. Free for all to attend. 

Festival Award Ceremony: 3:30p, Nancie King Mertz will announce a total of 8 prizes; Best of Show, Second, Third, 4 Honorable mentions and Festival Favorite. Click here to RSVP and join us to vote Festival Favorite.

FESTIVAL PRESS

• Gay Riseborough’s feature in the Evanston RoundTableClick to read.
• Chicago Sun-Times lists Plein Air Festival in Things to do in Chicago! Click to read
• Daily Northwester lists lists Plein Air Festival in Things to do in Evanston Click to read
• Gay Riseborough’s profile of artist Mark Cleveland in the Evanston RoundTable Click to read
• Evanston Now: Artists at work outdoors this week by Desiree Shannon Click to read
• Evanston RoundTable: Plein Air Festival paints the town by Richard Cahan Click to read
• Evanston RoundTable Video: An Evanston Minute: Return of the plein air painters! by Richard Cahan Click to watch

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
• Rotary International
• 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