A Great Painting Always Comes Down to This
Quite frankly, these elements are the glue that holds every good painting together and, conversely, is the reason some paintings fall apart!
Use Pastels to Define and Suggest Responses to Nature
New Mexico artist Albert Handell uses pastels to respond both to the specifics of what he observes and to his emotional response: “I will eventually frame the painting, not the location I observe, so the image has to be more than an exact replica of the landscape.”
More Than An Accessory
Here at PleinAir Magazine, we recently received a letter to the editor from reader Carolyn Counnas on protecting your eyes while painting en plein air. See what her tip is to keep your vision safe.
Accepting the Challenge of Painting Skies
Tomas Honz has an impressive body of work focusing on various sky conditions. It was not done without a fair amount of adversity.
How to Avoid Greens in Summer
Actually, Lynn M. Rix tried to avoid greens by painting from a boat ... and she ended up with a lot of green. How so?
Working Out the Kinks of Water-Mixable Oils
Christine Lashley gets a wide variety of responses — everything from rude negativity to nods from those in the know — when people discover that she paints with both traditional and water-mixable oils. Here are the benefits and the drawbacks as she has experienced them.
The Importance of Value in Painting
Believe it or not, value is actually more important than even this element to the design and success of a painting.
Sorolla and Painting the Color of Light
What makes a Sorolla a Sorolla? Any time two or more outdoor painters get together to talk about this master artist, they always agree on this one thing.
Plein Air Art Supplies: Choosing the Right Paint Box
Innovations to paint boxes have made the job of the plein air painter more practical and enjoyable. Check out the set-ups of 11 artists with their easels and paintboxes, and learn which may be the right one for you.
Painting (and Life) Advice for the Painter’s Journey
The most important things we learn aren’t just technical tips, Michele de Bragança tells us, but rather, life lessons.
Free Preview! Learn How to Paint Urban Scenes in Pastel
In this preview of “Urban Pastel Paintings,” Nancie King Mertz shows us how she approaches cityscapes. See why she says you can use the same approach with both oil and pastel paintings (and why she has become a devotee of pastel).
From Plein Air Watercolor Sketches to Large Scale Painting
See how this outdoor painter considered her options for capturing a “Joyful Day” on paper at Acadia National Park.
Rising Tide: Advice for Painting Waves
Water as a featured element in painting has been used by artists throughout history. Here, John Slivjak explains four things artists need to consider when painting waves.
How Do the Pros Ship Paintings?
There comes a time in an artist’s career when she or he needs to ship paintings across the country for an exhibition. What is the best way to do this?
Must-Have List: Crucial Outerwear and Art Supplies to Pack for Plein Air Painting Events
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!
Plein Air Artist Jeff Markowsky on Painting Palm Trees
With summer now around the bend, perhaps you’ll have the pleasure of painting palms in your future, and this advice will help you do so.
Three Quick Tips on How to Paint Dog Portraits
This advice from Johanne Mangi, one of the world’s top painters of dog portraits, will get you going in the right direction toward painting our canine counterparts.
How I Got Out of My Comfort Zone and Improved My Art
In a place with constant activity, curious children, and vibrant scenery, Ellen Howard learned why it’s important to “get out of your own way” to make the most of an art workshop.
A New Way of Seeing and Painting (For Studio and Plein Air Applications)
John Hughes explains how this new way of seeing is key to your success, and the development of this skill will do more to further your advancement as a painter than anything else.
Cynthia Rosen on Painting Outdoors: Advice for Artists
Captivated by her landscape paintings, I invited Cynthia Rosen to share with us some of her general tips for painting outdoors.