7 Tips for Painting Vibrant Color
Plein air painter and fourth-generation artist Jed Dorsey shares his tips for getting brilliant color into your next landscape painting.
McGurl on Past Masters: Dennis Miller Bunker
In this series, noted painter Joseph McGurl discusses plein air paintings by past masters that he finds instructive or inspiring. This week: "Beached Boat,"...
Why This Works: Secondary Triads, Muted Tertiary Tones
In this series, plein air painter and instructor Jeanne Mackenzie takes a look at new paintings by contemporary artists and points out why they...
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 ...
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.
What to Know About Painting Snow
Eight top artists help break down the important elements to capturing snow-covered landscapes in pastel and oil.
My Favorite Place to Paint: Ed Cahill
- Bob Bahr reporting, Editor PleinAir Today -
The place Ed Cahill often paints is a reminder of what the land around Atlanta was like...
In Deep Water
Don't find yourself in deep water when it comes to painting elements like rivers and streams. In this Art School Live with Eric Rhoads, Kathleen Hudson takes us through a demo on how to paint moving water.
How to Use Analogous Colors
In this video interview with Eric Rhoads, watch as Jane McGraw-Teubner demonstrates a pastel landscape painting using analogous colors.
Three Quick Tips on How to Paint Dog Portraits
This advice from Johanne Mangi, one of the world’s top painters of dog portraits, will get you going in the right direction toward painting our canine counterparts.
Painting on Large Canvases en Plein Air
Painting on large canvases out of doors is not for the faint of heart, as it requires a great deal of bravery and tenacity to get started. Curt Walters explains more in this guest blog post.
What’s an Artist to Do With ALL That Green?
For artists, the color green can be very daunting and, often, the way an artist handles this tricky color can denote rather quickly where they might be in their skill level as a painter. Here are some tips to help you handle the greens in your next painting.
Painting on Location Without Chemicals
Pennsylvania artist Beth Bathe uses water-mixable oils, which have some of the characteristics of oils, acrylics, and watercolors. See why you may want to use these paints and avoid oil solvents.
Why This Works: Mountains as Sky Family
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, Lena Rivo’s “Arrabida Natural Park."
Why This Works: Using Edges to Guide the Viewer’s Eyes
- 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: Solid Tree in Foreground Offers Entry and Rest
- Jeanne Mackenzie reporting -
In this series, plein air painter and instructor Jeanne Mackenzie takes a look at new paintings by contemporary artists and...
The 6B Graphite Pencil: An Essential Drawing Tool
Toolbox tip: Learn about the drawing tool that Michael Chesley Johnson says is essential for plein air artists.
Just Do the Preliminary Sketch – and 25 Other Painting Aha Moments
Do you remember the first time a painting concept clicked for you? For these Dreamliners, the big "aha" moment came during plein air workshops, painting travels, and even at Streamline events such as Plein Air Live, the world's first online art conference. Keep reading to see if you've shared some of these special moments!
Why This Works: Breaking up the Horizontals
In this series, plein air painter and instructor Jeanne Mackenzie takes a look at new paintings by contemporary artists and points out why they...
Oil Painting Demo: Irises by Lynn Dunbar
To help market her artwork, Lynn Dunbar summarized her approach to plein air and studio painting and emphasized her response to the spirit, vitality, and beauty of her home state.