How To Paint By Subtraction
Learn how one artist creates a gorgeous painting using water-mixable oils, the rule of thirds, and a squeegee in this five-step demonstration from PleinAir Magazine.
How to Paint with Gouache and Oil: A Practical Method
Combining gouache and oil might sound unlikely, but the two can form a powerful partnership when handled correctly. Raymond Bonilla treats gouache like a painter’s utility knife: a fast, forgiving tool to build a value and temperature map. The result is a workflow that speeds decision making, reduces solvent use, and gives the finished piece both vibrancy and painterly texture.
3 Ways to Show Perspective in a Landscape Painting
Perspective is more than just the way a road appears to get smaller as it recedes into the distance - learn more in this guest blog post from Michael Holter.
Why Your Paintings Look “Off” and How to Fix Them
This Art School Live critique session with Eric Rhoads covers composition, values, focal point, edge control, and warm vs cool balance, with practical fixes like checking in black and white and simplifying clutter.
Why It Works: 5 Winning Paintings Explained
If you've been considering entering your work in an art competition, you'll want to take note of what these PleinAir Salon judges have said about their First Place choices.
Watercolor Tip: Be Adaptable
Brienne Brown shares her approach to painting with watercolor in this quick tip for beginners.
Watch: Secrets of Sketching en Plein Air
In case you missed it, check out this interview below with Paul Kratter, who demonstrates helpful techniques for sketching en plein air.
How to Create a Great Painting From an Imperfect Photo Reference
Plein air painter Shelby Keefe shows us how she took a lackluster photo reference and turned it into a painting with great design and color.
Plein Air Practice: My Daily Painting Exercise
To ensure she regularly paints from direct observation, Lyn Asselta uses this simply painting exercise each morning. It is to ...
7 Surprising Tricks for Painting en Plein Air
You might think you know all the tricks to the trade when it comes to painting en plein air, but these three artists have some witty ideas for making it an even better experience.
3 Painting Habits That Will Instantly Simplify Your Process
Kevin Macpherson approaches painting through a simple, structured system. Here, learn his three habits you should apply now to improve your process for painting the landscape, and more.
7 Tips for Painting Vibrant Color
Plein air painter and fourth-generation artist Jed Dorsey shares his tips for getting brilliant color into your next landscape painting.
6-Step Landscape Painting Demo: Painting Back to Front
Watch and learn as Sara Linda Poly shows how her landscape painting, "Mountains and Long Shadows," came to be.
6 Ways to Develop a Distinctive Style
Beth Bathe's reductive approach to plein air painting, combined with simplification, strong design, and a unique perspective, distinguishes her from other artists. Here are a few elements that contribute to her distinct artistic identity and how you can use them to set your own work apart.
Pastel Painting Demo: How to Create Crashing Waves
In Case You Missed It: Join art publisher Eric Rhoads in this classic episode of Art School Live as he gives you free art instruction in pastel painting with artist Lyn Diefenbach.
Tutorial: Don’t Underestimate the Underpainting
Richard McKinley takes us through a step-by-step tutorial of painting with pastel over a watercolor underpainting.
Art Snippet: Why I Love to Layer
I view the world in shapes and color notes — not objects, and this is how I approach my paintings as well. In general, I begin a painting by ...
How to Create Perspective and Depth in a Landscape
Learn how to add realistic perspective and depth to a landscape using Carla Bosch’s shape-first approach. Includes guidance on sketching, toned canvas, and leading the eye for an atmospheric Yosemite mountain scene.
Glow, Energy, Texture: How to Paint Landscapes Step by Step Demo
How to Paint Landscapes > Learn how to quickly accomplish a glowing, magical atmosphere in paintings with this free step-by-step demo from Bill Davidson ("How to Paint Glowing Landscapes" on PaintTube.TV).
Landscape Painting Demo: Building and Taking Away
The following landscape painting demonstration is by Trey Finney, whose work stresses high contrast and a high key.