The website howtopaintpleinair.com, curated by artist Robert Lewis, serves as a comprehensive educational hub for plein air painters of all skill levels, offering a blend of technical instruction, equipment guidance, and philosophical insight,.

Extensive Instructional Content and Techniques

The site provides a structured approach to mastering the complex art of painting on location. It offers foundational “How To” guides that break down the painting process into manageable pieces:

  • Step-by-Step Building: It features tutorials such as the “3 Basic Steps of ‘Building’ a Plein Air Painting,” which helps artists manage the overwhelming visual data of the outdoors,.
  • Color Mastery: The site delves into specific color strategies, including color block studies and instructions on mixing the Zorn Palette, a limited palette favored for its harmony and simplicity in the field,.
  • Aesthetic Focus: There is a distinct emphasis on the tactile quality of the medium, with popular content focusing on “Creating Delicious Brushwork” to ensure paintings are as engaging up close as they are from a distance,.

Guidance on Specialized Equipment

A significant portion of the website is dedicated to the logistical side of the practice—managing the gear required to work in nature.

  • Easel Deep-Dives: The site provides detailed reviews and historical context for essential workstations, such as the French Easel (the “workhorse” of the industry) and Pochade Box Easels (designed for “pocket-style” travel and portability),.
  • DIY and Practical Solutions: For artists looking to build their own gear, the site offers materials lists and instructions for constructing a wet canvas carrier, as well as reviews of simple but effective tools like canvas brush carriers and umbrellas,,.

Overcoming Field Challenges

Beyond simple technique, the website addresses the unique environmental and mental hurdles of plein air painting, categorized under “Plein Air Challenges”,.

  • Light Management: It teaches artists how to handle the “Golden Hour” through tutorials like “Sunrise, Sunset: Painting Ahead of the Sun,” which provides strategies for capturing light that changes every few minutes.
  • Nocturnes: The site offers specific guidance for the “fear of the dark” in plein air nocturnes, helping artists navigate the difficulties of painting night scenes on location.
  • Logistical Reminders: For those heading out into the field, the site provides checklists like “12 Things to Remember when Painting on Location” to ensure no critical steps or supplies are forgotten,.

Multimedia and Community Resources

The website utilizes various formats to cater to different learning styles:

  • Video Content: Painters can watch time-lapse videos of paintings being created (such as “Mission Ranch”) or access video reviews of other experts, like Roy Boswell’s “10 Easy Tips”,.
  • Points of View: Philosophical essays like “Mind Over Matte” and “Maps Over Matter” challenge artists to think more deeply about the definition and spirit of their craft,.
  • Free Entry Points: For beginners, the site offers a “Start Here” section and a free eBook upon newsletter signup, which serves as an “essential get-started guide” to tools and supplies,.

Why Painters Should Use It

Plein air painters should utilize this resource because it functions as a virtual mentorship. It doesn’t just teach one how to apply paint; it teaches how to survive and thrive in the outdoor environment. Whether an artist needs to know which hardware to buy for a DIY project, how to mix a limited palette for better harmony, or how to psychologically prepare for the fast-paced nature of a sunset session, the site provides practical, field-tested solutions to the specific problems that studio-based tutorials often ignore,,.