We have received an invitation to join members of the Clayton Visual Arts group on their private visit to Gillis Hill Farm in Fayetteville and enjoy a peaceful day of Plein Air Painting! The visit is this Saturday, November 16. Robeson Art Guild member Dave Lennon is the very active President of the Clayton group and extends this invitation! Hope to see you there! It looks a very special opportunity to paint! Oh, and yes, it’s free!
Here are the details in Dave’s own words: I am President and Plein Air Chair for Clayton Visual Arts in Clayton, NC (and a proud native of Lumberton!). We are holding a plein air painting event near RobCo, and I wanted to be sure our friends in the Robeson Art Guild (of which I am a member) are invited.
THIS SATURDAY, 16 NOVEMBER- RETURN TO GILLIS HILL FARM FOR PLEIN AIR PAINTING!!! Thanks to the kind hospitality of Andrew and Marieke Gillis and the entire Gillis family, we are returning to the Gillis Hill Farm outside Fayetteville, where we had a delightful plein air painting excursion last year. It’s easy to get to- here’s the address for your Google: 2701 Gillis Hill Rd, Fayetteville, NC, United States, North Carolina
Please note that although their Facebook page says the farm is closed for the season, it will be open for us and this event.
The Gillis family has farmed this place since the mid-1700s, and in recent years, they have adapted the farm to agri-tourism during the summers. That means working flush toilets will be readily available while we paint! (smile). The atmosphere will be very welcoming– my dear stepdaughter married Andrew Gillis and they live there, along with my 6 grandkids!
The farm offers painting subjects galore! There is a picturesque pond with picnic tables in a shaded grove of trees, near the reconstructed historic mill, complete with water wheel. There are lots of old, weathered barns, including an old log barn, ancient buggies and wagons, and a rusting antique pickup truck. A Victorian-era farmhouse is at the entrance to the farm. There are cows, goats, and chickens galore. It is a wonderful cavalcade of ideal subjects for plein air painting. The weather forecast, at least at present, is IDEAL- calling for clear with a high temperature of 68. I would suggest it would be great for bringing a picnic lunch and picnicking at the numerous tables beside the pond.
Follow your Google directions to the address for Gillis Hill Farm. You will see a white farmhouse there- Turn into the dirt parking area beside the farm house for the Gillis Hill Farm, and look for the little lane to the left of the farmhouse. We will have signs or people to direct you from there.
We will officially start the plein air event at 9:30 a.m., but I will be there a little earlier, and of course there is no problem if you arrive a little later than 9:30. Come on out and enjoy a beautiful day on the farm! And if you’re so inclined- paint with us!
PLEASE RSVP TO davelennonart@yahoo.com IF YOU ARE COMING (NEGATIVE RESPONSES NOT REQUIRED)- SO WE CAN KNOW TO LOOK FOR YOU.
CHEERS!
