A Quick Composition Tip From Massimiliano Iocco
This week at Watercolor Live, Italian artist Massimiliano Iocco painted for us a street scene from the village of Tagliacozzo, Italy.
Happening Now – Watercolor Live!
This week we're seeing up-close-and-personal presentations during Watercolor Live, an online art conference unlike any other.
Happening This Week: 6th Annual Watercolor Live
Watch and interact with world-renowned artists as they demonstrate their skills at Watercolor Live this week. We'll see plein air favorites such as ...
Landscape Painting Demo: Big Shapes, Bold Brushstrokes
In this step-by-step landscape painting demonstration, Kyle Buckland walks us through the evolution of "May Along the Creek" — from its first energetic marks to the final refinements that hold the viewer’s eye.
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!
Why It Works: 5 Winning Paintings Explained
If you've been considering entering your work in an art competition, you'll want to take note of what these PleinAir Salon judges have said about their First Place choices.
How to Avoid Painting Pitfalls
Keep your compositions fresh and lively by applying the mantra “same same, bad bad.”
Step-by-Step: How to Paint Like Van Gogh
ICYMI: Dena Peterson had the honor of being one of 125 international artists selected to work on the movie “Loving Vincent.” Here, she shares what she learned by studying Van Gogh’s work.
Free Lesson: Negative Painting with Watercolor
Negative Painting means that you paint around the areas you want to preserve; Think of it like carving stone, chipping away until only the most precious elements remain.
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?
Painting Basics: Understanding Value
“All of us, beginners and experienced painters alike, can benefit from a refresher course in the bedrock principles of value and color.” John MacDonald explains more in this overview.
Day 3 Highlights From Plein Air Live 2025
The 6th Annual Plein Air Live wrapped up after several days of camaraderie, workshops, paint-along sessions, and learning from the masters.
Learning From the Greats
Welcome back to your Plein Air Live highlights! This international online event is taking place now through Saturday, November 8. On Day 2 this year, we saw expert presentations from Ulrich Gleiter, Bill Davidson, Judd Mercer, Keiko Tanabe, Steve Curry, and a live on-air demo with Kyle Ma.
Today Marks the Beginning
On Day 1 (Thursday) of Plein Air Live this year, we had front-row seats for painting demonstrations from Kevin Macpherson, Kami Mendlik, Cindy Baron, Tom Christopher, Yong Hong Zhong, and Kyle Buckland.
8 Painters Share Essential Plein Air Techniques
The sixth annual Plein Air Live kicked off this week with our “Essential Techniques Day” on Wednesday, November 5. An annual favorite for painters ...
Happening Now: 6th Annual Plein Air Live
Now through Saturday, we’re seeing up-close-and-personal presentations during Plein Air Live, an online art conference unlike any other.
Free Watercolor Lesson: How to Capture Light in a Street Scene
Learn how to capture the brilliance of strong summer light in watercolor with artist Hema Gupta. In this watercolor demonstration, Hema reveals her process for ...
Marc Hanson: Why I Love Acrylic for Plein Air Painting
I jokingly tell my workshop students that the main reason I like using acrylic en plein air is that I can drink the solvent — water! My second favorite reason is ...
Watercolor Demo: Men at Work
Hema Gupta shares a step-by-step watercolor painting demonstration, featuring figures in a narrative landscape scene:
How I Paint Trees with Character
Artist Paul Kratter shares three examples of how to paint trees with character by taking artistic license, playing with color, and ...
























