PleinAir Magazine

Get your PleinAir Magazine digital subscription today and join tens of thousands of artists and collectors who have joined a new plein air movement. Rooted in a deep history, each bi-monthly issue, edited by Kelly Kane, chronicles important events and spotlights today’s master artists, their techniques, the collectors who follow them, as well as the historic artists who came before them.

PLEIN AIR Heritage

PleinAir Magazine

A Movement at a Crossroads

Fifteen Years and Counting

15 Ways Plein Air Painting Is Evolving • As the time - honored practice of painting directly from nature enters a new era, artists are reimagining its traditions to reflect a changing world — one more connected, inclusive, and dynamic than ever.

Tiny Treasures

Considered Spontaneity • Drawing on a lifelong connection to nature, this Wisconsin artist brings familiar landscapes to life with bold brushwork rooted in careful observation and design.

DEMONSTRATION: CAPTURING LIGHT AND ATMOSPHERE

The Making of a Painter • How a rainy afternoon, a stack of Walter Foster books, and the guidance of Richard Schmid set Daniel Gerhartz on the path to a lifelong career in art.

FROM FIELD TO STUDIO: PEGGY’S COVE

The Big Picture • For Jim McVicker, Bethann Moran-Handzlik, and Cynthia Rosen, working large on location isn’t just about size — it’s about deepening their connection to nature itself.

A Fellowship of Discovery • What began as a modest backpacking trip has grown into annual adventures that blend friendship, inspiration, and the thrill of painting the high country.

INSIDE CHINA’S PLEIN AIR RENAISSANCE • From ancient masters to modern plein air bases, outdoor painting has become part of the Middle Kingdom’s cultural identity. Following a month-long tour, the publisher of PleinAir Magazine reveals the nation’s artists, traditions, and innovations reshaping the global plein air movement.

15 Ways to Take Your Art to the Next Level • To celebrate the decade and a half of wisdom shared in the pages of PleinAir Magazine, we mined our archives for 15 timeless takeaways guaranteed to help you grow as an artist.

The Power of Practice • What could you gain from showing up at the easel every day? Eve Miller reveals how developing a daily painting routine transformed her art — and the simple steps you can take to do the same.

DEMONSTRATION: BUILDING ATMOSPHERE FROM THE GROUND UP

PleinAir SALON • ESTEEMED ARTIST NATASHA ISENHOUR NAMES HER TOP PICKS FROM THE AUGUST COMPETITION.

PleinAir SALON • ABIGAIL MCBRIDE, DIRECTOR OF MCBRIDE GALLERY, UNVEILS THE TOP PAINTINGS FROM THE SEPTEMBER COMPETITION.

From Pages to Pixels: Celebrating 15 Years of PleinAir’s Reach

Events

Postcards from the Road

PleinAir Magazine

PUBLISHER’S LETTER

A COLLECTOR’S AND ARTIST’S GUIDE TO GREATNESS • In honor of PleinAir Magazine’s 15th anniversary, we’ve compiled 15 qualities that artists and collectors can use to identify the traits that elevate a painting from simply successful to truly exceptional.

The Best of the Best • A look at some of the award-winning work created at plein air events across the country in 2025.

2026 CALENDAR OF EVENTS

2026 HIGHLIGHTED EVENTS

A New Year of Painting Adventures