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"Why do artists do it?” asks painter Russell Jewel. “Why do we bare our souls to the public and risk one person’s opinion?” His words capture the tension every artist feels when entering a juried event — the balance between vulnerability and ambition. But what makes a painting rise above the rest? What qualities make a viewer stop, linger, and fall in love? We turned to some of the art world’s most experienced judges, collectors, and curators to find out.

Sixteen invited plein air artists enjoyed painting colorful sunrises with warm temperatures and afternoon breezes during the 20th Annual Borrego Springs Plein Air Invitational. This year's winners are ...

George Billis of George Billis Galleries has revealed his selections for the January 2026 PleinAir Salon art competition. They are ...

In this episode of the Plein Air Podcast, discover Nathan Fowkes’s practical advice on daily studies, gouache plein air workflow, and storytelling design—insights ahead of his Plein Air Convention demo.

The series introduced students to the plein air tradition through brief art history lessons, live artist demonstrations, and hands-on outdoor painting sessions, culminating in a docent-led museum visit and a student paint-out in Balboa Park.

After painting with watercolor for two decades, Marc Grandbois shares why acrylic painting fills his needs for painting on location, and how it's the "perfect bridge."

Do you know why many of the top studio and plein air artists are exploring gouache? It's their portable studio in a tube – paint anywhere without solvents or setup. Gouache paints with the feel and flexibility of oil, yet dilutes to get the effects of watercolor.

Although I still sometimes set up my easel in the snow in early spring, for the past 10 years I’ve increasingly painted wintry landscapes from my car. I’ve become so used to it that I can now work fairly large — as big as a quarter sheet of watercolor paper (11 x 15 inches). It may seem awkward, but I’ve been doing this for so long that it’s actually become one of my favorite places to paint. Here's how I do it, and my advice for plein air painting in winter.

Inspired by Southeast Asia, Bob Masla explores watercolor, Sumi-e, and Notan studies that reveal the strength of values, brushwork, and design.

Combining gouache and oil might sound unlikely, but the two can form a powerful partnership when handled correctly. Raymond Bonilla treats gouache like a painter’s utility knife: a fast, forgiving tool to build a value and temperature map. The result is a workflow that speeds decision making, reduces solvent use, and gives the finished piece both vibrancy and painterly texture.

Master Artist Debra Joy Groesser has revealed her selections for the December 2025 PleinAir Salon art competition. They are ...

On Making the Switch From Watercolor to Pastel Painting > Jill Stefani Wagner, who is on the faculty of the 2026 Plein Air Convention ...

This week at Watercolor Live, Italian artist Massimiliano Iocco painted for us a street scene from the village of Tagliacozzo, Italy.

We hope you enjoy these renditions of the sky and find inspiration for this moment, and for the next time you approach this timeless subject.

Discover the art of painting with gouache en plein air with expert tips and techniques from Bernard Dellario. Perfect for artists of all skill levels!

Painting en plein air requires you to engage all five senses. As an actor within a dynamic environment, you impart a unique energy and freshness to your work.

Winter landscape paintings captivate us with their serene beauty, transforming the familiar into scenes of quiet wonder.

Master Artist William A. Schneider has revealed his selections for the November 2025 PleinAir Salon art competition. They are ...

As a plein air artist, you are part of one of the largest art movements in history. In this "plein air heritage" series, learn about ...

Working on a surface 12 x 16 inches or smaller allows artists to respond quickly to shifting light and fleeting moments. Quick doesn’t mean easy, though ...