Preview the newest issue of PleinAir Magazine with the Editor’s Letter:
‘Tis the Season
On the day I’m writing this note, temperatures are expected to drop into the single digits here in my part of Kentucky. Outside my office window, the occasional flurry passes by. Winter is here.

And the timing couldn’t be more perfect. I’ve just finished proofing this issue’s Plein Air Portfolio, which features 18 stunning snowy landscapes. And for this warm-weather gal, that’s the best way to experience winter. Still, I admire those intrepid plein air painters who brave the elements to give us their unique takes on the season. If you’re up for it, Melanie Barash Levitt and Shari Blaukopf share their best tips for painting outdoors in the snow in The Elements column.
“The most magical experiences I’ve had plein air painting have been in the winter, when snow covers the tree branches and all is quiet in the landscape,” says Melanie. “Shrouded in white, the terrain allows for direct observation of interesting light, shadow, and reflections of color.”
Of course, not all of our readers see snow in winter. In “A Global View,” we visit five top plein air painters around the world to discover what inspires them and how outdoor painting is practiced where they live. The news from the field is mixed. While plein air painters in Russia, Malaysia, and Australia benefit from rich outdoor painting traditions, with both institutional and popular support for their efforts, artists in Africa and Belgium find it a lonely pursuit.
Perhaps they can take a page from California artist Kathleen Dunphy’s plein air playbook. In “A Shared Adventure,” she details nine tips for taking your dog with you for companionship and security on your outdoor painting excursions. Over her 25 years of painting outdoors, she’s had a series of dogs who have accompanied her, including Ellie, her 12-year-old Mastiff Lab mix. In this special feature, you can meet Ellie and learn how to make trips with your own dog fun, safe, and productive.

Meanwhile, back in Kentucky, those flurries have turned into a full-fledged winter storm. And speaking of dogs, my own rescue pup, Millie, is whining at my office door, anxious to go out and play in the snow. It turns out this young hunting dog who wouldn’t hunt is a great hiking partner herself. She’s completed several winter journeys with my husband, including the Bartram Trail that starts in Georgia and ends in North Carolina where it meets the Appalachian Trail, and the first four segments of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail (excluding the portions in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park that prohibit dogs), from Clingman’s Dome on the border of Tennessee and North Carolina, to Beacon Heights.
Whether you’re up for an adventure this winter like Melanie, Shari, Ellie, and Millie, or settling down for some indoor creative work like me, you’re sure to appreciate Lon Brauer’s prompt in “Familiarity Breeds Growth.” It’s the perfect exercise to keep you busy and inspired in the studio or on location.
So grab a mug of something warm, and dive in. There’s much in this issue to explore. And I’ll see you all in the spring, when I come out of hibernation for the Plein Air Convention & Expo in Lake Tahoe-Reno.
Show PleinAir Magazine Your Furry Painting Companions
We’d love to see pics of all those adventurous canines who tag along with you on your painting excursions (and the leisurely variety who curl up at your feet, as well). And we can’t forget about all those studio kitties. Let us see them, too! Send your pics to me at [email protected], and we’ll share them in a future newsletter or social media post.
Helpful Links: