Painting Demonstrations & Art Tips

Keep your compositions fresh and lively by applying the mantra “same same, bad bad.”

ICYMI: Dena Peterson had the honor of being one of 125 international artists selected to work on the movie “Loving Vincent.” Here, she shares what she learned by studying Van Gogh’s work.

Negative Painting means that you paint around the areas you want to preserve; Think of it like carving stone, chipping away until only the most precious elements remain.

Because I’ve been painting so long, I use color intuitively. I just “feel” my color. I choose colors automatically and know which ones harmonize or contrast with each other depending on the effect I want. I have long since stored by paint-splattered color wheel deep in a drawer in my studio, ignoring the wealth of information hidden within it. I’m sure I learned all there was to know about color in high school or college, so what is the point?

“All of us, beginners and experienced painters alike, can benefit from a refresher course in the bedrock principles of value and color.” John MacDonald explains more in this overview.

The 6th Annual Plein Air Live wrapped up after several days of camaraderie, workshops, paint-along sessions, and learning from the masters.

Welcome back to your Plein Air Live highlights! This international online event is taking place now through Saturday, November 8. On Day 2 this year, we saw expert presentations from Ulrich Gleiter, Bill Davidson, Judd Mercer, Keiko Tanabe, Steve Curry, and a live on-air demo with Kyle Ma.

On Day 1 (Thursday) of Plein Air Live this year, we had front-row seats for painting demonstrations from Kevin Macpherson, Kami Mendlik, Cindy Baron, Tom Christopher, Yong Hong Zhong, and Kyle Buckland.

The sixth annual Plein Air Live kicked off this week with our “Essential Techniques Day” on Wednesday, November 5. An annual favorite for painters ...

Now through Saturday, we’re seeing up-close-and-personal presentations during Plein Air Live, an online art conference unlike any other.

Learn how to capture the brilliance of strong summer light in watercolor with artist Hema Gupta. In this watercolor demonstration, Hema reveals her process for ...

I jokingly tell my workshop students that the main reason I like using acrylic en plein air is that I can drink the solvent — water! My second favorite reason is ...

Hema Gupta shares a step-by-step watercolor painting demonstration, featuring figures in a narrative landscape scene:

Artist Paul Kratter shares three examples of how to paint trees with character by taking artistic license, playing with color, and ...

The 5th Annual Pastel Live came to an end Friday, September 19, wrapping up with some of today’s best pastel artists sharing all of their secrets, explaining their materials, methods, and more.

Join us for the Pastel Live Main Event, taking place today through Friday. Simply visit PastelLive.com and register now so you don’t miss another minute!

There is a lot to consider, and this knowledge is extremely valuable in understanding what’s going on with different objects in the light.

When I first started painting trees, I looked at each branch and thought about where to place it in comparison to others. Now, I see an interesting ...

Discover artist Tom Christopher’s unique method of adding texture to paintings using house paint and pumice gel to create luminous, dynamic landscapes.

Watch plein air artist Scott Hamill paint ‘Winter Light, California Coast’ step-by-step — learn how he captures light, shadow, and coastal atmosphere in this free oil painting demo.