Artist Nicole Willbur in My Garden: Painting en Plein Air
Hosting the artist Nicole Willbur in my garden while she painted en plein air on a sunny late spring day was, for me, an unforgettable experience. Her work is remarkable and her process is fascinating. Watch her watercolor creation bloom and grow while she discusses her methodology in this wonderful video.
Got a great one for you here, guys and gals. It’s a video of the remarkably talented artist Nicole Willbur, in my garden, painting en plein air. For those of you unfamiliar with plein air painting, it’s simply a style of painting in which the subject matter is located – and the execution of the work takes place – outdoors. Ms. Willbur, with whom you’ll become more intimately acquainted by virtue of an upcoming RGG interview, set up her easel and her paints in my garden on June 10, 2024, and went to work executing a lovely watercolor on paper with some of my flowers as her subjects, all the while explaining many of the nuances of her plein air painting methodology (and periodically contending with yours truly). The abridged version of her creation of the piece, from conceptualization through completion, is here for you to watch and enjoy. The video link is located below.*
*This feature, along with the video that serves as its centerpiece, represents the very first entry in The RGG Sights and Sounds category, Live and Written Event Coverage (though it can be found in The Fine and Decorative Arts and Gardening and Garden Design categories, as well). In spite of the wondrous experience of artist Nicole Willbur painting in my garden as its subject matter, the video itself, I felt, featured (and I’m being kind, here) less than stellar production values (A cute little pup barking off-screen and a finger or two in the frame, anyone?). But when I voiced this concern to Nicole, she remained undaunted and actually embraced what she considered “the raw quality of the footage.” Spoken like a true artist, no?
Enjoy the video – raw quality and all – of the amazing artist Nicole Willbur in my garden, doing what she loves more than anything in the world.
Nicole Willbur will be back. You’ll be reading an in-depth interview with her right here in The Renaissance Garden Guy within the next few weeks, and, she’ll literally be back in my garden at various points over the summer to execute more works en plein air. She’s got plans for more RGG flowers as they bloom, and she wants to paint them in a few different styles and from a few different perspectives. And (spoiler alert), she may also be bringing some friends.
In any case, I’ll be more than ready for her…
New video-making technology has come to The Renaissance Garden Guy, along with some improved video-making skills. These improvements will deliver the experience of Nicole’s creative process in the manner that both the artist and The RGG audience deserve.
Below are a few snaps I took early on during Nicole’s process on June 10th. And, below the pics is a brief bio (remember, you’ll be getting to know Nicole more intimately in her upcoming interview) and a link to Nicole’s social media page of choice.
Nicole Willbur is currently a Michiana based artist by way of Minnesota, New Jersey, and Chicago. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Studio Arts with a Minor degree in Art History from Central Michigan University. Among other affiliations and associations, she is an exhibiting member and the Coordinator of the Duneland Plein Air Painters. Since 2004, Nicole’s work has been featured in 70 exhibits in galleries on the East Coast, in the Mid-Atlantic, and in the Midwest, and in a number of online exhibits, as well. Three of her works reside in my own private collection and may be viewed right here in The Renaissance Garden Guy in the “Fine and Decorative Art” image gallery.
To learn more about Nicole Willbur and her work, and to stay tuned in to her artistic adventures and endeavors, please visit and follow her on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/nicolewillbur/.
My special thanks go to Nicole Willbur for her beautiful plein air painting demonstration. I’m honored beyond words that she’s chosen to use my garden as a subject for her work. And my further thanks go to Nicole in advance for her imminent, subsequent visits. (What? The exquisitely talented artist Nicole Willbur in my garden, executing more of her famous plein air watercolor work? With my own flowers as her subject? Can I say yes?) And, of course, my dear readers and subscribers, my constant gratitude goes to you. Your incredibly kind interest, readership, and viewership are dearly appreciated.
Cheers, and Happy Gardening!
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I’m so happy you featured this video in The RGG, John. Nicole is so talented, and she brought your beautiful garden to life on her canvas! Thank you for sharing this with us… I can’t wait to see more!
Thank you for watching the video, Tina, and thank you for commenting. I so glad you enjoyed it. I felt the same way about her execution of this beautiful watercolor – watching her create the work felt, for me, like watching a living thing blossom and grow. It will definitely be exciting to have her back, and to watch her create her next floral masterpiece! Thanks once again, Tina.
Absolutely fascinating watching her paint.
She is giving a second life to your beautiful flowers, filling them with magical light and beauty…
Thank you for this wonderful experience🙏🌸🌺
Thank you so much for watching the video, Roxxy. I’m so glad you found Nicole’s process so interesting. She’s extremely talented, and I completely agree with your take- she definitely reimagined these flowers and gave each of them an entirely new kind of life. I can’t tell you enough how much I enjoyed watching this painting evolve and come to life. It was wonderful! Thank you again, Roxxy – I’m very happy to know that you liked this one!
What a lovely afternoon. Beautiful painting. Maybe you could invite other artists to your garden? John’s Garden Salon.
Lane
Thank you, Lane, for watching the video and for commenting. You are definitely catching my wavelength: not only will Nicole be back to paint some different scenes in a few different styles, some additional members her painters’ group, The Duneland Plein Air Painter’s, will be setting up their weasels here, as well. The other item, with which you’re obviously keenly in tune, concerns my development of an A/V “digital salon.” Video discussions, events, interviews with the arts (and definitely some gardening, too.) This is all in the works, and that material should be populating the site before long. Getting back to your original sentiment, I’ll tell you that I absolutely agree. It was a lovely afternoon, and it was made even more lovely by watching Nicole execute her beautiful watercolor creation. Thank you once shian,
Fascinating to observe as Nicole paints. Thanks for the video.
Thanks for checking out the feature and watching the video, Rick. I absolutely agree. I could watch her painting process a million times and never be bored. I likened the evolution of the work to the surprisingly fast growth spurts that many of the plants in my garden demonstrate throughout the course of a given day. I’m so glad you found it interesting, too. Nicole is really amazing, and it was an honor to host her, and her lovely work, in my garden. Thanks once again, Rick.
Awesome!
Thank you so much for watching the video, Annie. I’m so glad you enjoyed it. I definitely agree – Nicole is an amazing talent. Watching this work evolve over the course of the three hours it took her to execute it was a fascinating and magical experience. Thanks once again, Annie!
Thank you, John and Nicole, for such a terrific experience. It was so fascinating to see Nicole’s process of bringing her vision of your garden to life. I look forward to hearing and seeing more of her and other members of her plein air group. Hopefully, you’ll invite your audience to look over her shoulder again as she creates another of her lovely works!
I’m so glad you enjoyed this feature, Kevin. I’ve got to tell you, it was like magic watching Nicole’s work “bloom and grow” right before my eyes. The video is abridged – it took her about three hours to complete the work – but the time flew by for me. She’ll be back before long, painting a different garden scene in a different style. This is all very, very exciting! Thanks once again, Kevin. Your interest and kind thoughts are truly appreciated.
John, this is Nicole…just wanted to say thanks for having me over to paint in your garden. It was truly magical. I loved following the light as it moved through different areas of the garden. I can’t wait to paint there again and see what’s blooming next!
Nicole
It was my absolute pleasure, Nicole. I’m thrilled and entirely honored that you’ve found my garden to be a suitable source for your inspiration and a subject of your work. I’m so excited to see what you’ll create during your next visit – I literally cannot wait! Thank you so much, Nicole!