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Plein Air Magazine

Talent Attracted to Wisconsin

A picturesque town of 40,000 can ably support a plein air event, with dazzling entries and solid winners. Want proof? New Berlin, Wisconsin, population 39,700,...

Parting Shot: Home Is Where the Views Are

Carole Pivarnik was looking for a way to "put miles" on her brushes and painting knives, and then she realized the opportunity was right...

Taking Advantage of Home Repair by Painting From on High

Englishman John Hoffman had some work done on his house's chimney this fall. The scaffolding was too tempting for him to resist. ...

Why One Lover of Solitude Competes in Plein Air Events

Matt Chinian isn't anti-social, he just likes the meditative feel of painting alone. Yet he still competes in plein air events. Why?  ...

Who Collects Art? Artists.

What's on your wall? Try to name an artist who doesn't have original art in his or her home. It's nearly impossible. But the...

Plein Air Force: Student Day at the Forgotten Coast

The Plein Air Force initiative -- an effort to help painters spread the word about plein air painting and encourage people to try painting...

OPPORTUNITY: Artist in Wilderness Residencies, Colorado

Four artist residencies are available for the summer of 2016 in the Aspen, Colorado, area. But the deadline for applications is soon. Lead Image:...

Parting Shot: Art Basel Miami Beach Counterpoint

Art Basel is famous and notorious among representational painters. But one thing is for sure: Attending it can be laborious. The antidote, of course,...

Bob Francis, Ready to Roll, Ready to Paint

- Bob Bahr reporting, Editor PleinAir Today - When Southern California painter Bob Francis shifted his emphasis from surfing to plein air painting, he didn’t...

Why This Works: Keeping it Fun and Lyrical

- Jeanne Mackenzie reporting - In this series, plein air painter and instructor Jeanne Mackenzie takes a look at new paintings by contemporary artists and...

Italy, Abstracted

Richard Kattman tells the story about how he was painting a fairly abstract piece in Italy when someone in a passing car slammed on the brakes. What did the driver say?

Are You Going to Miss the Fall Color in Maine? You Don’t Have To

- Staff reporting - Last year, PleinAir magazine publisher Eric Rhoads took some painters to Acadia National Park to paint Maine just as peak color...

Parting Shot: Cubs Win! Painter Paints!

Chicago plein air artist Nancie King Mertz caught baseball fever recently when the Chicago Cubs won the World Series.

The Next Print Issue of PleinAir Magazine Is Hot in the Winter

Many painters love to paint winter scenes with their myriad whites and clear, cold air. But winter is also a time to regroup, to research, to reflect. The next issue of PleinAir magazine is chock full of information that can improve your art.

Parting Shot: Painting + Vineyard = Tough Life?

The West Coast members of the Salmagundians & Friends plein air group recently had a tough day at the office. Not.

OPPORTUNITY: Painting the Illinois Prairie in May

For the seventh year, the Village of Schaumburg is hosting the Prairie Plein Air Competition and Show in the spring, with cash prizes and captivating scenes beckoning to artists.

Shelby Keefe: My Favorite Place to Paint Outdoors

Shelby Keefe's favorite place to paint is a hillside where vehicles go to rust. "There's enough painting fodder there for the rest of my life," she says.

Why This Works: Wildlife Gives Interest to Landscape

In this series, plein air painter and instructor Jeanne Mackenzie takes a look at new paintings by contemporary artists and points out why they succeed as painted images. This week, Nancy Woods Daniel’s “Blythe Ferry Winter Day.”

A Plein Air Rodeo

Since 1954, the San Angelo Roping Fiesta has attracted the most accomplished and best tie-down and steer ropers in the world. Hosted in San Angelo, Texas, the 2017 competition will feature some extra spectators.

My Favorite Place to Paint: Grand Color, Grand Canal

It’s not surprising that Venice, Italy, is renowned for much more than its unique geographic location, food, and iconic gondolas. Indeed, for centuries scholars, aristocrats, royalty, and — of course — artists have all become enamored with the jewel-like colors that dance off the city’s canals and pastel-colored buildings.