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!

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

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

Ken Karlic’s Sophisticated Chaos

Prolific artist Ken Karlic teamed up with Daniel Smith Watercolors to offer a comprehensive look into his creative process, a process he then applies to other media.
PleinAir Salon - OutdoorPainter.com

The Painting Process of a Winning Artist

Please help us congratulate Jerry Markham for winning first place in the recent bi-monthly PleinAir Salon. In this exclusive spotlight, Markham shares his secrets to success.
PleinAir Salon bi-monthly art competition winner

On Painting “Logan Street Sunset”

Congratulations to Gavin Glakas, whose oil painting "Logan Street Sunset" won in a recent bi-monthly PleinAir Salon. In this spotlight, Glakas tells about how the Charleston-inspired painting came to be.
Watercolor painting of peaceful body fo water on a foggy morning

Artist Spotlight: Brienne M. Brown

For artist Brienne M. Brown, she made art a priority in her life, and instead of trying to find the time; she started to make the time to paint.

Artist Spotlight: Deborah McAllister

Deborah McAllister: I have been creating art all my life. After finishing graphic design school at age 21, I studied painting and began entering...
Artists Evgeny and Lydia Baranov

Living the Dream: Plein Air Couple Counts 55 Trips … and Counting

Be inspired by plein air artists Evgeny and Lydia Baranov, a married couple who have won multiple awards in the PleinAir Salon, have been published in multiple art magazines, and have dedicated their lives to painting in Europe and beyond.
Keiko Tanabe, "Summer in San Diego," 2017, watercolor, 14 x 20 in., collection the artist, plein air

I Chose Watercolor, But Not Because I Liked It

An interview with Keiko Tanabe on why she paints en plein air with watercolor, her journey to becoming a professional artist, and more.

Painting the Best Building in Town

Texas has 254 counties, and in many county seats the courthouse is the most striking building in town. Michael Holter has noticed this, and...

My Favorite Place to Paint: Julie Jilek and the Mysteries of High Cliff

From ancient burial mounds to one of the most striking geological features of the United States, Julie Jilek’s favorite place to paint has much to intrigue the painter. But Jilek also loves it because of her personal history.

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.
Plein air watercolor paintings - OutdoorPainter.com

Painting California’s Piers

Eric M. Davis traveled over 11,350 miles in 17 months to complete the works featured in his book, “The California Pier Series.” Read an exclusive excerpt and view some of the watercolor paintings here.
Plein air painting of people

Four with Fehlman: A Plein Air Q&A

An exclusive four-question Q&A with Mark Fehlman, including how he stays inspired and motivated.
Woman painting outdoors in Red Rocks Park

Artist Spotlight: Jennifer Riefenberg

Artist Jennifer Riefenberg is constantly reaching beyond her own boundaries on the eternal road to improvement and understanding of art in all forms.
plein air watercolors

Plein Air Watercolors with a Western Flair

Drawn to rural, gritty, and seemingly mundane subjects, Tim Oliver loves the authenticity, immediacy, and raw honesty of painting watercolors en plein air.
photo of artist actively painting at raceway

Artist Spotlight: Justin Vining

What is the most interesting thing you have painted? Justin Vining: As a plein air painter, I have found myself in a lot of interesting...
C.W. Mundy, “Emily At The Beach,” 2006, Oil on linen, 36 × 24 in.

Passion and Desire: Foundations of the Artistic Process

An interview with artist C.W. Mundy; The following is part of a series featuring a leader in the art community who will be joining us on the faculty of Realism Live, November 9-11, 2023.