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The color block study is a foundational exercise designed to simplify the visual field by using geometric shapes to isolate color relationships from complex details like anatomy or texture. This method emphasizes observational honesty, requiring the artist to record “color spots” as they are actually perceived under specific atmospheric conditions rather than relying on mental assumptions about an object’s color. By practicing with flat shapes of color on simple cardboard blocks, one learns how light models form and how colors shift in relation to their neighbors. Ultimately, these studies serve as a “color lab,” training the eye to recognize the true color of light across various environments, much like a navigator uses a compass to find North.

The artist hunkers down to prioritize presence over output. One rejects clinical precision for observational honesty. Authenticity is found only in the field under shifting light. Style is the residue of consistent practice....

In this video, artist Roy Boswell from Plein Air School shares 10 practical tips to improve your landscape painting quickly, accompanied by a live plein air demonstration.

The artist constructs a custom carrier using clean, sturdy cardboard and 1/4” square dowels to transport wet paintings. One ensures the safety of the paint by leaving wiggle room between the dowels, accommodating the depth of...

Pochade-style box easels evolved from an older concept, the pochade (from French poche, pocket) box, a hand held box that holds a small palette and a small canvas. These are designed for travel and allow an artist to carry all...