From the Latest Issue of PleinAir Magazine

PleinAir Magazine February/March 2026

Featured Artwork

Latest Articles

Artists and Conservancy: Never Underestimate Your Impact

As an artist, what role can you play in the conservation and preservation of land, cultures, and buildings?
Anne Blair Brown is among the faculty of Acrylic Live 2026

Happening This Week: 2026 Acrylic Live

Watch and interact with world-renowned artists as they demonstrate their skills at Acrylic Live, Wednesday through Friday, with an Essential Techniques Day on Tuesday. We'll see favorites such as Anne Blair Brown, Charlie Easton, and ...
Beth Bathe, "Pipkas Cottage," 2017, water-mixable oils, 12 x 24 in., Private collection, Plein air

Painting Tutorial: Water-Mixable Oils in Action

In this demonstration from PleinAir Magazine, we see how Beth Bathe uses water-mixable oils to create the tonal landscape painting, "Pipkas Cottage."
Painting flowers outdoors

Now I Get It

"I always wondered why artists painted a series when there were tens of thousands of themes one could explore - until ..."
Kathleen Hudson at work on her Quick Draw competition.

Head to the Beach: Florida’s Forgotten Coast en Plein Air

Located on a 100-mile stretch of scenic coastal towns on the Gulf in North Florida, Forgotten Coast en Plein Air is a 10-day invitational event taking place March 20-29. Invited artists include ...
Abstract landscape paintings

Paintings That “Feel” Like Landscapes

By almost completely abstracting the landscape, Scott Gellatly distills the experience of nature to its essence, and, perhaps more important, he ...
Jack McGowan shares his advice for plein air painting in winter conditions

Do You Have the Right Gear for Painting in Snow?

Popsicle Painting Part 2: From the backpack to shoes, the “day pack” makes all of the difference for plein air painters, including this one, who loves to combine skiing with his brush time.
Plein air painting events - Artists Jason Prigge and Alan Eickberg regale one another with stories of their plein air adventures during the Paint Cedarburg exhibition.

15 Ways to Elevate Your Work

"Why do artists do it?” asks painter Russell Jewel. “Why do we bare our souls to the public and risk one person’s opinion?” His words capture the tension every artist feels when entering a juried event — the balance between vulnerability and ambition. But what makes a painting rise above the rest? What qualities make a viewer stop, linger, and fall in love? We turned to some of the art world’s most experienced judges, collectors, and curators to find out.
John Pototschnik: Keeping it Simple

5 Thoughts Every Artist Has

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by color, confused by perspective, or frustrated with your tools, you’re not alone. Inspired by John Pototschnik's teachings, let's break down five common artist frustrations and the simple changes that can transform your painting experience. ✨
Olena Babak painting on location in Rocky Mountain National Park

Painting On Location: In Service of the Heart

Imbuing her work with the lessons of art history, this Maine oil painter takes advantage of amassed techniques and skills to stay in the moment and express her feelings about a scene.
In this art critique session on Art School Live, Eric Rhoads shares practical painting advice: learn about composition grids, value checks, S‑curve flow, and small edits that boost contrast, depth, and focal impact—plus a Van Gogh study.
Sixteen invited plein air artists enjoyed painting colorful sunrises with warm temperatures and afternoon breezes during the 20th Annual Borrego Springs Plein Air Invitational. This year's winners are ...
It's a good time to clear the air on some etiquette involved with making master copies in art museums, as well as related issues. Learning by doing and seeing how others do it has always been a great way to gain practical knowledge, but ...
From Carla Bosch's 2025 Plein Air Live demonstration

Get Used To It

A word of advice from plein air painter Carla Bosch, who will be joining us at the 2026 Plein Air Convention & Expo!

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