Plein Air Oil Painting for Beginners: Paint Outdoors
A course by Yo RühmerIllustrator
A course by Yo Rühmer, Illustrator
Study shapes, light, and colors in the open air and learn to capture the atmosphere and mood of a place with brushes and oil paints
The French expression "en plein air" refers to the act of painting outdoors, which, according to illustrator Yo Rühmer, is the best studio in the world, as well as the most beautiful. She loves creating her art in the great outdoors and encourages people to move their studios out in nature. She has managed to build a community around this concept using the hashtag #maleinfachdraußen (just paint outdoors), which is also the title of her first book in German about plein air painting.
In this course, learn how to capture the atmosphere and fleeting light of a landscape while painting in situ. Yo teaches you everything you need to know to start painting and create open-air art. For the final project, search for your subject in nature, plant your studio there, and depict what's in front of you using oil paints. By the end of the course, you'll be able to set up a workspace anywhere and effortlessly recreate your surroundings on canvas.
What will you learn in this online course?
17 lessons & 23 downloads
materials
9 minutes, 11 seconds
The colors 1
15 minutes, 35 seconds
The colors 2
13 minutes, 1 second
Introduction to the alla prima painting style 1
14 minutes, 58 seconds
Introduction to Alla Prima painting 2
17 minutes, 3 seconds
School of vision: painting pochades 1
18 minutes, 8 seconds
What's included in this course?
Meet your teacher for the course, illustrator Yo Rühmer. She explains how plein air painting has helped her explore her creativity, describes the role nature plays in her work, and shares the artists who have inspired her and continue to do so.
Begin with the basics and see the materials you need and how to set up your open-air studio. Discover how to work with oil paints and practice mixing colors with a few exercises. Next, get an introduction to the alla prima painting technique. Learn to apply color in layers and experiment with brush strokes to create a full composition. Using a reference photo, Yo also teaches you how to simplify complex scenes so you can quickly paint them and capture the moment before the light shifts.
Now it's time to head outside and paint your first plein-air work of art. Once you've found the right location and landscape, Yo guides you step by step through the painting process, showing you where to start and how to complete your composition in under a couple of hours. Finish with the finer details and focus on accurately recreating light and shadows on the canvas before taking a last look at your piece to make sure nothing is missing.
Wrap things up by photographing your artwork in situ to share on Instagram. Yo also gives you some useful tips on how to transport your still-wet painting and take it home.
What is this course's project?
Join your teacher outdoors and paint a park landscape on a 30 x 24 cm canvas using oil paints.
Projects by course students
Who is this online course for?
This course is for anyone who wants to paint in the great outdoors, whether they're just getting started with oil paints or already have some experience.
It's also great for illustrators who want to improve their technique through observation and urban artists interested in branching out beyond line drawing.
Requirements and materials
No prior knowledge is needed to take this course.
As for materials, you need an easel, a backpack, warm clothing, oil paints, additives, a palette, brushes, palette knives, and a cloth canvas.
Reviews
- 3 months ago
Für mich einer der besten Mal-Kurse hier auf Domestika. Yo ist nicht nur eine exzellente Landschaftsmalerin, sondern auch eine grossartige Lehrerin, die ihren Malprozess Schritt für Schritt erläutert und viele hilfreiche Tipps gibt. Dieser Kurs ist für Anfänger absolut empfehlenswert, wobei ich sicher bin, dass er auch für fortgeschrittene Landschaftsmaler eine echte Bereicherung sein kann. Es lohnt sich übrigens unbedingt, Yo Rühmer auf Instagram zu folgen (@yomalt).
- 4 months ago
I very much enjoyed how Yo Rühmer explained and showed the tools and how and why she use them and also how she showed and explained all the important and foundational steps in a slow and simple way, before diving into a final painting. Yo has an easy pedagogical way of doing so. I liked this course very much and I am happy to recommend it.
- 1 year ago
La docente propone un corso adatto a tutti i livelli. I passaggi sono spiegati in modo semplice ed essenziale. Mi piacerebbe consolidare con altri corsi.
- 1 year ago
me encanto este curso!
- 1 year ago
Das Beste was ich bisher an Kursen gesehen habe. Es wäre gut in diesem Stil weitere Kurse anzubieten
While many people have a misguided conception about oil painting and consider it to be a complex discipline that's difficult to learn, she views it as a free-form technique that allows her to enjoy the creative process without the need for perfection. What she loves most is that it puts her in the here and now and gives her the opportunity to experience her surroundings with all five senses. Through plein air painting, Yo has learned a great deal about light and color, which she always incorporates into her illustrations.
Content
- U1
introduction
- About me and course content
- inspirations
- U2
Preparation: materials, painting course and vision school
- materials
- The colors 1
- The colors 2
- Introduction to the alla prima painting style 1
- Introduction to Alla Prima painting 2
- School of vision: painting pochades 1
- School of vision: painting pochades 2
- U3
painting plein air
- Location, motif search and construction
- image start
- Build-up
- Details, end of picture and final corrections 1
- Details, end of picture and final corrections 2
- Details, end of picture and final corrections 3
- U4
post production
- Take a picture and then transport it
- Post your plein air picture on Instagram
- FP
Final project
- Painting outdoor scenes with oil for beginners
What to expect from a Domestika course
Learn at your own pace
Enjoy learning from home without a set schedule and with an easy-to-follow method. You set your own pace.
Learn from the best professionals
Learn valuable methods and techniques explained by top experts in the creative sector.
Meet expert teachers
Each expert teaches what they do best, with clear guidelines, true passion, and professional insight in every lesson.
Certificates
PLUSIf you're a Plus member, get a custom certificate signed by your teacher for every course. Share it on your portfolio, social media, or wherever you like.
Get front-row seats
Videos of the highest quality, so you don't miss a single detail. With unlimited access, you can watch them as many times as you need to perfect your technique.
Share knowledge and ideas
Ask questions, request feedback, or offer solutions. Share your learning experience with other students in the community who are as passionate about creativity as you are.
Connect with a global creative community
The community is home to millions of people from around the world who are curious and passionate about exploring and expressing their creativity.
Watch professionally produced courses
Domestika curates its teacher roster and produces every course in-house to ensure a high-quality online learning experience.
FAQs
This course is perfect for beginners and advanced painters who want to work outdoors with oils and explore the Alla Prima technique and Impressionism.
You’ll need oil paints, brushes, palette knives, a palette, an easel, a painting surface (like canvas), mediums, cleaning supplies, a backpack, and a transport box for wet paintings.
You’ll learn to analyze natural light and color moods, paint landscapes using Alla Prima, structure your compositions, select subjects, use materials efficiently, and present finished works.
No, the course is suitable for both beginners and advanced artists. Basic knowledge helps but isn’t required.
You’ll learn to observe lighting, apply tonal values deliberately, and mix colors to capture mood and atmosphere right on location.
Alla Prima means completing a painting wet-on-wet in a single session. It’s ideal for spontaneous Plein Air work and quickly capturing light and mood.
You can use special transport boxes or spacers to keep the painted surface from touching anything. Thumbtack methods or palette boxes help secure the painting safely.