We Say Goodbye to Steve Doherty

We honor the life of Steve Doherty, artist and former Editor of PleinAir Magazine and American Artist Magazine.
Star Valley plein air 2022

A Plein Air Competition in a Painter’s Paradise

I hadn’t thought of this pristine valley as an art destination...but then a painting buddy told me they were about to hold their first-ever ...
Plein air

Painting Waves and Waterfalls – With Intention and Improv

In addition to technique, your intention and ability to improvise play a key role in painting waterfalls and waves, and in creativity.

2022 Holiday Gift Guide for Artists

This list has it all: gorgeous frames, beautiful paints, and even a cute art-themed ornament!
CW Mundy painting on location in Paris, France

Inspiration Corner: Q&A Session With CW Mundy

Watch and listen as Eric Rhoads goes into a deep-dive interview with the world-famous artist, CW Mundy.

Oils All the Way

The following is part of a series that spotlights an artist who loves painting outdoors. Today's feature is on Sandy Schmidt.
Knife painting on North Beach in South Haven, Michigan, 2012. Photo credit Matt Poplawski

The Forgotten Essentials: A Memoir of Persistence

Working through adversity with persistence, patience, and grace can make us better artists - and better humans, too.
Artist Pamela J. Ayres pausing her painting to pose with PleinAir Magazine

Why My Favorite Place to Paint is … Florida

The following is part of a series that spotlights an artist who loves painting outdoors. Today's feature is on Pam Ayres.
"Hay Barn" by James Faeke

Back on the Farm: 15 Rural Paintings

Wind your way down the country roads and bucolic byways traversed by the 15 artists whose work is featured here and find yourself back on the farm.
Michele Usibelli, "Highline," 12 x 16 in., oil, Mountain Oyster Club Western Art Show/Archives

A Moment From the High Sierras

A moment from a trip that Michele Usebelli says was "a trip and experience I'll never forget and am anxious to do again!"
Jill Banks painting on location

A Little Bit of Everything

A Spotlight on Plein Air Today Reader Jill Banks: "This is a combination of my favorite subject and places..."
Fred Gregory; Most of the following images are from the Plein Air Convention & Expo over various years

Plein Air Today Reader Spotlight: Fred Gregory

The following is part of a series that spotlights an artist who loves painting outdoors. Today's feature is on Fred Gregory.
"Dinner With Kids" by Durre Waseem, as seen in PleinAir Magazine October/November 2022, in the Plein Air Events article on Paint Grand Traverse

The Ties That Bind

Artists find inspiration in the landscape and in one another’s work; art lovers share their appreciation for the paintings by ...
Painting vacations

My Best Day of Painting Ever

Was I going to work on one good painting in a short amount of time or was I going to do multiple paintings to see what I could accomplish?
Brienne Brown, “Day for Exploring,” watercolor, 20 x 16 in, $2700, Available through the Illume Gallery of Fine Art

Watercolor Tip: Be Adaptable

Brienne Brown shares her approach to painting with watercolor in this quick tip for beginners.
Wyatt Waters, artist and author of "The Watercolor Road"

Taking Care of Your Artistic Self Is Your Responsibility

At the most critical junctures, few, and sometimes no one, will believe ...
pastel impressionism painting of boats

Broken Color: Impressionism in Pastel

This Maryland artist finds that the color sense and paint application that define Impressionism perfectly suit her approach to working with pastels.
Sara Linda Poly, "Mountains and Long Shadows," oil, 12 x 16 in.

6-Step Landscape Painting Demo: Painting Back to Front

Watch and learn as Sara Linda Poly shows how her landscape painting, "Mountains and Long Shadows," came to be.
photo reference for plein air painting a landscape

Plein Air Practice: Achieve Better Designs By Doing This Now

Try these exercises at home to sharpen your plein air skills, and create better designs on the spot.
PleinAir Magazine - Destination Inspiration

Making Connections

In this issue of PleinAir Magazine, we celebrate artists who find inspiration close to home or in unfamiliar territory. They share a connection to one another, to the landscape, and to those collectors they inspire with their work.