Painting beaches en plein air

7 Coastal Landscapes to Inspire Your Next Painting

Once considered treacherous, the coast became a place of leisure, where one could become happily immersed in nature. It’s no wonder then that beaches and coastlines have been — and continue to be — such popular painting subjects.
Plein air challenge - Painting Skies

January Plein Air Challenge: Painting Sunrises

Want to win a free art video workshop? It’s easy — simply join our January Challenge by sharing your art!
Plein air oil paintings - OutdoorPainter.com

Kelly Kane’s Pick of the Week: Cove View

In this weekly series Kelly Kane, Editor-in-Chief of Plein Air Magazine, shares a favorite painting from the current issue.
Dan Marshall, “Afternoon Glow,” 2018, watercolor, 22 x 30 in., Collection the artist, Studio

Kelly Kane’s Pick of the Week: Afternoon Glow

Kelly Kane, Editor-in-Chief of Plein Air Magazine, shares a favorite painting. This week's feature is “Afternoon Glow” by Dan Marshall.
PleinAir Magazine - OutdoorPainter.com

A Pioneering Spirit

In this issue of PleinAir Magazine, we’re highlighting a number of artists who exhibit a pioneering spirit, defined as a “willingness to endure hardship in order to explore new places or try new things.”
Inspiration for artists

What I’ve Learned About Art

Inspiration for Artists > 75-year-old artist Mike Hoyt shares how he was driven to begin oil painting 25 years ago, why he hasn’t stopped since, and what he has learned along the way.
Still life - painting flowers - OutdoorPainter.com

Spring Blooms and Still Lifes

Have a look at the spring blooms and still lifes your plein air peers created while self-isolating, and be inspired.
Suzie Baker, “Lean In"

Kelly Kane’s Pick of the Week: Lean In

Kelly Kane, Editor-in-Chief of Plein Air Magazine, shares a favorite painting and artist quote. This week's feature is "Lean In" by Suzie Baker.
Watercolor artist Mario Robinson

Watch: Interview with Mario A. Robinson

As part of his daily live Facebook videos, Publisher Eric Rhoads recently interviewed watercolor artist and "storyteller" Mario Robinson, who talks about his approach to composition, using watercolor, and much more.
A 15-Minute Dramatic Skies Drawing Exercise

Dramatic Skies in 15 Minutes

Doing a drawing exercise for even a few minutes a day can make a difference in both your comfort level and skills. So get out your sketchbook and favorite drawing utensil, and draw away during this 15-minute montage of amazing skies.
Brett “Mon” Garling, “Capertree Blues,” 2020, oil, 11 3/4 x 15 3/4 in., Collection the artist, Plein air

Kelly Kane’s Pick of the Week: Capertree Blues

Kelly Kane, Editor-in-Chief of Plein Air Magazine, shares a favorite painting and artist quote. This week's feature is "Capertree Blues."
Art memes - paint brushes

How Many Paint Brushes Do You Own?

Just for fun - fill in the blank! How many paint brushes do you own?
How to start a plein air group

The Challenges of Starting a Plein Air Group

In a recent newsletter, we shared advice on how to start a plein air group; but with anything that’s worth doing, challenges are to be ...
PleinAir Salon - Seth Tummins, "Beauty Mark," oil, 14 x 22 in.

On the Composition of “Beauty Mark”

Congratulations to Seth Tummins, whose "Beauty Mark" won third place in the April PleinAir Salon​!
A glimpse of Julie Gilbert Pollard’s “Values” demo and her palette (Watercolor Live, 2022 Beginner's Day)

Pushing Color

“As a painter who loves color,” said Julie Gilbert Pollard, “I typically push color beyond what I actually see to a ...
painting outdoors at the beach with watercolor - Gabriel Stockton

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.
Lori Putnam, "The Keeper's House," oil on linen, 20 x 24 in.

Lori Putnam, So Far

We're excited to share with you the news that Lori Putnam has published a beautiful collection of her works in a book titled "Lori Putnam, So Far." The following is ...
Richard McKinley, "Cliffs of Goleta," 2074, pastel, 12 x 18 in. Private collection Plein air

Richard McKinley: When Alla Prima Just Feels Right

"The coastal cliffs at Goleta Beach, California, are one of those painting sites that I call 'an old friend'," says Richard McKinley...
painting composition - Shanna Kunz, “The Giving Fields,” Oil on linen, 30 x 40 in.

Less About Place, More About Poetry

During her Plein Air live demo session, Shanna will show her composition process by painting a place where her family has gone camping many times.
Plein air painting at night

How I Painted a Twilight Scene of the Smithsonian Castle

What started as a night painting in my mind — and on my panel — became a twilight painting once the lights didn’t go on.