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Plein Air Paint Out at Evanston History Center
May 11 @ 10:00 am - 4:30 pm

Evanston Made is thrilled to partner with the Evanston History Center during the 50th Annual Mother’s Day House Walk, May 11th, to host a Plein Air Paint Out at the History Center. Join us for an award ceremony at 4p.
A “Quick Paint” or a “Paint Out” competition, is where invited artists complete a painting from start to finish in record time. Artists must complete the painting in limited time while withstanding the elements; temperature changes, wind, rain, light changes, bugs, etc. This is the definition of en plein air — the act of painting outdoors. Artists welcome the public to watch them paint and engage in conversation about their process. “Brushes down,” means the painting MUST stop and the painting be removed from the easel to be entered for judging.
Sunday’s en plein air paint out will be just over five hours long, 10a-3:30p, with judging at 4p.
Call for Artists
- This competition is FREE to participate and open to plein air painters
- Interested in competing? Sign up here
- Prospectus here for more info
- Register by Friday, May 9th at midnight
- Artists check in starts at 9:30a, May 11, to the Evanston Made tent at the Evanston History Center, 225 Greenwood St.
- Award Ceremony, 4p, May 11
- Prize: $100 Blick Gift Card and painting goodies!
Scroll down for a slide show of competing artists: Kerstin Alischoewski, Laura Camuñas, Andrea Cook, Abdoulaye Conde, Molly Cranch, Maureen Crowley, Kelly Dawson, Alice George, Mark Hudson, Kandi Jameison, Laurie Kennard, Ben Kress, Robin Langer, Robin Morgan, Morgan Murphy, Rob Summerlin, Claire Tarnacki, Don Yang
ABOUT
Evanston Made invites plein air painters to compete for First Place of a paint out, hosted on the beautiful grounds of the Evanston History Center, 225 Greenwood St, Evanston, IL 60201.
Painters are invited to capture the grounds and the Dawes House, en plein air. This collaboration combines the efforts of the Evanston History Center and Evanston Made, to celebrate the unique beauty of Evanston’s built and natural environments.
Hosted at Evanston History Center, 225 Greenwood St., Evanston Made invites everyone to watch plein air painters at work on their easels, 10a – 3p. This event is a fantastic opportunity to start your Plein Air Painting collection, artists will have original works for sale.
Join us for the award ceremony at 4p.
Interested in more plein air painting events in Evanston? Click here to learn about the Evanston Plein Air Festival, July 16-20, 2025.
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