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.

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.
Mark Fehlman, painting en plein air

Are You Talented Enough to be a Painter?

TLDR: Yes! But keep reading to see what these seven plein air painters had to say when I asked them for their responses to a question that all creatives hear in their minds at some point.
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.
Plein Air Tips - Carrie Curran, painting the Indiana Dunes

18 Plein Air Tips for Beginners

Check out this helpful list of tips from Carrie Curran, who lays out what you should do before painting, advice for sketching your scene, and steps for success.
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.

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.
The 10 Most Common Mistakes Painters Make | OutdoorPainter.com

The 10 Most Common Mistakes Painters Make

Tackle these common issues to start making better paintings sooner rather than later with this painting advice from John Cosby.
art supplies for plein air painters

The Hottest Plein Air Art Supplies of the Season

We always need more art supplies - like, always. Here are some the most popular colors, surfaces, paint brushes, frames on the market now. You're welcome!
How to paint landscapes - Michael Chesley Johnson - OutdoorPainter.com

How to Paint Landscapes: Dominance in Painting

Michael Chesley Johnson gives you three questions to consider before you dip your brush in the paint in this guest post on how to paint landscapes.
How to paint clouds en plein air - OutdoorPainter.com

How to Paint Clouds en Plein Air

The unique challenge of painting clouds is that, unlike other landscape elements, they’re in constant motion. Learn how to choose the right moment for painting clouds en plein air.
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."
Plein air landscape painting

Plein Air Painting and the Need for Speed

Do you feel pressured to paint faster when en plein air? If you're tempted to practice the "smash and grab" technique, you might want to think twice. Here's why.
drawing architecture landcapes - Thom Rozendaal

Architectural Subjects: To Paint or Draw?

When this artist approaches architecture as a subject in the landscape, certain factors determine if the resulting art will be a drawing or a painting. See why...
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.