From the Latest Issue of PleinAir Magazine
Latest Articles
The Top Plein Air Painting Events for March 2026
Take advantage of these in-person and virtual plein air painting opportunities from our special guide, highlighting events in California, Florida, Louisiana, and even online. Bonus: Catch this month's deadlines so you don't miss out on upcoming opportunities to participate at similar events.
Plein Air Stories: A Fisherman Saved My Brush
The following is part of a series that spotlights an artist who loves painting outdoors. Today's feature is on Lyudmila Tomova Clark, who is inspired by the grit - and in this case, kind and quick consideration - of fishermen.
Inspirational Insights from CW Mundy
Be inspired by American Impressionist artist CW Mundy, who explores the rewards of plein air painting, from changing light and natural sounds to the lasting impact on his studio work.
Popsicle Plein Air Painting
Who says you can only paint outdoors in warm weather? If you put together the right equipment and have a bit of adventurous spirit, this is a way to find new inspiration. Here's how one New Mexico artist does it.
4th Graders Learn Plein Air Painting
The series introduced students to the plein air tradition through brief art history lessons, live artist demonstrations, and hands-on outdoor painting sessions, culminating in a docent-led museum visit and a student paint-out in Balboa Park.
The Complexity and Nuance of “Standing Tall”
Ellen Howard was an invited artist and VIP at this year's Desert Plein Air Competition. Here, she shares her inspiration for the two paintings she entered, and her gratitude for the plein air community.
Why I Paint With Acrylics en Plein Air
After painting with watercolor for two decades, Marc Grandbois shares why acrylic painting fills his needs for painting on location, and how it's the "perfect bridge."
Plein Air Paintings of Cincinnati’s Union Terminal
Marlene Steele's plein air paintings document the renovation of the historic Cincinnati Union Terminal and celebrate traditional trades in the revitalization of the Art Deco train station now known as the Cincinnati Museum Center.
Happening This Week: 2026 Gouache Bootcamp
Do you know why many of the top studio and plein air artists are exploring gouache? It's their portable studio in a tube – paint anywhere without solvents or setup. Gouache paints with the feel and flexibility of oil, yet dilutes to get the effects of watercolor.
Hello from Hilton Head!
This year's Winter Art Escape offered unparalleled opportunities for artistic growth, including one-on-one painting sessions with Eric Rhoads. Enjoy this photo essay of our paint-outs and more.
Plein air painter Gene Costanza shares his five quick tips for artists on composition, color, and more.
Although I still sometimes set up my easel in the snow in early spring, for the past 10 years I’ve increasingly painted wintry landscapes from my car. I’ve become so used to it that I can now work fairly large — as big as a quarter sheet of watercolor paper (11 x 15 inches). It may seem awkward, but I’ve been doing this for so long that it’s actually become one of my favorite places to paint. Here's how I do it, and my advice for plein air painting in winter.
Inspired by Southeast Asia, Bob Masla explores watercolor, Sumi-e, and Notan studies that reveal the strength of values, brushwork, and design.
Combining gouache and oil might sound unlikely, but the two can form a powerful partnership when handled correctly. Raymond Bonilla treats gouache like a painter’s utility knife: a fast, forgiving tool to build a value and temperature map. The result is a workflow that speeds decision making, reduces solvent use, and gives the finished piece both vibrancy and painterly texture.
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