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Extreme Plein Air

Extreme Plein Air

Touring National Parks, En Plein Air

Robert C. Rigsby, Jr. has brought new meaning to extreme plein air, as the artist spent much of 2016 trying to paint each of our nation’s 59 national parks in observance of their 100th anniversary. Did he reach his goal? His amazing story is here!

Painting Along Narrow Streets in England

Derek Daniells likes to paint along the narrow streets of Stony Stratford in England. Normally, the location is reasonably quiet, but at times the...

Hiking to (and Painting) Sperry Chalet

Miles of hiking through the glaciers of Montana led Linda Tippetts to paint “Sperry Chalet,” which later suffered from the park fires of 2017. Read about her thrilling trek in this guest blog post.

Chronicling Life Changes, En Plein Air

- Bob Bahr reporting, Editor PleinAir Today - Amy DiGi loves a challenge and loves to try something new. Sometimes, she will double or even...
Plein air painting and art retreats

Plein Air Surprises in Canada

Those who venture beyond the studio to paint outdoors know that surprises are often around the corner. For this group of adventurous artists, nature did not disappoint.
painting outdoors with children

Plein Air in Babywear!

We've seen some pretty incredible ways to paint outdoors, but this Plein Air Today reader showed us how she takes it to another level. Bonus: Includes her advice for painting when you have a baby on board!
Stock Schlueter and Paul Rickard, "on top of the world"

Bhutan: A Painter’s Dream

Stock Schlueter shares a day-by-day adventure of traveling to the remote land of Bhutan to paint en plein air for an entire month.

Friends Painting in the Minnesota Snow

Minnesota artist Jim Henley snapped photographs of his painting companions, Diane LaMere and Derek Davis, when the three artists were deep in snow along...

Motorcycle Riding Is Plein Air Perfect

When you travel by motorcycle to your painting destinations, you’re ahead of the game. “You are already acclimated,” says Mike Simpson. “You are one...

Studio Everywhere Makes Tracks, Makes Waves

The Orwicks have been on the road for five months, painting and encouraging children in various parts of the world to paint, and they...
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?

OPPORTUNITY: Painting in Africa Offers Unique Benefits

In September 2018, PleinAir Publisher Eric Rhoads will take a special group of 50 painters to South Africa for a once-in-a-lifetime plein air safari. Accomplished painter Katerina Ring, who offers a similar painting tour in Zambia, has some encouraging thoughts about why you need to take advantage of this opportunity.

On a Lake in Indiana….

- Bob Bahr reporting, Editor PleinAir Today - The Indiana Plein Air Painters Association has long held biennial paint-outs on Lake Wawasee, the largest natural...

Plein Air Adventures: Make Way for the Helicopter!

We all have our plein air painting war stories. California artist Robin Purcell seems to have more than her fair share. One of the more interesting ones involved a helicopter.
Debra Huse plein air painting on a boat

Plein Air Painting — On a Boat!

Watch a video clip of Debra Huse painting while on a boat and using a custom “rod-pochade.”
"The Matterhorn," by Rowan Huntley, 2012, acrylic, 15 3/4 x 22 in.

Extreme Painting: Rowan Huntley

Rowan Huntley lives in Wales, but she likes to paint at the ends of the world. The British artist has gone on expeditions to Antarctica,...
The brown bear that Bill Davidson encountered while plein air painting in the Tetons

How One Artist Survived a Bear Encounter

What should you do if you see a bear while plein air painting in the wilderness? See what Bill Davidson did to survive his encounter.

Tolerating the Extremes of Southeast Texas

Texas pastel painter Linda Dellandre reports that extreme heat, high humidity, and alligators can be just as challenging to a plein air painter as...

1 Year, 6 Women, 92 Miles

Six outdoor painters recently undertook an amazing project combining plein air and conservation surrounding the Santa Ynez River Watershed in Santa Barbara County, California. They call themselves “Rose-Compass,” and their work results will soon be on view here.
Painting outdoors - Christine Drewyer - OutdoorPainter.com

Sometimes You Have to Get Wet to Find Your Inspiration

If you are in search of the perfect plein air experience and that all-important inspired location to paint, sometimes you must be willing to leave the beaten path and get your feet wet!