Links & Resources for Plein Air Painters

Origins of Plein Air Painting

Cold Weather Painting Tips
from Beth Ellis

Advice for First Time Plein Air Painters
from Katherine Simmons

PAINT OUT WITH THE CONNECTICUT PLEIN AIR PAINTERS

Many of our members paint on location all year round. But our planned paintouts are scheduled monthly from April through October of each year. We invite CPAPS member and non-members to join us for these monthly paintouts. Painting out together is a great opportunity to network with other plein air painters. Please note that our paintouts are usually scheduled for Sundays and Mondays from 9:00 am to Noon. Bring a bag lunch because if the day is beautiful and the location "speaks" to you, stay for the whole day to paint.

We are currently developing our list of paint out locations for 2010. If you have a recommendations for a paintout location, please e-mail it to us at info@cpaps.org; be sure to include the name of the site, directions, and any other information that would be useful. Listed below are the locations where we painted in 2009; if you really liked painting at one of these locations, please let us know.

GRAYWALL FARM - April 26 & 27, May 3 & 4, Graywall Farm, 49 Chappell Road, Lebanon, CT.  Graywall Farm is one of the six Connecticut Farms that produces The Farmer's Cow milk; the farm is the subject of Celebrate CT Farms event on September 13, 2009.

Directions from I-84 East, take Exit 59 (Route 384 toward Providence. Bear right on Route 6 East toward Providence & Willimantic. Right onto CT Route 87 toward Columbia and Lebanon. Continue on CT Route 87 to Junction with Route 289. Turn left on Route 289 and then first right onto Chappell Road. Travel about 1 mile on Chappell Road to Graywall Farm on right.

Foim I95 North, take I-395 North toward Norwich. Take Exit 81onto Route 2 toward Hartford. Take Exit 25 onto Route 32 North toward Franklin/Willimantic. Left on Route 87 North. Travel along the Lebanon Green to the stop sign. Bear right on Route 289 and then first right onto Chappell Road. Travel about 1 mile on Chappell Road to Graywall Farm on right.

For more directions to Graywall Farm - http://www.thefarmerscow.com/miscell/directions_page.html

WICKHAM PARK - June 14 & 15, Wickham Park, 1329 West Middle Turnpike, Manchester, CT – 250 acres of gardens, open fields, ponds, and picnic areas.  There are also great views of Hartford and the CT River Valley at the top of Wickham Park. 

Directions and Hours: Wickham Park is located at 1329 West Middle Turnpike in Manchester, Connecticut and is easily accessible from Interstate 84. The Park is open 7 days a week from 9:30 am to sunset.  Entry fees: $3 per car on Monday and Tuesday; $4 per car Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday; $5 per car on weekends and holidays.  www.wickhampark.org

From east or westbound Interstate 84, take Exit 60 (Manchester-East Hartford). The park is about 500 feet west of the exit. Look for the stone gatehouse that leads to hours of relaxation and recreation.

From 291 East, take exit 5.  Take a right at end of exit ramp and proceed to second stop sign.  Take a left onto Longhill Drive.  At stop light take a left onto Burnside Avenue.  Park entrance will be on the left in approximately 1 mile.

OLD LYME - July 12 & 13. Mr. & Mrs. Copps at 19 Smith Neck Road in Old Lyme have graciously invited us to paint on their property. This is a beautiful property with rolling fields and marshes leading to a great view of the Connecticut River.  

Directions to 19 Smith Neck Road in Old Lyme:  Take I-95 to Old Lyme.  Travel south on Route 156 to Smith Neck Road (right turn showing a symbol for the boat landing).  The Copps property is number 19 on the right side.

STEAMBOAT DOCK, ESSEX - July 19 & 20. Meet at Steamboat Dock in front of the CT River Museum and we will spread out from there. Steamboat Dock is a great location to paint with river views including the bustle of river traffic and activity at the nearby marina.  There is a nice park with river views half way down Main Street on the right.  Foxboro Road with a /Windmill view of the North Cove can be reached by going turning onto North Main Street (at top of Main Street roundabout); take a right onto New City St. (just past the cemetery), then left onto Riverview St., and right onto Foxboro Road.

Directions  to Essex from points South: Take I-95 to exit 69, Rte 9 North. Follow Rte 9 North to Exit 3. At end of exit, take left. At first light, take right onto West Ave. At stop sign, bear slightly to right to stay on West Ave. Follow for .2 miles, and take right onto Main St.  Steamboat Dock is in front of the CT River Museum at the bottom of Main St.

Directions to Essex from Points North: Take the I-91 to Exit 22, Rte 9 South. Follow Rte 9 South to Exit 3. At end of exit, take left. At first light, take left onto West Ave. At stop sign, bear slightly to right to stay on West Ave. Follow for .2 miles, and take right onto Main St. Steamboat Dock is in front of the CT River Museum at the bottom of Main St.

BAUER FARM - August 16 & 17 with members of the Madison Art League. Join us at the farm to paint with the Madison Art League. The farm offers meadows, orchards, community plant gardens, and woodland trails as well as many buildings including a small covered bridge, a barn, farm house, root cellar structure, a pond with water lilies.  Bauer Farm is a very paintable location for our joint paintout.  Bring lunch and schmooze with your fellow artists at Noon.

Directions: From 95 South: Route 79 exit (#61):  Right at end of ramp.  Left onto Hunters Trail; follow to end.  Turn right onto Copse Road.

From 95 North: Route 79 exit (#61): Left at end of ramp.  Left onto Hunters Trail; follow to end.  Turn right onto Copse Road.

COVENTRY FARMERS' MARKET AT NATHAN HALL HOMESTEAD STATE PARK- September 13, 11 am - 2 pm. Artists are invited to paint on site during the Wine & Art Gala. Artists may also bring work to sell; no commission to the Farmer's Market organizers.

Directions: The Hale Homestead is located at 2299 South Street, Coventry, CT. From Route 44, turn onto Route 6 heading East toward Andover, then left onto South Street.

MEIG'S POINT, HAMMONASETT STATE PARK- September 20 & 21.   Meig’s Point is a particularly lovely place to paint in the park, offering marsh scenes, shoreline trails, and, of course, lots of beach.

Directions: From the north/Hartford area: take I-91 south to Route 9 south. Off Route 9, take Exit 9. Turn right (south) onto Route 81; continue down Route 81 until you run into I-95. Turn right onto I-95 entrance ramp and go approximately 1 mile to Exit 62, then turn left off the exit. Head south 1 mile down Hammonasset connector, go straight through the light crossing Route 1 (Boston Post Road) into the park.

From the south: take I-95 north, Exit 62. Take a right off the exit ramp onto Hammonasset I-95 connector. Park entrance will be 1 mile ahead.

From the east area: take I-395 south onto I-95 south, Exit 62. Take a left off the exit and go approximately 1 mile. Go straight through the traffic light crossing Route 1 (Boston Post Road).

From the west: take I-95 north, Exit 62. Take a right off the exit and go approximately 1 mile. Go straight through the traffic light crossing Route 1 (Boston Post Road) into the park.

TULMEADOW FARM - October 4 & 5 (rain dates are october 10 & 11). The farm is well known for it country store and production of gourmet ice cream. It is located at 255 Farms Village Road, West Simsbury, CT

Directions to be announced. www.tulmeadowfarmstore.com