Finding Beauty in Unusual Places
There’s an interesting thing about beauty: it can be found everywhere, if one is tuned to its frequency and actively looking for it.
Why I Chose Vertical Over Horizontal
Insights from plein air painter Beth Bathe, who will be joining us at the 2026 Plein Air Convention & Expo!
The Best Plein Air Easels for Artists
What’s the best easel for plein air painting? We asked, and you answered! Dozens of artists share what their favorite plein air easels are, including why they’re top choice.
How to Avoid Painting Pitfalls
Keep your compositions fresh and lively by applying the mantra “same same, bad bad.”
Painting Basics: Understanding Value
“All of us, beginners and experienced painters alike, can benefit from a refresher course in the bedrock principles of value and color.” John MacDonald explains more in this overview.
Free Landscape Painting Demonstration: How to Simplify
Ever wondered how to make your landscape paintings glow with realistic light? In this beginner-friendly lesson, artist Kami Mendlik breaks down her simple, effective approach to painting light that feels real by mastering color relativity.
7 Ways to Strengthen Your Plein Air Process
The following article features a leading artist who is teaching others how to paint through online workshops at PaintTube.tv.
Plein Air Pastel 101: Your Pastel Fix-It Guide
Shawn Dell Joyce, Lyn Diefenbach, Kathleen Kalinowski, and Heidi A. Marshall offer practical solutions to three common problems pastel artists face when painting on location.
The Essential Guide to Outdoor Painting
Whether you are seasoned at outdoor painting or a novice, it is often daunting to tackle new terrain. To make your experience more enjoyable, we’ve compiled this go-to guide for your next plein air excursion!
Packing Smart
Find out how just a few changes to your toolkit can make a positive difference to your plein air painting experience.
Painting Tips for Beginners: 7 Steps to Help You Begin
Painting Tips for Beginners > Plein air painter Gary Snavely shares his advice to help you organize your thoughts for a greater chance of a good painting outcome.
Acrylics: A Quick and Efficient Medium for Painting On Location
The medium has become an integral part of how I compose — plunging right in, using my big brush like a saber, bringing to life large, bold subjects with absolutely no need for the careful planning that can turn a painting session into a bore.
What You Need to Paint Outdoors: The Beginner’s Guide
Use this guide to help you get started plein air painting with tips from artists who are willing to share their knowledge and wisdom.
How We Started a Local Plein Air Painters Group
Be inspired by the story of Jim and Annie Hames, who created a community through their local plein air painters group, inspired by PACE.
Plein Air Painting in Winter
The following is part of a series that will share tips and tricks for plein air painting in winter. Stay tuned for more!
11 Tips for Going From Study to Studio
Christine Lashley is an American artist known for her colorful and dramatic oils. Here, she shares her 11 tips for using your plein air study for a refined studio painting.
Bring Duct Tape …
... and seven more plein air painting tips from Gavin Glakas.
Plein Air Painters: Pay Heed to Rising Water
A cautionary tale about the danger of flash floods: Just because it’s dry where you are, you could still be downstream of a perilous storm.
Plein Air Painting with Gouache in Winter
Can you paint outdoors with gouache when it's below freezing? Mike Hernandez shares his tips here.
A Study-to-Studio Watercolor Demo: Oak Creek at Briar Patch XXII
Watch step by step as Julie Gilbert Pollard creates a plein air study with watercolor, then takes it into the studio to paint "Oak Creek at Briar Patch XXII."