There’s no doubt being part of a community has incredible benefits. We often hear of successful plein air painting societies and associations, but what if you don’t live anywhere near an existing group that meets in person? Maybe it’s time to consider starting one yourself. 

“Gather a few like-minded artists together for lunch and talk about why you want to do this.” That’s the advice of Barbara Rallo, co-chair of EnPleinAirTEXAS. “Be honest about how daunting painting outdoors seems to artists who have never done it before and how important support and encouragement are for the success of the group.”

Lynn Gertenbach, “Moonrise, Malibu Creek,” 24×20 in., oil on canvas, available at StephaniesGallery.com

They’ve been so successful that they’re now offering artist fellowships that offer members the opportunity to paint and live on a private ranch for three weeks. 

Starting your own plein air group can be as easy as picking a date and location and promoting it as a casual paint-out. Getting the word out is crucial — consider setting up a public Facebook event and putting up fliers at local shops, libraries, colleges, etc. Another idea is to host a plein air class through your local library or community center.

Either way, the key is to gather contact information from the folks who show up — you’ll want a reliable way to get in touch with them about future events. These are the founding members of your new plein air group!

“A group exponentially brings the opportunity to connect, learn, grow, and sell,” said Mary Longe, organizer of the Plein Air Painters of Chicago (PAPC). “There are several types of plein air groups, and if you know what you want to accomplish, you can create it.

Lynn Gertenbach, “Leo Carillo Cove,” oil on board, 9×12 in. available at StephaniesGallery.com

“PAPC was started in 2003 by a band of artists who wanted to paint together, and did. That is the simplest and least complicated group” — people with similar interests identifying places and painting together.

“Over time the group grew,” Mary continued, “adding people with diverse education, training, and experience in art and plein air painting, but there was frustration with the lack of direction and an appetite for more activities. After several meetings, we determined that we all wanted to paint, and no organization or bureaucracy should get in the way of that. Bottom line, we decided we were and are about four things — painting, improving painting, bringing visibility and selling our paintings, and camaraderie.

“Because of our growth, we chose to become part of the Palette and Chisel, which now handles our finances and covers liability … Our governance structure now includes committee leads for painting locations, education, exhibits/events, finance, and membership.”

One of the benefits of a thriving group is being able to inspire and learn from each other – and to sell paintings! Each year EnPleinAirTEXAS holds a members’ competition and group show (above). It’s not as hard as you might think to find a home for shows and sales.

In addition to camaraderie, PAPC members enjoy paint-outs, workshops, critiques, guest artists, annual exhibitions, and pop-up sales.

The benefits of being in a plein air group range far and wide, as any member will likely tell you.

“The support that has come from a small group of artists painting weekly together outdoors, or in someone’s studio, is amazing,” said Barbara Rallo. “We begin to feel like family, with encouragement and sharing of skills and ideas.

Lynn Gertenbach, “Ride at Golden Hills,” oil on canvas, 18 x 24 in., available at StephaniesGallery.com

“We have a monthly group, PASA (Plein Air San Angelo), who gather for lunch and bring paintings we are working on, or have done — we have a volunteer ‘show & tell,’ talk art, encourage each other and especially new artists. Only a small percentage of that group wants to paint outdoors on a regular basis, but the monthly gathering keeps us all connected and encourages some of them to eventually join us outside!

“A group show is in the works to give us an incentive to make progress and finish paintings. We may all never be on the plein air circuit with the artists who do that for a living, but we are becoming better artists and have a strong support network and we are happy watching our group get stronger — seeing the fruits of our gatherings.”

Related Article > The Challenges of Starting a Plein Air Group

Featured paintings in this issue are by Lynn Gertenbach. A beloved painter and mentor who passed away in 2023, Lynn was known for her vibrant and energetic style and was a significant figure in the plein air painting movement and a prominent member of the Plein-Air Painters of America. She packed nearly 4 decades of experience creating top-notch plein air landscapes in just ONE HOUR into her professional teaching video, The One Hour Plein Air Landscape,  still available here online.

Lynn Gertenbach, “Illumination”

Her more methodical and wide-ranging video demonstration, “Illumination,” is also available here.

And get ready for PLEIN AIR LIVE, the annual online multi-day event for all things plein air. November 6-8, 2025. Suitable for beginner to intermediate-level painters, it’s the premier online plein air event, now in its 6th year. Paint better landscapes in just three days – learn from 20+ world-class artists. Register today.