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?
How to Paint Misty Rays of Sunlight
- Bob Bahr reporting, Editor PleinAir Today -
Kansas painter John Hulsey decided to tackle one of the hardest light conditions an artist can face:...
What It Takes to Paint Snow in Northern Ontario
Christy A. Smith loves winter, and it’s a good thing, because she lives in Sudbury, Ontario in Canada, where the average low temperature in January is below zero. She especially likes painting snow, and some of her snow paintings are now on view in a special exhibition.
Diving Into Plein Air
It’s hard for a lot of artists to “take the plunge” into full-time painting, let along taking up art in the first place. However, this story is about as extreme — and entertaining — as it gets.
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.
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.
When “Paint What You See” Doesn’t Work
If we only paint observationally and we rely on our visual perceptions, we are often wrong in our drawing and our values. Here’s why.
4-Step Plein Air Oil Painting Demonstration
For plein air beginners: See how oil painter Anthony Salvo paints "Sparkling Cliffs, Inspiration Point," in four basic steps that you can apply to your next landscape.
Free Art Lesson: A Plein Air Technique for the Studio
Watch as Tom Lynch shares a plein air technique that he now applies in the studio, as well as the exact paints and brushes he uses and why, how to refresh your colors, and much more.
Nocturne Know-How: Paint a Halo of Light in Your Night Scene
Check out this tip from Carl Bretzke on how to paint a halo of glow around light at night.
What Exactly is Normal?
Representational painter and plein air artist Johanne Mangi is known internationally for her animal and floral fine art. When we asked her if she had any unusual habits as a painter, she had these gems to share.
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."
What Art Can Do for Johns Hopkins Scholars
Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore enjoys a sterling reputation as a research university. But the institution has learned to value artistic expression as well. ...
McGurl on Past Masters: Constable’s “Study of an Elm Tree Trunk”
In this new series, noted painter Joseph McGurl discusses plein air paintings by past masters that he finds instructive or inspiring. This week: John...
What the Rocks Tell Us: Artist/Geologists in the American West
In this series of articles, Utah artist J. Brad Holt talks about what artists are seeing as they look at the landscape. Holt studied...
Salon Winner Brent Cotton on Painting Light’s Spectacular Effects
Montana artist Brent Cotton, the top winner in the August-September contest of the PleinAir Salon, paints the fantastic moments when the sun and atmosphere...
Which of Your Pieces Can Win the PleinAir Salon?
How does one choose which painting to enter into a contest? Winners of past contests in the PleinAir Salon all seem to point to...
Why This Works: Keeping it Fun and Lyrical
- Jeanne Mackenzie reporting -
In this series, plein air painter and instructor Jeanne Mackenzie takes a look at new paintings by contemporary artists and...
Why This Works: Color Harmony Through Secondary Triad
- Jeanne Mackenzie reporting -
In this series, plein air painter and instructor Jeanne Mackenzie takes a look at new paintings by contemporary artists and...
Why This Works: Format, Key, and Aerial Perspective
In this series, plein air painter and instructor Jeanne Mackenzie takes a look at new paintings by contemporary artists and points out why they succeed as painted images. This week, Susan Paterson’s “PEI Skies.”