Plein Air Painting at the Conservatory Garden in Central Park

Please read the Community Code on the Group Description page before you RSVP

What to Expect:
We'll spend around 3-4 hours outdoors in the city, making art and enjoying each other's company. After the painting session, we will go to a nearby cafe/restaurant to further connect. Expect a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere where you can unleash your creativity and connect with fellow artists. We are going to the Conservatory Garden in Central Park.
Tucked away on the northeastern edge of Central Park at 105th Street and Fifth Avenue, the Conservatory Garden is the park's only formal garden — and one of its best kept secrets. Three distinct garden sections offer a richness of subjects: the Italian-style central garden with its grand wisteria pergola and sweeping lawn, the romantic English-style South Garden with its ornate fountain and seasonal blooms, and the French-inspired North Garden with its circular beds and canopied crabapple allées. Light filters through the trees beautifully throughout the afternoon, and there's a stillness here that lends itself perfectly to careful, observational work.
The garden is free and open to the public.

How to Get There:
- By Subway:
6 Train: Take the 6 train to 103rd Street. Walk one block east to Fifth Avenue, then two blocks north to 105th Street. The Vanderbilt Gate will be right in front of you. About a 5-minute walk.
- By Bus:
Take the M1, M2, M3, or M4 bus along Fifth Avenue and get off at 105th Street — the gate is steps away.
- By Car:
Head to Fifth Avenue and 105th Street. Street parking is available along Fifth Avenue and surrounding blocks, but arrive a little early on weekends as spots fill up.
- Walking Directions:
Walk north along Fifth Avenue to 105th Street. Look for the grand ornate iron Vanderbilt Gate on your left — that's our meeting point.

Agenda:
1:00 PM – 1:10 PM: Gather at the Vanderbilt Gate entrance on Fifth Avenue at 105th Street.
From there we will spend the next 5-10 minutes wandering through the three garden sections to find the perfect spot to settle.
1:30 PM – 4:30 PM: Painting and drawing session.
4:30 PM – 5:00 PM: Regroup for show and tell
If you are new, introduce yourself and your art practice with the group, share your work (optional), sources of inspiration, and thoughts on the overall experience.
After that we'll head to a nearby spot for food and drinks. We encourage you to stay as this is the part that helps us truly connect and foster a meaningful connection with each other.

What to Bring:
Something to paint with — your preferred painting mediums: oil paints, watercolours, acrylics, gouache, ink, pastel, markers etc. Brushes, pens and/or pencils.
Something to paint on — linen, canvas, paper, sketchbook etc.
Easels/pochade box (optional). Beginners can join in with just a sketchbook or an iPad.
Dress comfortably for outdoor painting and bring a hat to shield yourself from the sun.
Bring a folding chair if you like to sit and draw.

NOTE —
Dress comfortably for outdoor painting.
The garden has restrooms and there are cafes and restaurants a short walk away on Fifth Avenue and Lexington Avenue.
There are benches throughout the garden.
If you are new to the group shoot a text and I'll keep an eye out for you. Insiya — 706-286-4715. If you are getting late, let us know promptly.

• We snap pics for social media.
• If you're not cool with that, just give us a heads-up!