Shapes Before Subject
What makes a painting successful at the finish might just be what you do at the start. Check out these underpaintings and advice from Barbara Jaenicke, who is on the Pastel Live faculty!
Demo: Painting the Landscape with Acrylic
See why there are benefits of painting landscapes with acrylic, even if you normally paint with oils.
How to Build an Easel, (Reasonably) Easily and Affordably
David and Mindy Jamieson wanted their own easels, so they built their own. How’d it go?
Packing with Pastels: Pochade Box Tips
We asked prolific artist Jude Tolar, “Do you know of a great, light pochade box for pastel painters?” Tolar’s response was worth quoting in full.
Demo: Plein Air to Studio with Susan Blackwood
In this on-screen interview with Eric Rhoads, Susan Blackwood explains her concepts on how to make your plein air painting more powerful once you're back in the studio.
Watch: Seascape Painting Demo
In this on-screen interview with Eric Rhoads, legendary painter Don Demers gives a demonstration on how to lay in a seascape painting. Demers is known for "moving seas" and crashing waves, but he says ...
Taking Time to Carefully Observe Nature
This Maine artist is concerned with understanding and painting the total appearance of subjects rather than dashing off fleeting impressions. (Bonus: See the step-by-step process of two of his works.)
Variety: The Spice of Art
The very idea of how we approach our own art and feel about the art of others, keeps the “spice of art” alive. Now, I will be the first to confess that...
6 Studio Lessons For Plein Air Success
Six seasoned pros share their knowledge on when a painting is finally finished.
The “Point” (and History) of Quick Draw
Acclaimed painter Ned Mueller has some fascinating thoughts about the origins of this popular practice we think you’ll enjoy.
Step-by-Step: How to Paint a Nude Figure en Plein Air
Expert artist Patricia Watwood, who is classically trained, shares a step-by-step demo of how to paint a figure en plein air.
Tips on Painting Ocean Water
Catherine Fasciato paints water wonderfully, particularly the ocean waves along the California coastline, where she lives. Her advice for painting convincing waves and seascapes is simple, but devilishly difficult.
Palette Knife as Ticket to Simplification
For Jane Boyd, the key to simplifying her paintings was simply to put down the paintbrush.
People . . . Who Paint People en Plein Air
Kathryn A. McMahon is not one of those plein air painters who are bothered by passersby. She puts them into her paintings, and chats with them. How?
Unsticking the Stuck Student
Artist and art industry veteran Terry Stanley has some advice for art instructors who encounter creatively blocked students.
10 Mental Keys to Make an Extraordinary Painting
Plein air painter Bill Davidson takes us through his process of creating a powerful landscape painting.
Putting Design Over Subject
North Carolina painter Jean Cauthen says she seeks out “the places between or in back of places,” by which she means finding a strong design rather than painting a portrait.
Telling the Truth – By Leaving Stuff Out
Most of us mistakenly feel when we start out, that the more detail we include in a painting the more convincing it will be. Where does this lie come from? It may sound silly, but I think it’s partially the fault of...
3 Principles of Art, and Life
As this Arizona artist creates plein air paintings with pastels, she remains mindful of three overriding principles that help her achieve better paintings.
Joseph McGurl on Contrasting Edges
"What I’m trying to do is paint the appearance of nature, the experience of looking at it," McGurl explains. Learn more, and see what's in his landscape painting toolkit!