Thumbnail Sketch Challenge: Ready, set, sketch!
With it being in the heart of winter and in the midst of unpredictable weather, it’s the perfect time to cozy up with a cup of coffee and get out your sketchbook, favorite drawing utensil, and a timer. Set it for two minutes and do a quick sketch of each of the following reference images that we hand-picked for this drawing exercise.
Kathie Odom on Sketching in Advance: “I call it getting a lay of the land, whether painting plein air, a still life, or from a photo reference, it helps me know where I’m going.”
Ready? And … go!
When you’re finished, share your sketches with us on Instagram (@pleinairmag #pleinairtoday #sketchchallenge).
What Is Plein Air Painting?
You may have heard others refer to painting en plein air, which is sometimes pronounced “plain” and sometimes pronounced “plen.” The phrase comes from the French word for “outside.” But enough about pronunciations — what is plein air painting?
Simply put: Plein air painting is the same as painting outside. Thousands of artists have begun this practice by taking their supplies into cities and urban areas to reflect the hustle and bustle of people in their daily lives, as well as to the mountains, streams, forests, and deserts to capture the magnificence of nature on canvas.
Don’t miss your opportunity to create lifetime memories at PACE! The next Plein Air Convention & Expo is May 14-18, 2026 in The Ozarks. All training sessions are indoors on giant, high-def screens, with plein air paint-outs in the afternoons. Beginners and pros feel right at home, so register now to join us!
Just like player pianos or AI music, people will long for original songs and voices. What is really disturbing to me is giant hideous AI designed murals- starting to see at airports and other large wall space. I live in a mountain town and there was a proposal to make a big tropical bright theme mural on the golf course with creepy birds the size of cows—egads!