Free public en plein air drawing and painting session with the St Albans Art Society at The Waffle House, open to members and the public.
The St Albans Art Society are taking things outdoors on Saturday 21 August, with an en plein air drawing and painting session at The Waffle House. For those who aren't familiar with the term, en plein air is just French for painting in the open air — so instead of working from a photo or a memory in a studio, you set up your easel or sketchbook on the spot and paint what's right in front of you.
It's an open session, and the society welcomes artists of all levels, from absolute beginners to the more experienced. If you've never picked up a brush or a charcoal stick before, you're just as welcome as someone who's been at it for years. The whole point is to get out and draw from life, and since it's a public session, you can just turn up and get stuck in.
It's part of a wider programme the society runs across the city. Most of their activity happens indoors at Marshalswick Community Centre and Charles Morris Hall, both of which are well-maintained with toilets, kitchen and disabled access. Members run untutored Art Club sessions there for £5, alongside Life Drawing evenings, and they stage an Annual Exhibition with a private view and a chance to pass on unwanted art materials to other members. The en plein air sessions are open to members and the public alike, so you don't need to be part of the society to join in.
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There's no booking required for the day, so you can just show up at The Waffle House on Saturday 21 August with your gear. If you'd like to stay in the loop with future sessions, the society encourages participants to join their WhatsApp group by emailing enquiries.saas@gmail.com. The session is free.
