Watercolor painting of a river

Plein Air Art Through the Decades

In continued celebration of our 10th anniversary of Plein Air Magazine, we follow one timeline that reveals how we got to this moment.
Sculpture of men listening

It’s Okay to Eavesdrop on These 17 Artists

In Case You Missed It > Listen to fascinating conversations with these plein air artists and experts who share their painting secrets and so much more.
Plein air oil painting of snow

How the Desert Helped Carlton Paint Snow

Minnesota artist Philip Alexander Carlton was not impressed with painting winter in the Midwest until he realized he could apply lessons learned on his lengthy road trip.
Michelle Chrisman, painting en plein air

Who Are Your Painting Mentors?

Thoughts on how plein air painters can find their own voice, and the importance of having specific mentors and artists to emulate.
Plein air painter John Eiseman

Something is Missing

An artist reflects on what was and what is, and share the touching story behind his plein air painting, "Enjoy the View."
John Hughes, teaching a plein air workshop

The Battle of the Art Media

What constitutes a medium, and why do artists have an emotional reaction to their differences? Johns Hughes braves the topic in the following guest blog post.
Oil landscape painting of Grand Canyon

Plein Air Magazine: Looking Back and Ahead

Anniversaries are an opportunity to pause and — with the benefit of hindsight — reflect on where you started and how far you’ve come. In this issue, we’re excited to launch a year-long celebration of Plein Air Magazine’s 10th Anniversary.
Watercolor painting on an easel by Indiana river

Painting Indiana Rivers: Using Art to Highlight Conservation

How do you paint 100 landscapes of 20 rivers without them looking alike? See how these plein air painters are dedicating their time to both painting and the environment, and how folks from artists to anglers are helping them discover each location's unique features.
Painting landscapes

Charlie Hunter on Losing Edges

"When you get past explaining what you are showing the viewer," says Charlie Hunter, "you start to get into what is truly reality."
David Brand, John Hughes, David Dean, Tom Howard, Kimbal Warren

The Benefits of Painting on Location with Other Artists

Landscape painting has sometimes been jokingly referred to as a “loner sport," but when artists come together something like magic happens. See how ...
Dan Marshall demonstrating watercolor brushwork techniques

Watercolor Technique: How To Develop Your Brushwork

Watercolor artist Dan Marshall shares a surprising tool that will enable you to develop your brushwork. Watch the video here to gain confidence and control when painting, and learn how to develop a sketching habit - with your paintbrush.
Painting of a snowy rural landscape

6 Soothing Snowscape Paintings

What child doesn’t delight in the promise of a snow day? For some intrepid plein air painters, the thrill remains. After all, a good snowfall can turn even the most mundane landscape into something spectacular. Here, six artists share their views of a world blanketed in snow.
Cover of A Painter's Journey

25 Top Books for Landscape Painters

Between the shorter days of winter and the stay-at-home period, now is a wonderful time to get cozy with one (or 100) books about painting landscapes, painting en plein air, and art in general. This list is a great place to start!
watercolor painting ideas

Watercolor Painting Ideas: Live with Thomas Schaller

In this video interview with Eric Rhoads, Thomas Schaller explains why and how he paints, as well as how to choose a subject and interpret what you see so that you can turn it into a "different reality" on paper or canvas.

From Coast to Coast

In a year filled with confusion and anxiety, we’ve also seen incredible displays of ingenuity. Artists, organizers, and gallery owners adjusted, finding ways to stay active and relevant. See how we explore this, and more, in the new issue of PleinAir Magazine.
Watercolor artist Joseph Zbukvic

New (and Free!) Watercolor Demo From Joseph Zbukvic

Enjoy this interview with Eric Rhoads and Joseph Zbukvic, who shares a watercolor lesson and takes us on an exclusive tour of his amazing studio!
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.
gifts for artists

25 Favorite Gifts for Artists This Year

Don't Miss > With the holiday season approaching, gift giving is top of mind - but of course, we won’t judge if you decide to put these on your wish-list or even buy any of these art-inspired gifts for yourself - a little shoptherapy does one good sometimes!
Artist Residencies - Key West Plein Air

Connecting with Nature via Art in Key West

Be inspired when you see how Shannon Torrence, who was awarded an artist residency from the National Parks Arts Foundation and the National Parks Service, lived the artist’s dream life in Key West.
Oil paintings of plein air artists

5 Paintings of Plein Air Artists

We're honored to share with you the top finalists and winner of the "Best Painting of an Artist in Plein Air" category of the recent Artist and Selfie Painting Competition.