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Discover the latest art news from the world of plein air painting, including recent winners, upcoming art events, art competition deadlines, and more!

Extreme Painting in Southeast Asia

Canadian artist Michael Britton wrote a firsthand account of his painting adventures in Thailand, Vietnam, and Laos for our digital edition. We excerpt the...

7 Days, 250 Paintings

The North Shore of Lake Superior was painted by 70 artists recently, and their abundant output made it hard to choose winners. ...

Plein Air Event in Alabama Town Driven by Museum

Gadsden, Alabama, population 37,000, hosts a successful plein air event each spring that culminates in an exhibition in the Gadsden Museum of Art. Their...

No Place for an Artist?

Atlanta artist Gary Cooley decided to set up his easel alongside the railroad tracks to capture an interesting, sturdy-looking structure in downtown Atlanta's west...

Parting Shot: Paquet Explores Catalina’s Wild Side

Joe Paquet contributed his presence and paintings to Catalina: The Wild Side, a plein air event on California's Santa Catalina Island that benefits the...

OPPORTUNITY: Plein Air at Olana in New York

Artists have a chance to paint on the estate of Hudson River School legend Frederic Edwin Church in July at the fourth annual "Plein...

OPPORTUNITY: Kerrville (TX) Outdoor Painters Event

Paint the beauty of Texas’s Hill Country at this event in Kerrville. Lead Image: “Three in a Row,” by Julie Davis Rusty Jones will judge the...

Parting Shot: The Fine Line Between Harmony and Discord

Troy Kilgore lives near Brown County, Indiana, one of the best places to enjoy fall foliage. He holds workshops on how to depict fall...

OPPORTUNITY: Residency near Cannes, France

You know that old lottery slogan, “You can’t win if you don’t play”? Prepare your application now for an artist-in-residency in Southern France. Hey,...

OPPORTUNITY: Painting in the Denver area in October

- Bob Bahr reporting, Editor PleinAir Today - The deadline is April 1 to enter a new event focused on locations in Jefferson County, Colorado....

OPPORTUNITY: Multiple Components Call for Entries

- Bob Bahr reporting, Editor PleinAir Today - New York City’s Manifest Gallery is calling for submissions for its “All or Nothing” exhibition, which will...

Filling a Need, and Seeing an Art Product Take Off

- Bob Bahr reporting, Editor PleinAir Today - Renee Lammers was spending more than $5 a week on sketchbooks, an amount she deemed too high....

Anatomy of an Award Winner: Mike McSorley, Paint Berlin

- Bob Bahr reporting, Editor PleinAir Today - Don't tell anybody, but Paint Berlin winner Mike McSorley kind of chased the light in executing his...

Watercolor Weather and the Sea

Listen to another plein air war story, this one from the English coast, courtesy of Lynne Chapman.

Spotlight on PACE Faculty: Ray Hassard and Painting Near and Far

Ray Hassard, a featured instructor at the upcoming Plein Air Convention & Expo (PACE) slated for April 24-28 in San Diego, has traveled widely ... and painted locally. One of his guiding lights is a provocative quote from John Constable.

Artists Share in $31,500 in Prizes

Jean Stern judged the December-January contest in the PleinAir Salon, setting up a slew of artists to win thousands of dollars in prizes. Who's in?

Anatomy of an Award Winner: Nancy Tankersley at the Lighthouse ArtCenter Event

When Nancy Tankersley saw this scene, she felt like it captured the feel of Florida. The judge at the Lighthouse ArtCenter Plein Air Festival agreed.

Parting Shot: Live from Japan!

It was just a few weeks ago that the magnetic story of Cory Trépanier and his project “Into the Arctic” was a topic of discussion in episode 44 of the PleinAir Podcast. Most recently he’s been seen on TV in Japan and teaching plein air.

Winners at the Wayne

32 national artists captured the majestic beauty of the Delaware Valley during the Wayne Art Center’s 2017 Plein Air Festival between May 8-13. We have a recap for you here that includes the talented winners.

Beautiful Boulder

Sixteen talented artists recently converged in Boulder, Colorado, for the first annual Boulder Plein Air Festival and spent several days capturing the area’s sights and ambiance. Who did judges Jane Hunt and KC Becker favor?