Trees en Plein Air

As part of Wave Hill’s 60th Anniversary and our summer exhibition Trees we breathe, artists of all levels are invited to express their creativity during a day of outdoor painting and drawing inspired by our grand old trees and magnificent summer gardens. Try your hand with pencil, charcoal, and watercolor, no experience required! Artists Wennie Huang and Rebecca Allan will guide participants to observe and create work though demonstrations, gentle feedback, and group sharing at the end of the session.

Create with our Teaching Artists!

Observe and paint Wave Hill’s stately trees using the luminous and versatile medium of watercolor. With Wennie Huang as your guide, work from direct observation while exploring various compositions, techniques, and visual approaches to rendering trees and the surrounding landscape. Using special handmade charcoal made by artist Rebecca Allan, as well as pencil, learn to look closely and capture the habits, growth patterns, and textures of the venerable trees cared for by arborists and gardeners at Wave Hill.

Basic workshop supplies will be provided at check-in. Additional materials available for purchase in The Shop. All artists are invited to bring their lunch or purchase it in The Café and socialize in our air-conditioned Armor Hall at the end of the session; cool drinks and light snacks will be provided.

This event will take place outdoors; program will move to the Kate French Terrace and Armor Hall in case of inclement weather. 

Registration is encouraged but drop-ins are welcome! Registration can be made online or by calling 718.549.3200 x251. Drop-ins will be accommodated (as space allows) until 12pm. Ages 12 and older welcome with an adult.

Questions? Please email us at information@wavehill.org or call the telephone number and extension above.

Schedule of the Day:

• 9:00AM-9:30AM: Participants arrive, check-in
• 9:15AM: Introduction by Wennie Huang and Rebecca Allan
• 9:30-12:00PM: Instructor demos and instruction
• 12:15-12:45PM Rebecca Allan Gallery Tour – Trees we breathe (optional)
• 1:00PM: Group review and sharing
• 1:30PM: Event ends

Plen air workshops make use of a variety of garden areas that are accessible via flat, paved paths, as well as a variety of mixed-material pathways and varying elevations. The restroom on the ground level of Wave Hill House is all-gender and ADA-compliant. Additional ADA-compliant restrooms are available on the lower level and are accessible via stairs or an elevator. The instructors use a portable speaker in all locations.