Home Painting Demonstrations & Art Tips

Painting Demonstrations & Art Tips

From color to composition, to dealing with the elements, learn from the community of plein air painters with these tips for painting outdoors!

Plein air painting at night

How I Painted a Twilight Scene of the Smithsonian Castle

What started as a night painting in my mind — and on my panel — became a twilight painting once the lights didn’t go on.
how to paint landscapes en plein air

Free Lesson: How to Escalate Your Paintings

In this episode of Art School Live with special guest host Debra Huse, we welcome Bill Davidson as we explore the magic of shapes, design, and values.
how to paint realistic water reflections watercolor

Free Art Lesson: Painting Reflections in Water

In this episode of Art School Live with Eric Rhoads, we invite Stan Miller to lead us through a free lesson on how to paint realistic water.
Pastel Painting Demo: How to Create Crashing Waves

Pastel Painting Demo: How to Create Crashing Waves

Join art publisher Eric Rhoads on Art School Live as he gives you free art instruction in pastel painting with artist Lyn Diefenbach.

It Gets Better and Better: Highlights from Plein Air Live

The 5th Annual Plein Air Live wrapped up after several days of camaraderie, workshops, paint-along sessions, and learning from the masters. Today's demos featured Amit Kapoor, Beth Bathe, Kimball Geisler, Charlie Hunter, and Kevin Macpherson.
From Tim Horn's landscape painting demo

An Aha Moment, Every Time

Preview expert presentations from Natasha Isenhour, Roos Schuring, Tim Horn, John Budicin, Shuang Li, and even Don Demers at Plein Air Live, Day 2.
From Marc Anderson's Plein Air Live session

We Can’t Imagine Life Without It

On Day 1 (Wednesday) of Plein Air Live this year, we had front-row seats for painting demonstrations from Shanna Kunz, Tom Hughes, Nicholas O'Leary, Marc Anderson, Rich Gallego, and Mary Garrish.
Second-generation plein air painter Carrie Curran

9 Painters Share Essential Techniques for Painting Outdoors

The fifth annual Plein Air Live kicked off this week with our "Essential Techniques Day," an annual favorite ...
Jennifer McChristian, “Bougainvillea Bloom,” 2018, oil on panel, 8 x 10 in., Collection the artist, Plein air

What Makes a Landscape Painting Work?

The compelling art of this California oil painter may hold the answers.
watercolor studio from plein air study

A Study-to-Studio Watercolor Demo: Oak Creek at Briar Patch XXII

Watch step by step as Julie Gilbert Pollard creates a plein air study with watercolor, then takes it into the studio to paint "Oak Creek at Briar Patch XXII."
From Lorraine Watry’s “Understanding Your Materials” Watercolor Live session

Happening Now – Watercolor Live!

This week we're seeing up-close-and-personal presentations during Watercolor Live, an online art conference unlike any other.
Art Creativity - How to Think Beyond Quick Sketches with Larry Moore

How to Think Beyond Quick Sketches

In this episode of Art School Live, Eric Rhoads welcomes artist, author, and instructor/creative coach Larry Moore. Watch as Larry takes us through a free art session on using quick sketches to expand your creative thinking - when it comes to painting the landscape and more.
how to paint reflections

Demo: How to Paint Mountains with Watercolor

View a free 7-step lesson on how to paint a beautiful mountain scene with watercolor while not striving for "perfection."
plein air color study

Step-by-Step: Creating Harmony in a Plein Air Painting

Follow along and see how Nancy Macdonald begins with a pen-and-ink sketch and color study to create a plein air painting of two figures in the Ecuador landscape.
Color mixing for artists - Landscape painting by John Hughes

Intuitive Color Mixing

Plein air painter John Hughes shares a simple way of getting the right colors when painting a landscape.
plein air painting for beginners

New Watercolor Demo: Focus on Big Shapes and Contrasts

The following is part of a series featuring a leader in the art community who will be joining us on the faculty of Watercolor Live ...
Step 1: Plein air painting setup

Refining a Plein Air Painting in the Studio

A step-by-step demonstration of how Jessica L. Bryant turns a plein air painting into a studio piece.
Watercolor paper for beginners

Watercolor Paper – An Overview for Beginners

Learn about the three basic surfaces of watercolor paper, and why you might choose one over the others.

Gifts for Artists: Your 2023 Holiday Shopping Guide

This list has it all: gorgeous frames, beautiful paints, and a special section of gifts under $50!
William Schneider, "Springtime," 40 x 24 in., plein air

Misjudged Values, Too Much Chroma, and Other Mistakes You Might Be Making

The following is part of a series that features the best artists who are teaching others how to paint through online workshops at ...