A Pep Talk for Beginners and Frustrated Art Students
If you weren't naturally handed a free pass to excellence or are coming to art late in the game, John Hughes has an encouraging message for you.
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.
What to Take When Painting en Plein Air: Kathleen Hudson’s Toolkit & Setup
If you're new to painting en plein air, or are experienced and curious about what others use on location, check out Kathleen Hudson's packing list, including her art toolkit and plein air setup.
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.
Let’s Talk About the “T” Word
Excerpt: Landscape painter Rick J. Delanty addresses a misconception that “non-artists” seem to have about …
A Guide to Plein Air Painting at the Break of Dawn
Discover essential gear prep, composition techniques, and expert tips for capturing the perfect light and shadows at sunrise in this guest blog post from Jack McGowan.
How to Paint With Watercolor: Live with Keiko Tanabe
In this on-camera interview with Eric Rhoads, Keiko Tanabe shares her advice on how to paint with watercolor.
Bring Duct Tape …
... and seven more plein air painting tips from Gavin Glakas.
Broken Strokes for Different Folks
William Schneider shares the surprising and unusual methods he uses for creating effective values, edges, marks, and more.
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!
Color Corner: 10 Artists Share What’s on Their Palette
We asked some of your favorite plein air artists about their palettes and what colors — and brands — they use to create stunning landscapes.
Plein Air 101: Mistakes to Avoid, Advice to Heed
If you’re new to plein air painting, here are five mistakes you can avoid from the get-go. (A guest blog post by Brienne M. Brown, who shares her "then" and "now" paintings!)
Painting Landscapes: Designing a Field Study on Location
When it comes to designing landscape paintings, artists usually have their own approach to making their paintings work, but there are certain common threads worth noting.
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!
5 Fixes for 5 Common Painting Mistakes
When you’ve been painting landscapes for as long as John Pototschnik, you come across common mistakes that ...
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.
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.
A Good Way to Screw Up Your Palette
How many colors should you use when painting en plein air? Eric Rhoads answers in this teaser from Plein Air Live.
The Best Plein Air Umbrellas for Artists
What's the best umbrella for plein air painting? We asked, and you answered! Here's what artists from our community had to share, including some helpful photos.