Description

Book Synopsis
Take your plein air artwork to the next level through easy-to-understand workshop-style lessons and skill-building exercises.

In Plein Air Techniques for Artists, award-winning artist and respected workshop instructor Aimee Erickson demystifies how to capture a variety of light effects and guides you in strengthening your plein air skills through practice. This accessible book covers:
 
  • Materials and gear. Gain a basic knowledge of the possibilities so you can keep your options open and your plein air process fresh.
  • Composition and value. Explore the impact of proportion, color, value, line, edges, shape, and texture.
  • Color. Consider how knowledge and intention, your color palette, and what you see—your perspective—take turns being in charge of the color game, inventing rules and finding solutions.
  • Light effects. Learn how conditions of the day—how much light there is,

    Trade Review
    "Award-winning oil painter Erickson’s devotion to sharing her love of plein air painting techniques is clear from the first pages of this book. This resource is a great addition to crafts collections. Suitable for both experienced artists and novices interested in this artistic practice." * Library Journal *
    "Aimee Erickson demystifies how to capture a variety of light effects—from sunlight and shadow to nighttime—and every glisten and glimmer in between. Her friendly tone and accessible workshop-syyle lessons and skill-building exercises offer artists down-to-earth guidance on painting more effectively in natural light. Exceptional still lifes, figures and landscapes by noted contemporary plein air artists provide endless inspiration." * Artists Magazine *

    Table of Contents
    CONTENTS
    Introduction
    Finding “The Zone”
    1 MATERIALS AND GEAR
    What’s Your Medium?
    Brushes and Brushstrokes
    Supports: Canvas, Panels, and Paper
    Plein Air Painting Kit
    2 COMPOSITION AND VALUE
    Making Interesting Compositions
    Black and White
    Sketchbook Exercise: Notan
    Value
    Exercise: Simplified Value Studies
    3 COLOR
    Speaking of Color . . .
    Color Exercises
    Exercise: A Color Chart, Emphasizing Value
    Exercise: Color Ladders
    Limited Palettes
    Color Development of Value Studies
    SUNLIGHT AND SHADOW
    Seeing Skills: Shift Your Perception
    Light, Shadow, and Color
    Demonstration: Light and Shadow
    on Architecture
    Where to Start
    Exercise: The Color of Light
    Raking Light
    Technique: Stain It, Draw It, Paint It
    Perspective
    Foreground Solutions
    5 INDIRECT LIGHT
    Dappled and Filtered Light
    Technique: Starting with
    a Mid-Tone Canvas
    Demonstration: Large Scale Work
    Demonstration: Dappled Afternoon Light
    Overcast Light
    Demonstration: A Two-Session Painting
    Technique: Cutting In
    Painting Makeover: Light and Shadow
    Relationships
    Technique: Using a Broad Brush
    Shade and Reflected Light
    6 BACKLIGHT
    Rim Light
    Contre-Jour: Against the Light
    Transmitted Light
    Technique: A Loose Start
    Painting Makeover: Perspective

Plein Air Techniques for Artists

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    £16.14

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    RRP £18.99 – you save £2.85 (15%)

    Order before 4pm today for delivery by Thu 16 Jul 2026.

    A Paperback / softback by Aimee Erickson

    5 in stock

      Trusted by thousands of customers. See 2,385+ Customer Reviews

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      Publisher: Quarto Publishing Group USA Inc
      Publication Date: 06/04/2023
      ISBN13: 9780760379356, 978-0760379356
      ISBN10: 0760379351
      Also in:
      Art & Photography Oils Hobbies, Games & Quizzes Painting, drawing and art manuals

      Description

      Book Synopsis
      Take your plein air artwork to the next level through easy-to-understand workshop-style lessons and skill-building exercises.

      In Plein Air Techniques for Artists, award-winning artist and respected workshop instructor Aimee Erickson demystifies how to capture a variety of light effects and guides you in strengthening your plein air skills through practice. This accessible book covers:
       
      • Materials and gear. Gain a basic knowledge of the possibilities so you can keep your options open and your plein air process fresh.
      • Composition and value. Explore the impact of proportion, color, value, line, edges, shape, and texture.
      • Color. Consider how knowledge and intention, your color palette, and what you see—your perspective—take turns being in charge of the color game, inventing rules and finding solutions.
      • Light effects. Learn how conditions of the day—how much light there is,

        Trade Review
        "Award-winning oil painter Erickson’s devotion to sharing her love of plein air painting techniques is clear from the first pages of this book. This resource is a great addition to crafts collections. Suitable for both experienced artists and novices interested in this artistic practice." * Library Journal *
        "Aimee Erickson demystifies how to capture a variety of light effects—from sunlight and shadow to nighttime—and every glisten and glimmer in between. Her friendly tone and accessible workshop-syyle lessons and skill-building exercises offer artists down-to-earth guidance on painting more effectively in natural light. Exceptional still lifes, figures and landscapes by noted contemporary plein air artists provide endless inspiration." * Artists Magazine *

        Table of Contents
        CONTENTS
        Introduction
        Finding “The Zone”
        1 MATERIALS AND GEAR
        What’s Your Medium?
        Brushes and Brushstrokes
        Supports: Canvas, Panels, and Paper
        Plein Air Painting Kit
        2 COMPOSITION AND VALUE
        Making Interesting Compositions
        Black and White
        Sketchbook Exercise: Notan
        Value
        Exercise: Simplified Value Studies
        3 COLOR
        Speaking of Color . . .
        Color Exercises
        Exercise: A Color Chart, Emphasizing Value
        Exercise: Color Ladders
        Limited Palettes
        Color Development of Value Studies
        SUNLIGHT AND SHADOW
        Seeing Skills: Shift Your Perception
        Light, Shadow, and Color
        Demonstration: Light and Shadow
        on Architecture
        Where to Start
        Exercise: The Color of Light
        Raking Light
        Technique: Stain It, Draw It, Paint It
        Perspective
        Foreground Solutions
        5 INDIRECT LIGHT
        Dappled and Filtered Light
        Technique: Starting with
        a Mid-Tone Canvas
        Demonstration: Large Scale Work
        Demonstration: Dappled Afternoon Light
        Overcast Light
        Demonstration: A Two-Session Painting
        Technique: Cutting In
        Painting Makeover: Light and Shadow
        Relationships
        Technique: Using a Broad Brush
        Shade and Reflected Light
        6 BACKLIGHT
        Rim Light
        Contre-Jour: Against the Light
        Transmitted Light
        Technique: A Loose Start
        Painting Makeover: Perspective

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