Painting of the Week: Mountainside View
Rich Gallego has been painting the landscape since 1996. His longtime love of nature's wild places has taken him far afield from ...
15 Ways to Take Your Art to the Next Level
We’ve gathered 15 of our favorite pointers and strategies that can help you stay inspired and elevate your work. Whether you’re seeking to sharpen your skills or refresh your approach, these ideas offer a treasure trove of advice from some of the finest painters working today.
Plein Air Painting Tip: Plan By the Seasons
The energy surge, delight and awe, I experience when I'm surrounded by nature's colors is such a visceral experience. Here's why I ...
Anatomy of a Peculiar Painting Composition
Andrew Borg wanted to capture a “sensation” rather than an “expression” when he set out to create this unusual painting composition.
Q&A with Cindy Baron: Artist, Visual Historian
Cindy Baron is nationally recognized in both watercolors and oils, painting the grand landscapes of the western mountains and coastal shorelines. Enjoy an exclusive interview by John Hughes about Cindy's path in art and her insights on painting techniques.
The Beauty of Neutrals – A Watercolor Tip
Neutrals, when used correctly, evoke a feeling of mood and quality of light that is unequaled. Your work can be ...
Paint These Beauties When You Find Them!
Lisa Stauffer, PSA-Master and IAPS-Eminent Pastelist, shares the story behind her painting of a barn that caught her eye from the highway.
6 Things Your Future Artist Self Will Thank You For
Inspiration for Fall Color Week - a private painting retreat with PleinAir Magazine's Publisher, Eric Rhoads, October 11-18, 2026.
Create a Visual Narrative: An Urban Sketching Spotlight
I try to record something from every outing (even if it’s just a simple line drawing of the view when I park my car), so I carry my tools and sketchbook with me everywhere I go. But I also plan dedicated outings where I might sketch for a few hours or the whole day. In either case ...
Why John MacDonald is All About the Sky
Whether playing the lead or a supporting role in your paintings, understanding the nature of the sky and learning to paint it in all its manifestations is an important skill for any landscape painter.
How I Sold My First Painting
My goal was achieved because of persistence in the face of several obstacles, including ...
An Antidote to Ultraprocessed Time
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about a phrase I came across in The New York Times: ultraprocessed time. According to a 2026 YouGov survey, most of us spend five or more hours a day ...
A Few of My Favorite Things
An Ode to Plein Air Painting: A little something to hum while you're out there creating.
Capturing Atmosphere Over Detail
In this Painting of the Week, we highlight Brian Sindler's atmospheric landscape, "Clouds, Sister Bay." Painted just after a rainstorm, the piece explores the delicate balance between ...
How Much Do You Want It?
"Why do you think experienced painters don’t often question their ability to paint? With every failed painting, most of us do."
How I Sold My Most Expensive Painting: Lessons from Sandycove
In this guest blog post, artist Steve Browning shares how he sold his highest-price painting and his advice for you. This is part of a series that ...
Why My Kids Think I’m a Dinosaur
My kids are mortified when I tell them I turned down a chance to meet Elvis backstage. Because their school bus driver played oldies on the radio, they know who Elvis is, and they love the music from my youth. When it comes to technology, they think I’m living in the past, but they're dead wrong ...
Painting Outdoors: The Best Medium for Plein Air at the Beach
There are many methods to choose from when it comes to painting outdoors at a potentially tricky location like the beach. Gabriel Stockton is a proponent of watercolor, and here's why.
15 Ways Plein Air Painting is Evolving
As the time-honored practice of painting directly from nature enters a new era, artists are reimagining its traditions to reflect a changing world — one more connected, inclusive, and dynamic than ever.
Art, Impermanence, and the Southwest
The evocative work of Natasha Isenhour captures the soul of New Mexico. Explore how she translates the desert’s shifting light and ancestral silence into personal portraits of the landscape.