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Plein Air for Beginners

If you’re new to painting outdoors with watercolor, pastel, oil, or acrylic, start here with advice from seasoned plein air artists.

What’s in My Bag?

When flying with art supplies, make sure you arrive with everything you need. Get the top five preparedness tips here.
Sketching From Life - OutdoorPainter.com

Two Important Reasons to Practice Sketching From Life

Watercolor artist Shuang Li explains why sketching from life can have a big impact on your next painting.
Gene Costanza painting on location

5 Quick and Dirty Tips for Artists

Plein air painter Gene Costanza shares his five quick tips for artists on composition, color, and more.
A common scene at the Plein Air Convention - artists of all levels and backgrounds painting together

Do You Know These 19 Outdoor Painting Tips?

Which of the following painting tips will you put into practice? Share your answer in the blog comments for your chance to win a 10-tube set of Sennelier Finest Artists' Oils, and a variety of paint brushes from Raphaël!
How to make a color chart - Mark Boedges - OutdoorPainter.com

How to Make a Color Chart for Plein Air Painting

Plein air artist Mark Boedges shares three color charts, along with important advice on creating and using them for your next plein air landscape.
Michael Chesley Johnson, “Down by the River,” 9 x 12 in., pastel, en plein air

Painting the Landscape? Do Not Overlook This Step

When it comes to painting the landscape, there are many common mistakes that artists - especially new plein air painters - make...
7 Tips for Painting the City - OutdoorPainter.com

7 Tips for Painting the City

Just as you wouldn’t explore a new city without a map, don’t start your next cityscape without a plan for where you want to go and how you intend to get there.
Kathleen Hudson painting en plein air

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.
John MacDonald painting en plein air

Six Keys to Painting Trees with Character and Dimension

To avoid trees that look generic or pasted on, follow these tips for painting compelling contours, varied sky holes, and details at a range of distances.
Katy Smith's setup for painting landscapes

How Much Should Your Plein Air Painting Gear Weigh?

There’s a mental freedom we associate with painting outdoors, but that lightness can easily be juxtaposed with the ...
John Pototschnik teaches a demo on painting landscapes (from 2022 RealismLive.com)

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 ...
Plein air for beginners - Carrie Curran - OutdoorPainter.com

7 Things to Consider When Painting a Landscape Outdoors

Painting outdoors gives you so many options! Get insider notes from Carrie Curran's advice on "Plein Air Basics."
Painting outdoors - tips for beginners

Tseng’s Tip for Beginner Plein Air Painters

To achieve free, direct handling, Hsin-Yao Tseng says it's impor­tant not to ...
Mike Hernandez, painting with gouache en plein air

Plein Air Painting with Gouache in Winter

Can you paint outdoors with gouache when it's below freezing? Mike Hernandez shares his tips here.
painting nocturnes

Bring Duct Tape …

... and seven more plein air painting tips from Gavin Glakas.
How to paint landscapes - Color Value - OutdoorPainter.com

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.
Plein air art supplies and paint boxes | OutdoorPainter.com

Plein Air Art Supplies: Choosing the Right Paint Box

Innovations to paint boxes have made the job of the plein air painter more practical and enjoyable. Check out the set-ups of 11 artists with their easels and paintboxes, and learn which may be the right one for you.
watercolor studio from plein air study

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."
Edge Pro Gear paintbox

The Best Palettes for Plein Air Painting

What’s the best palette for painters? We asked, and you answered! More than 25 artists share their favorites here (including DIY palettes).
Christine Lashley, "Evening Lights Charleston," 2023, oil, 36 x 60 in., Available from Principle Gallery Charleston, Studio from plein air studies

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.