From the Latest Issue of PleinAir Magazine

PleinAir Magazine June/July 2026

Featured Artwork

Latest Articles

Art School Live with Eric Rhoads - how to fix your painting

Why Your Paintings Look “Off” and How to Fix Them

This Art School Live critique session with Eric Rhoads covers composition, values, focal point, edge control, and warm vs cool balance, with practical fixes like checking in black and white and simplifying clutter.
Wyatt Waters, artist and author of "The Watercolor Road"

Taking Care of Your Artistic Self Is Your Responsibility

At the most critical junctures, few, and sometimes no one, will believe ...
PleinAir Salon art competition - First Place Overall: J.M. Brodrick, “Southside,” acrylic, 30 x 24 in.

Why It Works: 5 Winning Paintings Explained

If you've been considering entering your work in an art competition, you'll want to take note of what these PleinAir Salon judges have said about their First Place choices.
Mixing greens in watercolor - James Faecke, "Bridge at Vilas Lagoons," 2020, watercolor, 11 x 15 in., Private collection, Plein air

Painting Wisconsin … in Watercolor

James Faecke shares the challenge and his solution to painting greens with watercolor, his plein air palette, and his personalized set of primaries.
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.
plein air watercolor painting of houses

Better With Time

Elements of wear and tear in Mat Barber Kennedy’s textural watercolors show signs of life and how we live it.
Salon Art Prize - Dave English, "Chief Joseph Medicine Crow," oil, 24 x 36 in.

The Salon Art Prize Monthly Winners Are …

Artist Cindy Baron has revealed her selections for the May 2026 Salon Art Prize. Cindy is nationally recognized in both watercolors and oils, painting the grand landscapes of the western mountains and coastal shorelines. Her top choices are ...
Brienne Brown, “Day for Exploring,” watercolor, 20 x 16 in, $2700, Available through the Illume Gallery of Fine Art

Watercolor Tip: Be Adaptable

Brienne Brown shares her approach to painting with watercolor in this quick tip for beginners.
James Hart Dyke, “Blast Light, El Capitan, Yosemite,” 2024, oil, 16 1/2 x 16 1/2 in., Private collection, Plein air

10 Mighty Mountains

Across centuries, artists have looked to high places for subjects that evoke awe, challenge perspective, and stir the spirit. From remote mountains and rugged cliffs to gently rolling hills, these scenes have long symbolized both grandeur and solitude. In this showcase, ten contemporary plein air painters continue that tradition, capturing the drama, mystery, and quiet majesty of the world’s elevated landscapes.
sketching en plein air - Paul Kratter 062022

Watch: Secrets of Sketching en Plein Air

In case you missed it, check out this interview below with Paul Kratter, who demonstrates helpful techniques for sketching en plein air.
To ensure she regularly paints from direct observation, Lyn Asselta uses this simply painting exercise each morning. It is to ...
Check out these July 2026 plein air painting events and opportunities, highlighting art shows throughout the U.S. Bonus: Catch this month's deadlines so you don't miss out on upcoming opportunities.
Because the diversity of cloud paintings is so unexpected, we offer the following practical advice for painting clouds and skies.
Forty-four invited artists took to NMWA's Sculpture Trail for a morning of live painting, music, and community celebration—drawing over 800 collectors and art enthusiasts. When the silent auction closed, total gross sales reached ...

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