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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!

Is Spontaneity in Your Portfolio?

What are you doing April 15-19? Did you know that more than 70 instructors are joining with over 800 participants in a plein air...
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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.

Why This Works: A Tale of Two Paintings

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, two pieces from one day by Richard Maud.
Tertiary, Monochromatic, and Analogous Colors - Color Theory - OutdoorPainter.com

Tertiary, Monochromatic, and Analogous Colors

Because I’ve been painting so long, I use color intuitively. I just “feel” my color. I choose colors automatically and know which ones harmonize or contrast with each other depending on the effect I want. I have long since stored by paint-splattered color wheel deep in a drawer in my studio, ignoring the wealth of information hidden within it. I’m sure I learned all there was to know about color in high school or college, so what is the point?
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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!
How to paint landscapes en plein air - OutdoorPainter.com

The Benefits of Repeatedly Painting the Same Location

With keen observation and awareness, we can identify opportunities for a successful plein air painting.
Advice for the beginning artist - OutdoorPainter.com

9 Suggestions for the Beginning Artist

If you’re still in the early phases of your art journey, you’ll appreciate these practical nuts and bolts of getting started as an artist.
How to paint landscapes - Joseph McGurl - OutdoorPainter.com

7 Oil Painting Ideas for Artists

We've put together some of our most popular articles with oil painting ideas and techniques for all levels of artists. Bookmark this page so you can come back often, and share it with a friend who could benefit from this!
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How to Get Published in Plein Air Today

We love to feature readers such as yourself in Plein Air Today. Here's how to be a part of an upcoming newsletter!
sketching en plein air - Paul Kratter 062022

Watch: Secrets of Sketching en Plein Air

In case you missed it, check out this interview below with Paul Kratter, who demonstrates helpful techniques for sketching en plein air.
What Can You Do With Broken Pastels?

What Can You Do With Broken Pastels?

Learn how to make new pastels out of your broken pastel sticks in this Art School Live session with Brenda Boylan and Eric Rhoads.
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.

Getting Just a Bit More Height

Do you keep bed risers in your car? Evidently, plein air warrior Williamson Tapia does.  Tapia was competing in the Sedona...

How to Go About Plein Air Painting in Sicily

Ever seen a painter's guide to Sicily? Jack Hannula hasn't, and he is dumbfounded by that. Why?  Jack Hannula in...

What Will the Salon Judge Be Looking For?

Many artists think they gain an edge by knowing who the judge for a competition is and what they generally look for in an...

Why This Works: Secondary Triads, Saturated Color, and Harmony

In this series, plein air painter and instructor Jeanne Mackenzie takes a look at new paintings by contemporary artists and points out why they...

Pursuing Artful Simplicity

Ernie Dollman’s work shows an aesthetic that appreciates simplicity. We asked him how he achieves success in boiling down scenes to their essence. Here’s...

7 Things to Remember When Marketing Art Online

- Bob Bahr reporting, Editor PleinAir Today - Dave Geada has examined hundreds of artist websites as part of his job as master of marketing...

Why This Works: It’s All About Composition

- 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: Aerial Perspective and a Good Lead-In

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, Paul Keysar’s “Bath County Fog.”