Every Thursday in September and October, well-known artist Ida Schmulowitz teaches a small group of students the craft and technique of landscape painting in one of Providence’s widest streets, Blackstone Boulevard.

It’s called en plain air, which means outside or in the open air, and that’s just what this small group of high school students from School One and older adults from Hamilton House do. Every week the group set up their easels, wet their brushes and look for the play of light on the tree branches and pitched roofs. Lola Rael is one of only five high school students participating.

“Word has gotten out about the collaboration with students from School One, participants have rearranged their schedules and appointments to make time to be a part of the landscape painting class,” said Jessica Haley, executive director at Hamilton House.

Known for her practice of painting urban scenes through the changing scenes, Ida has taken her practice and turned it into a model for her students.

Truly unique is the intergenerational component of this class, where teenagers and adults over 65 are learning art instruction side by side. Those more experienced explain how to sketch or compose the first layer of paint while the novices listen eagerly. It’s about sharing said one student. It’s also about community, each week more than a dozen walkers and on lookers stop to observe, ask questions or talk about art with the group.

Lola Rael has been invited to exhibit her paintings, weather permitting, on the Boulevard on Thursday, Oct. 20 at 3:30 p.m. If you’re in the neighborhood, stop by and say hello.