Expressionism in the Tetons
The varied and vivid landscapes of Wyoming inspire oil painter Bill Sawczuk to take a more expressive approach to plein air painting. Read more in this exclusive excerpt from our current issue (on newsstands now).
Hot Off the Easel: The Challenge of Painting “Crossing Light”
The story of my painting "Crossing Light" is all about light and how it leads the eye around the painting and then lands on the main character in the immediate foreground. But first I should back up and explain why I chose to paint this scene...
Decisions, Decisions: Painting Outdoors with Watercolor and/or Oil
Artist Cindy Baron shares how and why she chooses which medium to use at plein air events.
Featured PACE Instructor: Charles White
Our 7th Annual Plein Air Convention and Expo is just around the corner, and to celebrate, we’ll be highlighting some of our featured instructors and their art over the next several weeks. Recently I asked him to tell us more about a couple of his paintings.
Jerry Balcom and The Visual Delights of Plein Air
Washington state plein air artist Jerry Balcom uses compositional devices, edge control, and color intensities to bring viewers into his pastel paintings. These techniques allow him to share the emotions he felt while working on location.
A Delicate Vision That Came to Pass
Nancy Boren’s oil painting “Cimarron Solstice” won second place in the 6th annual PleinAir Salon art competition. Read about her inspiration for the work, and learn how she created the scene, which exudes both grace and whimsy.
The View From the Top
What does a top award winner anticipate as he begins a new plein air season? Maryland artist Tim Kelly reveals his expectations for 2018.
Painting Dreams: Artist Randall Graham on Cold Wax Medium
Randall Graham adds cold wax medium to his oil colors so he can brush, scrape, thicken, thin, and scumble layers of color and texture to create a dreamlike state. See how he works with the medium.
See the Relationship Between Colors
Richard F. Lack (1928-2009) taught students not to see a colors in isolation, but rather to see them in relation to those that surround them. What were his teaching methods?
Convention Preview: Find Spiritual & Personal Support
During her presentation at the Plein Air Convention & Expo, Tennessee artist Kathie Odom will reveal that she has been fortunate to find spiritual and personal support as her career skyrocketed to higher levels. What will she recommend to artists in Santa Fe?
Convention Preview: Find Important Information in the Shadows
“If people start looking for color in the shadow, they will see it,” says Mark Fehlman, one of the featured artists at the Plein Air Convention & Expo. “If they stop and look, compare things, and consider what they want to emphasize most, they will get a lot more out of their observations.” How does Fehlman actually accomplish that?
Why Our Cover Artist Spent Days on One Painting
Maine artist Stephan Giannini spent days creating two plein air paintings in an apple orchard, and one of them is on the cover of the March 2018 issue of PleinAir. Find out why he worked so long on location.
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.
The Risks & Rewards of Foreign Plein Air Painting
Over the past 25 years, David E. Dallison has taken his portable watercolor equipment to more than 35 countries, sometimes ignoring travel warnings and political unrest. He is now being a bit more cautious since he is traveling with his young family. Here’s how he works with watercolors in distant locations.
The Power of an Attitude Adjustment
Utah artist Brad Teare stopped painting outdoors because he was putting too much pressure on himself and not enjoying the observational process necessary to discover nature’s subtleties. How did he adjust his attitude and reduce his stress levels?
Ranger’s Classic Moment
The American artist Henry Ward Ranger (1858-1916) studied in Europe, and when he returned to the United States in 1888, he began to exhibit with members of the National Academy of Design (NAD), the American Watercolor Society, and the Society of American Artists.
My Favorite Place to Paint: Poppy and Point Prim
Lighthouses are such wonderful subjects, aren’t they? They project into the sky with brilliant designs from sandy and rocky shores and are beacons of hope for weary sailors. For accomplished outdoor painter Poppy Balser, there will always be a special place in her heart for Point Prim. Discover why here.
Artist as Collector: James Coe and the Mean Greens
New York State painter James Coe collects paintings that demonstrate good ways of tackling vexing painting problems — like presenting a variety of greens in a landscape.
Anatomy of an Award Winner: Mary Monk, at Shadows-on-the-Teche
No sun? No problem for Mary Monk. Overcast days at the Shadows-on-the-Teche Plein Air Competition did not deter the Louisiana oil painter.
Artist as Collector: Poppy Balser and ‘One Thing’
Nova Scotia artist Poppy Balser is partial to watercolor—her chosen medium—but she is also partial to demos she's seen painted in person. There's one other trait that attracts her to a piece she is considering for her collection.