OutdoorPainter

A painting only has to answer to itself. By almost completely abstracting the landscape, Scott Gellatly distills the experience of nature to its essence, and, perhaps more important, he ...

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.

"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.

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. ✨

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 ...

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

Eric Rhoads interviews CW Mundy, whose journey from sports illustration to American Impressionism offers practical lessons on painting from life, disciplined practice, value relationships, and smart career habits.

In this episode of Art School Live with guest host Kathleen Hudson, Suzie Greer Baker breaks down the overwhelming world of plein air gear into practical choices, real-world examples and travel-tested hacks.

A Spotlight on our Plein Air Heritage: In his later years, Claude Monet (France, 1840–1926) stayed close to home, relying increasingly on his garden at Giverny for inspiration...

It is with great sadness that we announce the death of prolific plein air painter Karl Dempwolf, who passed away recently due to an accident. The art community is feeling the loss of this beloved artist and, in tribute to him, we'd like to share some of his iconic interviews and ...

George Billis of George Billis Galleries has revealed his selections for the January 2026 PleinAir Salon art competition. They are ...

Capturing their creative interpretations throughout the community of Borrego Springs and in the beautiful and dramatic Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, artists are competing for ...

This special collector edition of PleinAir Magazine is an invitation to explore American landscapes through the eyes of the artists who have painted them, loved them, questioned them, and helped define them.

Nancie King Mertz:  As a plein air painter in Chicago, I was fascinated by the calligraphy created in the sky by the EL and...

Fred Jackson: I paint common, everyday places that quietly define the character of a landscape or city. Through an intuitive and evolving process, each...

In this episode of the Art Marketing Minute Podcast, Eric Rhoads answers questions about your brand consistency and creating momentum for selling your art without peaks and valleys. Watch and listen here!

In this episode of the Plein Air Podcast, discover Nathan Fowkes’s practical advice on daily studies, gouache plein air workflow, and storytelling design—insights ahead of his Plein Air Convention demo.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.