Plein Air Magazine

What Paintings to Enter?

How do you pick the three paintings you'll attach to the application you submit to a plein air festival? We asked that question on...
Plein air paintings - OutdoorPainter.com

Kelly Kane’s Pick of the Week: Getting Ready to Paddle

In this weekly series Kelly Kane, Editor-in-Chief of Plein Air Magazine, shares a favorite painting from the current issue.
plein air painters - John Hughes

A Plein Air Painter’s Need for Peace and Beauty

In today’s world, more than ever, the need for beauty is an essential element in anyone’s life; and time away from the chaos through the arts is time well spent.
Plein air oil painting

Kelly Kane’s Pick of the Week: Workingman’s Shed

In this weekly series Kelly Kane, Editor-in-Chief of PleinAir Magazine, shares a favorite painting from a previous issue.

Get Excited About Painting in New Mexico

NOTE: THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE WAS ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN EARLY SPRING 2020. THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED. STAY TUNED AT THIS SITE FOR UPDATES! Fellow Plein...
plein air painting - OutdoorPainter.com

Every 5 Miles: Painting the Way of Saint James

This artist has plans to stop and paint every five miles as she walks 1,000 miles of the Way of St. James, sharing its unique sense of place through 200 plein air paintings.
Painting outdoors

Forty Fridays, Same Scene, All En Plein Air

Norwegian painter Magne Myhren began a fascinating plein air project that involved finding the perfect scene before painting it 40 times.
Painting flowers outdoors

Now I Get It

"I always wondered why artists painted a series when there were tens of thousands of themes one could explore - until ..."

Check Out Other Artists’ Work

A wide variety of outdoor paintings are about to go on exhibit in art centers and galleries around the country. Here are a couple in which inspiring and informative work will be on display. Make sure you stay informed. 
Plein air artist Greg LaRock, painting outdoors

Greg LaRock: In His Own Words

In a special tribute to Greg LaRock, we share previous interviews about his life in art and painting process, and special memories from his friends and loved ones.

Parting Shot: Sometimes Indoors Is Better

It’s hard to stop the passionate outdoor painter from venturing into nature to find his or her next masterpiece. However, as a recent situation demonstrates, sometimes painting indoors is the best — and only — option, but the results are still beautiful.
Plein air paintings

Kelly Kane’s Pick of the Week: La Bougainvillea at my Window

Kelly Kane, Editor-in-Chief of Plein Air Magazine, shares a favorite painting and artist quote. This week's feature is La Bougainvillea at my Window by Fran Ellisor.
Sargent landscape painting - OutdoorPainter.com

On John Singer Sargent’s “Home Fields, 1885”

Did Sargent place himself in this landscape painting? Thomas Jefferson Kitts, on the work that turned him onto plein air painting.

Going to Extremes: Plein Air Painting in a Rail Yard

An artist shares how he followed his muse and made his way into a rail yard to paint a burned out and abandoned train car.
"La Jolla Coastline" by Mark Fehlman

It’s Spring and He’s Ready for the Road

It appears that the winter rains and snow are finally evolving into an amazing spring...
Philippe Gandiol, “Déjà Vu" oil painting

Kelly Kane’s Pick of the Week: Déjà Vu

Kelly Kane, Editor-in-Chief of Plein Air Magazine, shares a favorite painting and artist quote. This week's feature is "Déjà Vu" by Philippe Gandiol.
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.
Hsin-Yao Tseng, “Carmel Coast 2,” 2017, oil, 9 x 12 in., Collection the artist, Plein air

Kelly Kane’s Pick of the Week: Carmel Coast 2

Kelly Kane, Editor-in-Chief of Plein Air Magazine, shares a favorite painting. This week's feature is “Carmel Coast 2” by Hsin-Yao Tseng.

Asserting Your Own Voice as a Plein Air Painter

Plein air events stimulate interest in outdoor painting among collectors, artists, and critics, but they can also pressure artists to abandon their unique styles of paintings and adopt accepted community standards. Cynthia Rosen is resisting that pressure.
Plein air oil painting - OutdoorPainter.com

Kelly Kane’s Pick of the Week: Potrero Hill

Kelly Kane, Editor-in-Chief of PleinAir Magazine, shares a favorite painting. This week's feature is a plein air (oil) by ...