How Joseph McGurl Paints a Landscape in Oil
Preview Joseph McGurl’s newest art video workshop in this exclusive announcement on how to paint better landscapes.
How to Use “Concept” to Create a Successful Painting, From the Start
As artists we must decide what we want the viewer to take away from our creations and determine how best to communicate it.
A DIY “Micro” Pochade for Painting Outdoors
How one outdoor painter is making the most of plein air with this artist hack.
The Benefits of Repeatedly Painting the Same Location
With keen observation and awareness, we can identify opportunities for a successful plein air painting.
How to Paint Landscapes: Impressionism, Sorolla, and the Color of Light
Seeing, understanding, and learning how to use color temperature in your work can elevate a so-so painting into a work of art.
Ways to Use Rhythms in Your Next Landscape Painting
“Almost everything presents rhythms and patterns once you begin to discover them,” says Lori Putnam. “The real challenge for an artist is knowing when to emphasize the pattern or rhythm, and when to break it.”
Painting Basics: Understanding Value
“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.
Five Questions to Ask Yourself Before Painting a Landscape
Ultimately, when you paint a landscape, you’re painting movement. The air moves, the light changes; it’s never static. Light and atmospheric forces act upon the components of the landscape to create a story, and it’s up to you as the artist to pick the story you want to tell...
How to Paint Clouds en Plein Air
The unique challenge of painting clouds is that, unlike other landscape elements, they’re in constant motion. Learn how to choose the right moment for painting clouds en plein air.
Color Mixing for Beginners
Achieving color harmony is certainly one of the keys to creating a successful painting. We need to infuse our paintings with harmonious color; however, our job becomes somewhat more complicated because...
Six Keys to Painting Trees with Character and Dimension
To avoid trees that look generic or pasted on, follow these tips for painting compelling contours, varied sky holes, and details at a range of distances.
The 6B Graphite Pencil: An Essential Drawing Tool
Toolbox tip: Learn about the drawing tool that Michael Chesley Johnson says is essential for plein air artists.
PleinAir Tip from Stefan Baumann: Sketch Quickly
When painting outdoors, it is important that you capture this piece first.
The Importance of Accurate Color Values
When learned and absorbed, this knowledge can bring dramatic changes to your work. See how in this guest blog post from John Pototschnik.
An Exploration of the Focal Point in a Painting
Is the focal point always the subject? The next time you are wondering why a painting you are working on seems dull and lifeless, think about this principle of “harmony and contrast” to see if you can come up with the answer.
Must-Have List: Crucial Outerwear and Art Supplies for Plein Air
From pants to paint tubes, you’ll want to refer to this list for your next plein air painting trip. Bonus: It includes tips for flying with art supplies!
What You Learn Painting Clouds in the San Francisco Bay
Steven McDonald finds that the baylands outside of San Francisco offer a superb place to observe and paint clouds. Here’s what he’s learned there.
Simplifying a Painting
“We all recognize the importance of editing, but that is just one of many ways to deal with simplification,” says Keiko Tanabe. “Other than deciding what to leave in and what to leave out, what else can we do?”
Painting on Location Without Chemicals
Pennsylvania artist Beth Bathe uses water-mixable oils, which have some of the characteristics of oils, acrylics, and watercolors. See why you may want to use these paints and avoid oil solvents.
5 Ways to Get Your Art Published
Follow these tips from Plein Air magazine Editor-in-Chief Kelly Kane to discover five ways to increase your network.
