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!

Scott Christensen, Gouache Study, 2020, gouache, 8 x 8 in., Private collection, Plein air and studio

Scott Christensen on Establishing Key

Addressing connectivity from the outset of the design plan means setting aside the notion that the only way to make impact is through use of color.
Joseph Zbukvic at the Plein Air Convention and Expo

Words of Wisdom From Watercolor Master Joseph Zbukvic

Master watercolor artist Joseph Zbukvic offers this painting wisdom ...
From a plein air landscape demo with Sarah Burns

Landscape Painting Highlights from the First-Ever Acrylic Live

The Inaugural Acrylic Live came to an end recently, wrapping up with some of today’s best acrylic artists sharing all of their secrets, explaining their materials, and methods.
Acrylic Live faculty

Happening Now: The Inaugural Acrylic Live!

This week, we’re seeing up-close-and-personal presentations during Acrylic Live, an online art conference unlike any other.
"Vermillion Shades" by Kimball Geisler

Deciding When the Time is Right

From initial iPad sketches to refining the final composition, follow along as Kimball Geisler navigates creative challenges, balances colors, and brings his vision to life on canvas in this step-by-step painting demonstration.
Atlanta artist Karen Margulis

7 Tips for Painting Wildflowers and Grasses

Embrace the wild without overpowering your landscapes with Karen Margulis's tips on painting wildflowers with pastels.
Painting Hollyhocks - Buffalo Kaplinski, "Scarlet Hollyhock," 2021, watercolor, 12 x 17 in., private collection, plein air

Mastering Hollyhocks in Watercolor: A Tip for Crisp, Fresh Paintings

Painting hollyhocks looks simple to paint at first, but the characteristic leaves and stalks can be a challenge. I find watercolor the best medium for capturing their crisp edges and shapes.
The finished demo painting

Blank Surface to Beautiful Blossoms: A Step-by-Step Pastel Painting Demo

Follow this step-by-step pastel painting demo to create vibrant landscapes with depth and harmony. Learn tips on sketching, color choices, and layering techniques!
painting with gouache

Free Lesson: Painting with Gouache en Plein Air

Discover the art of painting with gouache en plein air with expert tips and techniques from Bernard Dellario. Perfect for artists of all skill levels!
Photo reference: Cottonwood Creek Salt Lake City

Painting a Winter Scene

Snow has its challenges to be sure, but the rewards outweigh the discomfort when it comes to painting a winter scene en plein air.
From Sebastian Thommen’s plein air landscape painting session

A Peek at the Plein Air Sessions from Watercolor Live

The 5th Annual Watercolor Live came to an end recently, wrapping up with even more of today’s best watercolor artists sharing all of their secrets, explaining their materials, methods, and more.
Christine Lashley, "Wave Study," 2018, watercolor, 5 x 7 in., collection the artist, plein air

Large-Scale Painting Techniques: 3 Problems and How I Solved Them

Explore the art of going big with this insightful case study-driven advice for large-scale painting techniques from plein air painter Christine Lashley.
Step 4

Creating a Soft Effect in a Landscape Painting

Discover the step-by-step process Shanna Kunz uses to create her atmospheric landscape paintings. From building a strong composition with grids to adding subtle textures with sandpaper, explore how she balances color, value, and detail to bring her art to life.
Heather Arenas, "St. Armands Circle Corner," 2023, oil on Dibond aluminum panel, 12 x 12 in., Collection of the artist, Plein air

Free Painting Lesson: Marking Light and Shade

Discover the art of capturing light and shadow with Heather Arenas in this free painting lesson. In her vibrant work "St. Armands Circle Corner," Heather shares how she builds her compositions from bold shapes, thoughtfully balancing warm sunlight and cool shadows.
John Hughes on location for painting en plein air

My Biggest Stumbling Block as a Plein Air Painter

A quick tip to help you discover the transformative strategy that will elevate your plein air painting - learn from over 40 years of experience to create more ...
unique gifts for artists

Gifts for Artists: Your 2024 Holiday Shopping Guide

This list has it all: gorgeous frames, beautiful paints, and a special section of gifts under $50!
Mark Mehaffey artist

Why I Chose Acrylic Over Watercolor

My first love is transparent watercolor on rag paper. But I realized some years ago that using watercolor on site takes not only practice but ...
John Hughes painting en plein air

Pep Talk: The Value of Field Studies

Motivation for the most important learning activity a landscape painter will ever engage in.
Tony Allain, "Passing Rain on Braco Road," pastel, 12 x 16 in.

Landscape Painting Demo: Designing for Balance

View four stages of a pastel landscape painting demo done en plein air, including the color Tony Allain chooses to indicate a brightly lit area in the background.

Hard Not to Fall in Love Once You Touch It

Highlights from the Pastel Live virtual art conference, taking place now through Friday evening, September 20, 2024, with attendees from 14 countries, 49 states!