Class: Plein Air in Edmonds – May 2026

The practice of “plein air”, involves creating art outdoors, directly from observation, rather than in a studio. Participants will explore the unique environments of downtown Edmonds, capturing natural beauty and atmosphere through various drawing techniques.

There will be two plein air sessions this summer. The May 17 session will take place near the beach/ferry with an opportunity for drawing seascapes. The June 28 session will be held in the downtown core with an opportunity for capturing cityscapes.

We will meet at Graphite Arts Center at 11:00am, fill up our water bottles and then walk to our destination. Participants will need to have the mobility to walk to the location and back to Graphite Arts Center. It will be approximately 1/2 mile each way and a 10-15 minute walk. Class will be held mostly outdoors, so participants should dress appropriately for the weather and be prepared for potential changes in conditions.

The class will focus mainly on sketching, composition and perspective, improving your observation skills and ability to capture a scene in the moment. Ray will be sharing his own sketchbook and bringing a Pochade box (Pochade boxes serve as a portable studio, allowing artists to carry their materials and paint on location) with watercolors to demonstrate techniques and share his tips for creating in the field. Participants are responsible for bringing their own supplies (list below).

This is an explorational class for all levels – beginners to advanced – everyone is welcome to come and make art with us. No experience is necessary.

Tentative Schedule:
11:00am – 11:15am: Meet at Graphite and walk to location
11:15am – 11:30am: Arrive at location and set-up
11:30am – 1:30pm: Drawing/Painting
1:30pm – 1:45pm: Pack up and walk back to Graphite
1:45pm – 2:00pm: Wrap-up and sharing