ART DAY in the GARDENS– a CFWS special outreach event at Leu Gardens was a whopping success! We had so many people interested in sitting down to learn how to paint in watercolor, that we ran out of chairs! 😃

Sandi B. (president) and Mary, Gini, Carol, Jane, helped set up families with paper, paints, brushes and creative advice. We were near the Garden House, just off the main sidewalk, overlooking Lake Rowena.

Cindy, Judy, Sid, Leslie, Thouraya, went out into the garden to set up their own easels along paths lined with newly growing plants. Spring has sprung in the gardens after a harsh winter.

Early on a family of six all sat down to paint the local colors and light of the plants around them. Gini and Jane set up the paints brushes and papers.
Here they are proudly holding up their artistic creations.
As the beautiful morning continued our booth brought over more visitors for a day of outdoor creativity.
Mary, Sandi and Carol talk about our watercolor society to a few interested participants, under the large, shady Oak tree.
As the morning went on, more and more visitors came by to draw and paint. The Leu Gardens photographer did several videos on our artistic happening.
Jane and Sandi watch a budding young artist at the easel.
Samples of some of the creative and fun paintings done by our visitors.
Wow, the crowds continued throughout the day! All seats were taken!
It was heartwarming to see entire families painting together.
Thank you Gini, for teaching lessons in watercolor and color mixing.
Many folks took advantage of the soft light and lovely surroundings.
One of our many creative guests enjoying her artwork!
Sid and Judy (not shown) arrived and said “Hi” on their way out into the gardens with all their plein air equipment!
Sid waves bye, bye as he heads out to paint!
Gini, Mary, Terri are setting up for our big day!
“Oak at Leu” by Thouraya, a lovely atmospheric painting.
The white cottage in the butterfly garden by Thouraya.
Leslie also painted an Oak tree framing potted plants out in the garden. Great colors and clouds!
Judy painted a lovely colorful landscape.
You can tell that Ann is a very experienced plein air artist and knows what to bring!
Jane brought some of her beautiful plein air paintings so visitors could see how a finished painting would look. They were a big hit!
The official Leu Gardens photographer took many photos of our large amount of visitors who spilled out onto the grass to paint under the large Oak.
Whew! Terri, Jane and Sandi finally get to sit down after the event and enjoy lunch on the patio, under the Oak trees.
Also enjoying a well deserved lunch break, on the patio, are Thouraya, Diana, Carol and Leslie.

A good time was had by all! Sandi mentioned we had over 50 visitors to our booth and many stayed for quite a while enjoying the mild temperatures and small breeze. Leu Gardens was so happy to see how successful this event turned out and we may be invited back to do more activities with them. So, think about volunteering for our special events in the future, so we can spread the word about the wonderful world of watercolor painting and our society of happy painters! 😎 See you at the next plein air: April 18th at Mead Gardens.

*photos courtesy of Terri, Gini, Leslie, Judy, Thouraya, and Cindy