Left Thinking
Participating in a multi-day plein air painting event leads to growth — and many questions. At Capitola this year, I created two paintings that reached my mark of satisfaction. The other seven left me wanting much more. A few days later, I was left asking why.
The 10 Best Plein Air Sites
I was asked by the travel editor of a national publication to identify the top 10 painting locations favored by plein air artists. I immediately asked my friends on Facebook what their choices would include, and I received hundreds of recommendations.
Get There Fast, Take It Slow
Beautiful Bermuda once again played host to Plein Air Bermuda, a vibrant plein air competition and show that continues to rise the ranks as a must-attend for painters. Who basked in the sun and glory?
Trees
Trees are an essential element of almost every landscape painting, and they present challenges to plain air painters who determine their shape, scale, coloration,...
How Art Survives, and Thrives
Plein Air Austin is currently sponsoring a fundraiser specifically to aid the Rockport Center for the Arts, ground zero for Hurricane Harvey. The goal? To raise $10,000 through a special sale of 100 artworks for $100 each, with all proceeds benefitting the institution. Details here!
Painting a Piece of History
This August, while at the Adirondack Plein Air Festival, I was invited along with several local artists to paint at Eagle Island Camp on a private island in Upper Saranac Lake.
Helping Art Survive Hurricane Harvey
PleinAir and Fine Art Connoisseur magazine have set up a temporary website for artists, galleries, museums, and auction houses to register and tell their stories about Hurricane Harvey. In addition, we’re offering them a chance to participate in a free ad spread that we hope will get spaces reopened and collectors buying.
Nocturnes, Sunsets & Sunrises
An increasing number of nocturnal paintings are being included in plein air competitions, in part because the artists enjoy the challenge of working in...
The Art of Plein Air Painting
PleinAir magazine Editor-in-Chief M. Stephen Doherty has authored a new book scheduled for release on September 5, 2017. Find out which artists are included and the topics considered.
How Do You ‘#PaintItForward’?
Outdoor painting is so much more than a creative outlet—it’s a way to connect with nature, form lifelong relationships, and expose passers-by to an exciting cultural phenomenon. Discover how one ascending watercolorist is using his talents to give back to the community he captures in so many beautiful ways.
Contribute Your Ideas!
Streamline Publishing’s newest endeavor, Artists on Art, is a digital-only, bi-monthly magazine that features articles written by top artists, connoisseurs, and collectors. This rapidly growing community combines traditional articles with video, audio, high-resolution imagery, and exquisite design. Want your voice heard? Here’s a fantastic opportunity.
Glowing — and Flowing — Testimonial
Thoughts and paintings from the artists who attended the Publisher’s Invitational in the Adirondack mountains two weeks ago continue to pour in. Take a look at these fantastic works!
Painting California
It isn’t very shocking that, since the dawn of the 20th century, California has become home to remarkable artists from all over the United States and Europe. Centered around the California Art Club and celebrating over a century of natural landscapes, a new publication will soon be headed to your coffee table.
PleinAir Stage Fright
A welcome wind was grazing my face on a blisteringly hot summer day as I began to scout out my perfect plein air spot for the day. Most importantly, however, it was away from everyone — in a spot so remote that there was no chance anyone would walk by.
Remembering Tommy
So beloved was Tommy Macaione to his chosen hometown of Santa Fe, New Mexico, that after his death in 1992 a bronze statue of him painting en plein air was erected in a downtown park. When was the last time you saw a bronze statue of a plein air painter? Maybe one exists in Giverny, the Fontainebleau Forest, or possibly the Laguna coast, but I have not heard tell of one. What made this artist so worthy of a statue?
Be Gentle, It’s My First Time
Do you remember how I mentioned a few weeks ago that I’ve been “eaten” by the plein air bug? Well, since my attendance at the Plein Air Convention & Expo in San Diego and with some sage advice from a good friend, I decided to give this plein air thing a try. How did it turn out?
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.
Interest and Introduction
As the new editor of PleinAir Today, I’d like to take a moment to introduce myself and express the excitement I have at entering this remarkable world of outdoor painting. There’s a catch, however.
Sunday Morning Coffee with Eric Rhoads: Four Words to Live By
This morning as I sit here on the back porch, I’m watching a mama sparrow bringing food to her babies in a nest tucked into the rafters of our porch. The little birds are learning to fly. I’m watching them hop from the nest to the blades of our ceiling fan and then on to the branches of the stately oaks in the back yard. As they jump, they first fall before they engage their wings, which then propel them to the next branch. If they forget to use their wings, which they do from time to time, they hit the ground, then shake it off, hop to a branch, and start over. Birds learn like we all learn. Trial and error.
Parting Shot: I’m So Glad We Had This Time Together…
But comes the time we have to say, “So long.” I’m handing the reins of PleinAir Today over to the capable Andrew Webster. Happy trails, but I’ll keep an eye on all things plein air, and maybe I’ll see some of you out there in the field.