Putting in the Work
Whether you’re a painter interested in improving your craft, a professional who wants to make sure you’re making the best decisions for your bottom line, or an art lover interested in adding new talent to your collection, it behooves you to stay in the know.
Create Chroma Without Going Garish
This South Carolina oil painter’s work stresses high contrast and a high key. Here’s why and how he does it without going overboard with saturated color.
Forget Left/Right Brain and Do This Instead
A landscape painter of 40 years shares his expert advice on understanding painting composition.
Can You Help Us Identify This Painting?
We need your help! A reader recently purchased an unsigned painting with unusual qualities that hint it could be by a master. What do you think?
A Shared Pursuit en Plein Air
"There is meaningful growth to be had when painting with friends, as well as exploring and experiencing art and life together."
Paint What You Know
How the old writer’s adage, “write what you know,” worked for artists too ...
Rural Funk and Fabulous Skies in Pastel
A Pastel Live Spotlight: Terri Ford (Beginner's Day)
A Metamorphosis in Bulgaria
Learn about how participating in an art residency can bring inspiration and lifelong memories. Gabriela Gonzalez Dellosso explains more...
Make a Difference: Teach Art to a Foster Child
Guest Post: It's time to pass on the benefits of art to the youth that may need it the most.
Thoughts on Process: Painting an Industrial Scene
Marlene Steele shares how she used pastel to paint a series of paintings that documented the renovation of Cincinnati's historic Union Terminal.
One Plein Air Artist’s Wild Wooded Story
Walking the remnants of an old wagon trail past ancient stands of pine, white oak, elm, hickory, sweetgum, maple, hornbeam, and red oak, this artist felt drawn into a reverie.
It’s a Small World (After All)
Now that we’ve made these connections with artists around the world who share our passion for plein air painting, is there any going back?
My Private Art: Confessions of an Introverted Painter
Why one artist paints en plein air, despite the public aspect of it. Can you relate?
Connecting with Artist Friends Online, en Plein Air
Learn about two inspired women who met at Plein Air Live and have since formed a ...
Using Pastels: Field Studies to Finished Works
Pastel artist Kim Lordier goes on camera with Eric Rhoads to share her field studies and her way of thinking about composition, which is ... "untraditional."
Are You Good at Giving Critiques?
Terry Stanley, an artist and art industry veteran who launched the Jack Richeson School of Art and marketed its art materials before retiring, offers what she has learned about the art of the critique in this special feature.
On Painting Landscapes: Nature’s Student
Painting landscapes sounds easy enough if you're coming from an artistic background, right? Maybe not so much...Kevin Menck explains.
Richard Schmid, Rest in Peace
The art community is feeling a great loss, as we've learned about the recent passing of artist, author, teacher, and speaker Richard Schmid.
A “Contrived Cop Out”
Lori Putnam, who is on the faculty of Plein Air Live, takes us into her process for painting a bright bouquet of backlit daffodils, and explains why one option for the color choices would have been a "contrived cop out."
5 Gardens and Green Spaces
Today’s painters continue to find joy and inspiration in gardens and green spaces of every description. Here are five paintings to celebrate this beautiful subject.