Plein air painting – celebrating gathering outdoors!

Plein air painting “in the open air” seems to be the greatest way to celebrate the reestablishment of getting back to normal life. Leave the four walls of your studio behind, grab your easel, paper, brushes, and paints and head out into the great outdoors for our first in-person gathering since COVID-19 shut everything down.  If painting isn’t your thing… bring your sketchbooks, pencils, pens, or any other media you choose to play with. Our destination is Sachuset Point National Wildlife Refuge in Middletown, RI, one of five wildlife refuge areas in Rhode Island. Sachuset Point NWR offers a variety of habitats to explore and paint from shrubland to salt marsh and cobble beach.

The comments section has been turned on in case people want to coordinate carpooling, or meeting times for lunch or to share the work you have created. Please feel free to drop a comment and get the plans in motion for this celebration of getting back to some form of normalcy.

See below for directions and contact information.

Be prepared to be outside!

• The refuge is open from sunrise to sunset, so if you want to arrive before 10 or stay after 4 to avoid the midday heat, that’s perfectly fine.
• Parking may be limited according to their website, so we highly recommend people carpool if at all possible, and arrive as early as possible.
• We recommend wearing sunscreen and a hat and bringing a windbreaker as the area is wide open and you will be exposed to the sun and wind.
• Wear comfortable walking shoes.
• Have appropriate insect repellent and apply it if you expect to get into any vegetation that may harbor ticks.
• Bring portable seating for extended sessions of painting in one place.
• Bring a bag lunch and plenty of water with you. Currently, the visitor center is NOT open to the public.
• Download a PDF trail map to have with you while you hike.