Summer Paint-Out Schedule and Locations
Gather with other artists in the great outdoors for any one of these “en plein air” paint-outs. Artist Nelia Harper will be leading the events. Paint-outs will occur rain or shine. Please be prepared for rain, sun (burn), and bugs. Paint-outs do not include instruction, and painters of all skill levels are welcome! Those 16 years of age and younger must have a parent of guardian with them. Materials and tools are not provided.
Nelia Harper is a representational artist working in a variety of media including oil paint, egg tempera, and pastel. She received a Bachelor of Arts from St. Catherine University, after which she had a professional career before turning her focus to art. After years of study, landscape and studio painting, she returned to Minnesota to study at the Great Lakes Academy of Fine Art in the classical atelier method under the instruction of master artist, Jeffrey T. Larson. The focus of her work is capturing the essence of time, place, and space, and share her love of the outdoors with others. She currently resides in Grand Rapids, MN where she continues to paint and teach youth and adults. She is an active member of the Outdoor Painters of Minnesota.
Nelia Harper is a fiscal year 2023 recipient of the Creative Support for Individuals grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board. This activity is made possible by voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.
Registration is encouraged, but not required. Please call the MAC to sign up at 218-326-2697.
May 10, 2023 - Pokegama Dam & Bass Brook WMA
9am-12pm
34385 West Hwy 2, Grand Rapids, MN
Located on the western edge of Grand Rapids, the Pokegama Dam Recreation Area offers views of the Mississippi River, large white pines, and a picnic area. On the other side of the dam is the Bass Brook Wildlife Management Area, which includes an abandoned train trestle and a variety of forest and river views.
Meet at the main entrance/parking area.
June 14, 2023 - Grand Rapids Area LibrarY
9am-12pm
140 NE 2nd Street, Grand Rapids, MN
The Grand Rapids Public Library sits along the shores of the Mississippi River in downtown Grand Rapids. Follow the pathway along the river for scenic vistas, head upstream for industrial views of the Blandin Dam and paper mill or explore the town for urban sketching.
Meet at the library parking lot.
July 12, 2023 - Tioga Recreation Area
9am-12pm
23946 Tioga Beach Road, Cohasset, MN
A former mine, this area is now a park for mountain biking and hiking. Follow old mining roads or mountain bike trails which overlook Pokegama Lake and Tioga Pit (an old mine, now reclaimed as a small lake), or enjoy the rolling hills, ponds, lake views, and a wide variety of trees and flora.
Meet at Tioga Mountain Bike Trailhead Parking Lot #1
August 9, 2023 - Schoolcraft State Park
9 am - 12 pm
9042 Schoolcraft Lane NE, Deer River, MN Schoolcraft State Park features 225 acres of grassland along the Mississippi River with old growth white pine, spruce, jack pine and fir trees as well as an oxbow lake, a marsh, and large beds of wild rice and water lilies.
Meet at the parking lot near the picnic area. Bring a picnic lunch and spend the day painting.
State Parks permit required.
September – No paint-out scheduled in the Grand Rapids area
Join us in Grand Marais for Plein Air Grand Marais, sponsored by Outdoor Painters of Minnesota
October 11, 2023 – Forest History Center
9 am - 3 pm
2609 County Road 76, Grand Rapids, MN
Enjoy the fall colors in the 170 acres of this recreated 1900s logging camp located on the Mississippi River, with 5 miles of walking trails that take you through varied terrain from cedar, black spruce and tamarack bogs, to grasslands, and horse paddock.
Meet in the main parking lot. Bring a sack lunch and plan to paint all day.