Thumbnail Sketch Challenge: Ready, set, sketch!
Get out your sketchbook and favorite drawing utensil, and watch this montage from Plein Air Today. The 10-minute video shows a variety of western landscapes you can use to practice drawing thumbnail sketches. Think of it as a reference photo slideshow: Three reference photos will be on the screen for three minutes each.
When you’re finished, share your sketches with us on Instagram (@pleinairmag #pleinairtoday #sketchchallenge)!
We want to thank Don Schroder (www.donschroder.com) for generously giving us permission to feature his landscape photography for this thumbnail sketch challenge.
For more inspiration on how to paint landscapes and painting en plein air, browse OutdoorPainter.com and sign up for the free Plein Air Today newsletter, brought to you by PleinAir Magazine and Streamline Publishing.
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.
