Artist Profiles

Learn about what projects your fellow plein artists are up to, see online galleries of their landscape paintings, and more in these profiles!

Spotlight on PACE Faculty: Sculptor Marsha Brook’s Dedication to Social Activism

Marsha Brook has enjoyed a successful career as a sculptor, and she has dedicated the rest of her career to sculpting portraits of people who work to improve society. She’ll discuss this during an exclusive demonstration at the Plein Air Convention & Expo (PACE) next month in San Diego.

It’s Snow, It’s a Drawing…It’s a Painting by Chula

Chula Beauregard discovered an exhilarating aspect of her artist-in-residency at the Carpenter Ranch, located outside of Steamboat Springs, Colorado. It involved snow, her 7-year-old, sunshine, and more than 100 other people.

Spotlight on PACE Faculty: Thomas Kegler and Art Contagions

Perhaps, on some level, attending the Plein Air Convention & Expo (PACE) is dangerous. You may come home permanently changed.

Artist as Collector: Shelby Keefe, and For the Love of Cars

Wisconsin painter Shelby Keefe chooses paintings for her collection that reflect her goals — and if they feature cars, so much the better.

Spotlight on PACE Faculty: Marla Baggetta Gives You Permission

Pastelist Marla Baggetta has a secret she uses every day to put her in the right frame of mind for painting.

Artist as Collector: Brienne M. Brown and the Allure of Must-Have Paintings

For Brienne M. Brown, the reasons why she buys a painting for her collection vary, but one thing generally doesn’t — her feeling that she has to have it.

Spotlight on PACE Faculty: Brenda Boylan on Not Wearing Earphones

Pastelist Brenda Boylan is a veteran of the Plein Air Convention & Expo (PACE), and this year, she plans on sharing her street-smart tips for painting urban scenes. Such as?

Artist as Collector: Monika Johnson, Finding Inspiration

When Monika Johnson sees someone doing what she tries to do, she finds it inspirational — and she buys the piece. Who’s in her collection?

Spotlight on PACE Faculty: W. Truman Hosner and a Serious Plein Air Challenge

Plein air painting can be a challenge, but even changing light and other environmental conditions aren’t enough for some folks. Like W. Truman Hosner, a member of the Plein Air Convention & Expo (PACE) faculty, who ups the ante considerably with his subject matter.

Spotlight on PACE Faculty: Karl Dempwolf

Karl Dempwolf is a key figure in California plein air painting, so much so that PleinAir magazine publisher Eric Rhoads will present Dempwolf with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Plein Air Convention & Expo (PACE) in April. That’s one of the reasons Dempwolf will be there in San Diego. But why else?

What’s Behind You While Painting

Plein air painting isn’t just about the view in front of you. It’s about the entire environment around you. Danny Griego is exploring this through short videos.

Artist as Collector: Jill Basham

Maryland painter Jill Basham says she collects work by other artists that she thinks is beautiful. But she also does it to learn.

Spotlight on PACE Faculty: Mark Fehlman on Learning and Camaraderie

California painter Mark Fehlman loves the Plein Air Convention & Expo (PACE) because it offers artists a chance to be with their tribe, and learn from each other. And this year, he doesn’t even have to leave town to attend.

Spotlight on PACE Faculty: Ray Hassard and Painting Near and Far

Ray Hassard, a featured instructor at the upcoming Plein Air Convention & Expo (PACE) slated for April 24-28 in San Diego, has traveled widely ... and painted locally. One of his guiding lights is a provocative quote from John Constable.

Anatomy of an Award Winner: Jason Sacran and an EnPleinAirTEXAS Time Crunch

For Jason Sacran, there’s nothing like a deadline … and some serendipity.

Artist as Collector: Barry Koplowitz

Pennsylvania artist Barry Koplowitz collects art, but not many paintings. What moves him to pick the few he has?
Brian Stewart landscape painting

There From the Beginning: Brian Stewart and Plein Air

Brian Stewart was one of the participants in the early Catalina Island wet-paint shows that played a huge role in launching the contemporary plein air movement.
“The Fog Warning,” by Winslow Homer, 1885, oil, 30 1/4 x 48 1/2 in. Collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

Early Influences: Don Demers

Don Demers didn’t just gravitate to a particular Homer painting because of its painting style. The subject matter was transformative as well.

Using Architectural Elements for Contrast

San Diego artist Danny Griego finds that incorporating “urban line” in his paintings makes them much stronger — and mimics the way many of...

Early Influences: Robert Masla

In this occasional series, we talk to plein air artists about a piece of art that inspired them when they were young. Our first...