Most of us walk through a prairie.

On Saturday, five artists stopped long enough to paint it.

For the second year in a row, Ouabache Land Conservancy welcomed plein air artists to Paint Out on the Prairie, inviting visitors to experience nature through the eyes of an artist while exploring one of west-central Indiana's most remarkable landscapes.

Spend just a few minutes watching a plein air artist at work, and you begin to notice things you might otherwise walk right past. The changing light across the prairie. The movement of native grasses in the breeze. The colors hidden among wildflowers. The shape of a single tree against the sky.

Artists have a remarkable ability to slow us down and help us really see a place.

Throughout the morning, visitors wandered the prairie, talked with the artists about their creative process, and watched blank canvases gradually become vibrant paintings inspired by the landscape all around them. There are plenty of places to purchase beautiful artwork. There are very few opportunities to watch an artist create a painting in the very landscape that inspired it—and then take that painting home. Paint Out on the Prairie offers exactly that kind of experience.

Adding another dimension to the day, board member Jim Nardi led two guided hikes through the prairie at Atherton Island, sharing the stories, ecology, and hidden details that make the preserve so unique. Together, the hikes and the artwork encouraged visitors to slow down, look a little closer, and discover new perspectives on a place many have visited before.

This event wouldn't exist without OLC board member Curt Stanfield, whose passion for both art and conservation inspired him to connect OLC with fellow artists willing to donate their time and talent. Thanks to those relationships—and the generosity of every participating artist—Paint Out on the Prairie has become one of OLC's most unique community events.

The generosity shown throughout the day was truly inspiring. Some artists brought additional paintings to sell in support of Ouabache Land Conservancy, and offered the artwork they had created during the event. Thanks to their generosity, and everyone who purchased artwork, the event raised more than $1,500 to support local conservation. Through the $25,000 matching challenge OLC has from the Namaste Foundation, those dollars will go twice as far to help protect the natural places we all cherish.

But the most lasting impact wasn't measured in dollars.

It was found in conversations between artists and visitors. In children watching paintings emerge one brushstroke at a time. In people seeing Atherton Island from a different perspective. And in the reminder that conservation isn't only about protecting special places. It's also about helping people build a deeper connection with them.

Participating Artists

A heartfelt thank you to the talented artists who shared their time, creativity, and generosity with our community:

Thank you as well to Jim Nardi for leading the guided hikes, to everyone who attended, and to those who supported local artists while investing in the future of conservation.

Seeing the Prairie Through an Artist's Eyes

Participating Artists

Conservation Starts with Community