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!

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.

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.
Rebecca Arguello, "Carpinteria Bluffs 2," 2020, oil, 12 x 16 in., Available from artist, Plein air and studio

Today’s Inspiration: Expressive Realism

Contemporary plein air and studio painter Rebecca Arguello shares her inspiration, her biggest aha moment, and the art advice she wished she had heard earlier in her career. 

Then and Now: Making a Pure Record

Plein air artist Jill Carver made some big changes about 10 years ago, focusing on becoming the best painter she can be. Here's how.
Plein air oil painting by Martin Johnson Heade

A Plein Air Artist on the Fringe

Take a closer look at a nineteenth-century oil painting by Martin Johnson Heade...
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.
Hsin-Yao Tseng, "Lantern Light," 2017,oil, 12 x 9 in., Private collection, Plein air painting

Hsin-Yao Tseng’s Unending Ambition for Plein Air Painting

Go "behind the easel" and learn Hsin-Yao Tseng's plein air painting techniques, which are driven by his unending ambition to make better paintings.
Photo of myself painting Mt Washington “en plein air” in the winter. Standing on a bath matt helps keeps my feet warm

Artist Spotlight: Melanie Levitt

How did you get started and then develop your career? Melanie Levitt: I started painting at a young and painted all my life but went...
Plein Air Magazine

Convention Preview: Morgan Samuel Price & Donald Demers

Florida artist Morgan Samuel Price and Maine artist Donald Demers are friends who both enjoy plein air painting, yet each has a distinctly different...
Oil painting of riders on horseback near red rock formations

Artist Spotlight: Mark Fehlman

Mark Fehlman was an architect with a successful 30-year practice. After three years of art lessons, he decided to give it up to create a second career as an artist. It was a wonderful decision that has completely changed his life.
Plein air watercolor - OutdoorPainter.com

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. 

My Favorite Place to Paint: Jennifer L. Hoffman

Wyoming painter Jennifer L. Hoffman takes advantage of "artist's hours" to get a lot of work done in the winter months. Hoffman's setup at South...

Salon Winner Discusses His Array of Tools

Mark Boedges brings years of work and a honed selection of equipment with him to paint outdoors. Like what?
Artist Susan Hediger Matteson plein air painting on a farm with sheep in southwest Colorado.

Artist Spotlight: Susan Hediger Matteson

There are two Susan Mattesons working in the fine art field today. This Susan Matteson has since started using Susan Hediger Matteson to clarify that she is not the other artist and shares with us how she got started in her career.

My Favorite Place to Paint: Francesco Fontana

Francesco Fontana's favorite spot is one created by a famous Impressionist painter, one of the greats who helped launch the current plein air movement....
Artist posing for a photo while painting

Artist Spotlight: Lynn Dunbar Bayus

How did you get started and then develop your career? Lynn Dunbar Bayus: I was in advertising for 10 years and thought I’d go back...
Artist quotes - Albert Handell - OutdoorPainter.com

Quotable Artist: Albert Handell

Enjoy an inspirational quote from pastel artist Albert Handell.

Spotlight on PACE Faculty: Stephanie Birdsall

Stephanie Birdsall, a pastelist who will be offering instruction and a demonstration at the Plein Air Convention & Expo (PACE) in Monterey, California, in...
How to paint landscapes

How to Paint Landscapes: A Q&A with Kathleen Hudson

Kathleen Hudson (who is on the faculty of the Plein Air Convention) has been drawn to the landscape since childhood. Here, she explains her process of how to paint landscapes.
Plein air oil painting by Brad Teare | PleinAir Today

Painting Outdoors and 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?