10 Mental Keys to Make an Extraordinary Painting
Plein air painter Bill Davidson takes us through his process of creating a powerful landscape painting.
6 Studio Lessons For Plein Air Success
Six seasoned pros share their knowledge on when a painting is finally finished.
Surprising Things 7 Pro Painters Do
Over the years, we have shared plenty of traditional tips for painting outdoors, such as how to develop the right composition when there’s a...
Practical Advice for Painting Clouds
Because the diversity of cloud paintings is so unexpected, we offer the following practical advice for painting clouds and skies.
Pastels for DAYS
Enjoy a recap of the 3rd Annual Pastel Live, an unforgettable event for artists of all levels of painting with pastels.
Painting Nocturnes
It's not unusual for Maryland artist Hiu Lai Chong to spend a total of eight hours developing one of her plein air paintings, either...
Painting a Moving Bullet
We've all watched sunsets. The colors change dramatically every few seconds. New York painter Kenneth Salaz seems to catch the height of those fleeting...
Why This Works: Weight on the Side Offsets Dead-Center Vanishing Point
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: White in Shadow is Darker Than Red in Sunlight
In this series, plein air painter and instructor Jeanne Mackenzie takes a look at new paintings by contemporary artists and points out why they...
Care Needed When Toning Canvas With Acrylic
A video that a San Francisco artist posted on YouTube about the alleged dangers of toning a canvas with too thin of a mixture...
Baumann on How to Prepare for the Plein Air Season
- Stefan Baumann reporting -
In this piece, California artist Stefan Baumann gives his advice on how plein air artists can keep their painting skills...
One Never Tires of Glacier National Park
- Kathleen B. Hudson reporting -
If it’s not already on there, you might want to add Glacier National Park to your bucket list of...
Why This Works: Composing in a Square Format
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, Clark Mitchell’s “Passing Storm.”
Why This Works: Wildlife Gives Interest to Landscape
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, Nancy Woods Daniel’s “Blythe Ferry Winter Day.”
Painting in Cold Temps, Changing Light
Carl Bretzke painted his PleinAir Salon winning painting in Minneapolis. Luckily the temperatures were hovering just above freezing.
Make the Most of Your Next Art Workshop
Take in this expert advice from six highly respected painting instructors to improve your experience — and art — the next time you sign up for a workshop.
Two Important Reasons to Practice Sketching From Life
Watercolor artist Shuang Li explains why sketching from life can have a big impact on your next painting.
Plein Air Society Starts Online Painting Critiques
"Artists that have trained their ability to look beyond the detail ... are able to make stronger, more captivating art."
Watch: Pastel Landscape Demo with Tony Allain
Coming to us from Scotland, Tony Allain shares a pastel painting demonstration during Art School Live with Eric Rhoads.
3 Considerations for Finding the Perfect Place to Paint
A plein air painter shares her quick and dirty tips for finding the perfect place to paint, above ground or below!