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!

Plein air landscape painting - Chuck Marshall - OutdoorPainter.com

Being Present in the Plein Air Moment

When he creates art, especially in the field, Ohio artist Chuck Marshall effectively separates himself from his daily routine and becomes more self-aware. That separation has always been an important benefit to plein air painting.
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.

My Favorite Place to Paint: Mark Mehaffey

"Something should be most of a painting." That's what Mark Mehaffey says, and he says that while considering the landscape around his home in...
plein air pastel painting - Tom Bailey, “Gold And Sapphires,” pastel, 12 x 18 in.

The Little Melodic Echoes You Don’t Expect

An interview with plein air pastel painter Tom Bailey, who will be among the faculty members of the Pastel Live, August 16-19, 2023.

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...

My Favorite Place to Paint: John Caggiano, and Paradise Gained

John Caggiano painted a picture of a beach in the Venice, Florida area titled “A Touch of Paradise.” But it was the artist who gave it that magic touch, not nature.
Plein air watercolor - Barbara Tapp, "Winter Glimpses," 2021, 10 x 14 in., private collection

Plein Air Watercolor Inspo

Plein air watercolor artist Barbara Tapp loves the transparency of this medium, as it gives her endless possibilities for achieving depth and form. 

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.
Larry Cannon, “South Laguna View” created in the Laguna Beach Plein Air Invitational, 10 x 14 in., watercolor on paper

Artist Spotlight: Larry Cannon

This PleinAir Live 2021 Faculty artist was exposed to watercolor in college as part of his architectural training and notes specific moments in his early years of painting that changed his life.

Artist Spotlight: Jessie Rasche

How did you get started and then develop your career? Jessie Rasche: 15 years ago I became a professional fine artist, starting with tiny still...

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...

Artist Spotlight: Sandhya Sharma

How did you get started and then develop your career? Sandhya Sharma: I had always drawn and painted as a child. Summer vacations were spent...
Woman painting outdoors in a hat

Artist Spotlight: Krystal W. Brown

As Krystal states, “Someone is waiting for what you will bring to the world. Why keep them waiting?” Find out what legacy she’d choose to leave with her art.

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.

Artist Spotlight: Ellen Howard

How did you get started and then develop your career? Ellen Howard: I have always had a strong interest in art and was raised in...

Spotlight on PACE Faculty: Michelle Jung and the Bicoastal

Oil painter Michelle Jung spends half the year in Santa Cruz, California, and the other half in Wellesley, Massachusetts. The contrast between the two locales has sharpened her skills of observation and has given her important insight that she can share with attendees of the Plein Air Convention & Expo (PACE), where she is on the faculty.
painting with gouache

Painting with Gouache: 7 Serene Examples

Mike Hernandez is an Art Director in the animation industry and a plein air artist who loves painting with gouache. Here, he shares seven of his landscapes along with inside info just for you.

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?
Plein air art history - Claude Lorrain - OutdoorPainter.com

Plein Air Moment: The Judgment of Paris

As a plein air painter, you are part of one of the largest art movements in history. Learn about artist Claude Lorrain here.
headshot photo of artist

Artist Spotlight: Tanvi Pathare

How did you get started and then develop your career? Tanvi Pathare: I began at a young age, as I was curious to draw nature....