Why This Works: Composing for an Extremely Vertical Format
- Jeanne Mackenzie reporting -
In this series, plein air painter and instructor Jeanne Mackenzie takes a look at new paintings by contemporary artists and...
Filling a Need, and Seeing an Art Product Take Off
- Bob Bahr reporting, Editor PleinAir Today -
Renee Lammers was spending more than $5 a week on sketchbooks, an amount she deemed too high....
12 Ways Artists Can Reduce Frustration While Painting
The art of painting is a head game. It requires a distraction-free environment that allows you to get into the painting zone and lets things go smoothly.
The Landscape Painter’s Learning Guide, Pt. 2
This week, I will follow up on my article from the last issue of PleinAir Today, titled “Three Important Skills Every Landscape Painter Needs.” In this segment I begin to explain some of the concepts that are recommended as a map for studying landscape painting. In my workshops, I do this as a Power Point presentation, but I’ll attempt to explain it here in a few paragraphs.
The Value of Art Retreats
Artists are used to taking workshops, which of course are great ways to learn. But what about events that are all painting, in a beautiful place with no workshop? It's trending - see why...
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.
How to Paint Landscapes: Dominance in Painting
Michael Chesley Johnson gives you three questions to consider before you dip your brush in the paint in this guest post on how to paint landscapes.
12 Minutes to Better Paintings
From working with mediums to making studies from memories, Christine Lashley shares helpful advice on painting landscapes.
Watch: Free Demo on Painting Waves
Watch this episode of Art School Live with Eric Rhoads, in which Lana Ballot gives a step-by-step painting demonstration on how to paint translucent waves that WOW!
The Best Backpacks for Plein Air Painting
There are as many backpack brands and styles as there are colors in the western sunset, so what’s the best backpack for artists who paint en plein air? We asked, and you answered! (Bonus: Watch a free video from Eric Rhoads on how to pack a light plein air backpack.)
Demo: Establishing a Strong Underpainting
Check out a short and simple landscape painting demo that focuses on the underpainting part of the process.
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 ...
Recycle Your Laptop as a Plein Air Box
Not sure what to do with that old laptop computer no one can repair or upgrade? Arizona artist Karen McLain came up with a...
Why This Works: Use of the Figure in Shadow
In this series, plein air painter and instructor Jeanne Mackenzie takes a look at new paintings by contemporary artists and points out why they...
McGurl on Past Masters: Church’s Icebergs
Noted painter Joseph McGurl wraps up this series by discussing Frederic Edwin Church's studies of icebergs. PleinAir Today thanks Joe for sharing his knowledge...
Technology Triumphs in Preliminary Step
Rusty Jones is not a raging iconoclast. But he readily abandoned a traditional method of preparation for a painting when his iPhone offered an...
Why This Works: Clear Evidence of Fresh Plein Air Painting
In this series, plein air painter and instructor Jeanne Mackenzie takes a look at new paintings by contemporary artists and points out why they...
Painting With Random Tubes of Paint
Have you heard of the Random Tube Challenge? See how it works, and try it yourself. You just might discover that although it's dubbed a challenge, it’s actually quite liberating.
Why This Works: Avoiding Hard Edges for Icon in Mist
- Jeanne Mackenzie reporting -
In this series, plein air painter and instructor Jeanne Mackenzie takes a look at new paintings by contemporary artists and...
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.