Awake at Night: Painting Nocturnes
When painting nocturnes in urban areas, I’ve had all kinds of encounters with ...
What Is Learned on the Road?
Jeff Markowsky spent about three months on the road, painting America and attending the Plein Air Convention & Expo. Here's what it did for...
Why This Works: Shadowed Landscape Acts as Foil
In this series, plein air painter and instructor Jeanne Mackenzie takes a look at new paintings by contemporary artists and points out why they...
Why This Works: Balancing Warm and Cool
In this series, plein air painter and instructor Jeanne Mackenzie takes a look at new paintings by contemporary artists and points out why they...
Schuerr’s Final Report: “It Was Crazy Hard Work”
A few weeks ago, we talked with Montana artist Aaron Schuerr about his preparations for a solo painting and backpacking trip from rim to...
Why This Works: Simple Shapes, Subtle Value Changes, and Texture
In this series, plein air painter and instructor Jeanne Mackenzie takes a look at new paintings by contemporary artists and points out why they...
How an Artist Group Gets a Museum Show
- Bob Bahr reporting, Editor PleinAir Today -
From June 30 to August 6, 28 members of the Montana Painters Alliance will show their work...
How to Avoid Greens in Summer
Actually, Lynn M. Rix tried to avoid greens by painting from a boat ... and she ended up with a lot of green. How so?
Do You See These Colors in the Sky?
As plein air painters know, the sky is rarely just blue. There’s at least a gradation from top to bottom, and the clouds can reflect anything from deep orange to vivid purple. What did 20 artists see when they looked up recently?
Advantages of Acrylic and Plein Air
The qualities of acrylic don't have to be a disadvantage en plein air. How?
Sorolla and Painting the Color of Light
What makes a Sorolla a Sorolla? Any time two or more outdoor painters get together to talk about this master artist, they always agree on this one thing.
How to Paint Beaches: Nail the Illusion of Distance, Light, and Atmosphere
The key to an effective plein air beach scene is to keep it simple — and that goes for your equipment, your palette, and your subject.
Painting Landscapes: Why Draw? Let’s Just Paint.
You don’t actually have to learn drawing techniques if you’re painting landscapes, right? John Pototschnik shares his insights.
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!
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.
Tutorial: Don’t Underestimate the Underpainting
Richard McKinley takes us through a step-by-step tutorial of painting with pastel over a watercolor underpainting.
Why This Works: Low Key Painting, High Chromatic Light
This series returns, with plein air painter and instructor Jeanne Mackenzie taking a look at new paintings by contemporary artists and pointing out why...
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,"...
Dunphy’s Top Ten
Kathleen Dunphy helps many artists through her workshops, and one gem from her instruction recently made the rounds in social media. She agreed to share...
Parting Shot: Painting Into the Sun, Part II
Brian Keeler knew what he wanted to paint when he set out with his easel one day this summer in Acadia National Park in...