Focus on small details of nature, or take in a broader view of land and sky for your piece while comparing and contrasting the summer landscape in three different ecosystems—watershed, prairie, and forest.
With a focus on plein air sessions, students in this course will learn to compose and create images of these inspiring surroundings by spending two weeks immersed in each environment. The instructor will:
- Share principles of scene selection, simplification, and process in creating landscape artwork.
- Invite participants to find a still life in nature by zooming in on a detail—whether a single coneflower or the trunk of an oak—in its natural context.
- Demonstrate various drawing and painting media.
- Provide one-on-one guidance as students complete their own drawing or painting.
Students will develop a drawing or painting using the medium of their choice. Over the course of the program, a close observation of the contrasting ecosystem landscapes will reveal subtle variations as well as similarities.
This program is open to any drawing or painting media.
This program is intended for intermediate to experienced artists. Foundational drawing skills and familiarity with your medium of choice are required.
This program meets in person at the Arboretum.
Instructor: John Fleck, artist
Age: 16 and older
Course number: A189
Instructor
John Fleck, artist
John Fleck is an artist and teacher based in Skokie. His past career was as an illustrator for children’s educational publishing. Now he focuses on fine art through drawing, painting, and teaching. He received his BFA from Columbia College in Chicago in 2001. He is primarily inspired by the natural world in his artwork and enjoys wandering in the woods, fields, or along the lakeshore, looking for a weathered tree full of character, a unique view, or a light effect that fascinates him. He works in oils, acrylics, gouache, pen and ink, and various drawing media. He can often be found at The Art Institute of Chicago or The Field Museum of Natural History, sketchbook in hand. His travels around the Midwest and to places such as Oregon and Maine have inspired many of his works. He exhibits in the Chicago area.
What to Know
This program meets outdoors. Check the forecast and dress for the weather.
This program is intended for intermediate to experienced artists. Foundational knowledge and skills in your medium of choice are required.
Please bring a portable chair and all materials needed to create art in your chosen medium.
Program Schedule
This program meets the following six times.
Wednesday, July 2, 2025, 9:00 a.m. to noon
Parking Lot 29, West Side
Wednesday, July 9, 2025, 9:00 a.m. to noon
Parking Lot 29, West Side
Wednesday, July 16, 2025, 9:00 a.m. to noon
Prairie Visitor Station (Parking Lot 25), West Side
Wednesday, July 23, 2025, 9:00 a.m. to noon
Prairie Visitor Station (Parking Lot 25), West Side
Wednesday, July 30, 2025, 9:00 a.m. to noon
Big Rock Visitor Station (Parking Lot 13), East Side
Wednesday, August 6, 2025, 9:00 a.m. to noon
Big Rock Visitor Station (Parking Lot 13), East Side
