Pleinairpril 2026 – My goals, curriculum, tips, & gear This will be my fifth year participating in Pleinairpril. What is PleinAirpril and how do you participate? My Goals for Pleinairpril 2026 Why Green? Inspiration in Theme My Curriculum for Pleinairpril 2026 My Guidelines My Painting Gear Pleinairpril 2026 Watch past years of my Pleinairpril studies What is PleinAirpril and how do you participate? Simply put: Paint or draw outside every day during April.

Creating a focused study plan for #Pleinairpril 2026.

Sketching Scotland Volume 02 – COMING SOON! ANNOUNCEMENT I'm currently editing the final draft of Volume 02 of my Sketching Scotland book series, and I'm planning To launch the Kickstarter in late April 2026. Stay tuned! I'll definitely announce the launch when it happens. I usually offer a discount and special art goodies for the Kickstarter backers. After the Kickstarter is over, the books will be in stock on my website at their full retail value. I'll also be reprinting Volume 01 at the same time, and restock those.

Sketching Scotland Volume 02 – COMING SOON!

ANNOUNCEMENT I'm currently editing the final draft of Volume 02 of my Sketching Scotland book series, and I'm planning To launch the Kickstarter in late April 2026. Stay tuned! I'll definitely announce the launch when it happens. I usually offer a…

My Favorite Sketchbooks as of 2026 A rundown of my favorite sketchbooks.

A closer look at my favorite sketchbooks as of 2026.

Nature Journaling: Small gouache studies I've been getting into nature journaling, and loving my gouache palette even more.

Nature Journaling: Small gouache studies

I've been getting into nature journaling, and loving my gouache palette even more.

Finding a Muse: An Artist and Her Tree(s) Ever since moving into our new home, I've been obsessed with this tree in the corner of the garden. Well, to be honest I have been thinking about it since we first viewed the house! What draws me to these trees? Painting my Tree (series) Watch the Video Supplies used during the video Technically, there are two trees, touching at the base.

Finding a Muse: An Artist and Her Tree(s)

Ever since moving into our new home, I've been obsessed with this tree in the corner of the garden. Well, to be honest I have been thinking about it since we first viewed the house! What draws me to these trees? Painting my Tree (series) Watch the Video…

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How to Return to Art (After a Long Break)

Some thoughts and advice for returning to art after a long break (with video).

fearlessbrush.com/2026/01/31/how-to-return...

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20 Days of Gouache

Sharing my supplies and experiences painting for 20 consecutive days with gouache.

fearlessbrush.com/2025/12/13/20-days-of-go...

Airtight Palettes for Gouache – Setup and Tips I might be one of the few people who need to specify liquid gouache vs. dried gouache palette setups when I talk to others - because I use both regularly! My dried gouache palette is not as common as I thought. When I share videos about my palettes on my YouTube channel I get so many questions about why, how, what - it made me realize that it's been a long time since I shared this type of setup.

Let's talk about using these "palette boxes" for gouache.

30 Consecutive Days of Plein Air Painting – My 3 Biggest Lessons Learned Painting every single day is not easy, and even less so when it's outdoors! You are at the mercy of the weather and light, and if one of those is not playing ball, things can crumble quickly. But the lessons gained from building the discipline of daily painting in challenging conditions are well worth the struggles. Every April I take part in the #PleinAirpril challenge - painting outside every day during April - and I feel myself grow quickly in a short time.

30 Consecutive Days of Plein Air Painting – My 3 Biggest Lessons Learned

Painting every single day is not easy, and even less so when it's outdoors! You are at the mercy of the weather and light, and if one of those is not playing ball, things can crumble quickly. But the lessons gained from…

Albi, France

Sarah Burns teaching painting workshop in France

Exploring medieval city in France

Painting workshop by Sarah Burns

I took a break from posting here because I went to France to teach a painting workshop! It was a life changing and beautiful, soul-filling adventure 🥰 I’ll share more once I process a bit more.

Passing squall in the Sound of Jura - plein air sketches in goretex and fingerless gloves weather

Watercolour on Two Rivers paper
300x200mm

Sarah Burns plein air

Forest painting plein air

Gouache Forest painting

Twisty tree

Day 30 of #pleinairpril Ending on a high note, the best weather and so inspired for my art retreat in France next week!
#gouache #pleinair

That color is nice and sticky

Architecture sketch

Old building

Forest plein air gouache

Plein air kit

Days 28-29 of #pleinairpril this kit has served me well all month (there were some minor tweaks here and there). I feel all warmed up for summer.

#gouache #pleinair

Gouache landscape study

Closeup gouache landscape

Closeup gouache landscape

Plein air gouache inside car

Day 27 of #pleinairpril is a little stormy but a great view for studying greens.
#gouache #pleinair

Gouache forest painting

Gouache Forest plein air

Days 25-26 of #pleinairpril in my happy place 🥰
#gouache #pleinair #forestrherapy

Today painting plein air at Borth y Gest in North Wales. Remembered my phone today but forgot my tripod. Painted on Millford paper with Schmincke watercolours. #pleinair #watercolour #art #schmincke #borthygest

Value study coastal cliffs

Coastal cliffs

Gouache painting of Scotland coastal cliffs

Closeup gouache study of coastal cliffs

Days 23-24 of #pleinairpril on the coast exploring cliffs for days!
Day 23 - value study
Day24 - gouache study

#gouache #pleinair #scotland

Gouache sketch coastal rocks

Gouache sketch coastal rocks

Gouache coastal study

Scotland coast

Day 22 of #pleinairpril Lil gouache sketches #gouache #pleinair

Gouache landscape

Gouache garden sketch

Auchindoun Castle

Painting at Auchindoun Castle

Days 18-21 of #pleinairpril Lots of garden sketching and a castle 😎
#gouache

Plein air coast painting

Plein air gouache landscape

Plein air gouache coast painting

Sarah burns

Days 15-17 of #pleinairpril It’s been a little stormy lately, but today the wind was not as icy and I got a glimpse of that summer feeling 🥰
#gouache #pleinair

Gouache plein air study Scotland

Gouache plein air study Scotland

Gouache plein air study Scotland

Scotland highlands

Day 14 of #pleinairpril the fields are slowly shifting to green. I love this combination of colors! I managed two study’s before rain chased me away. Need to return to this spot. #gouache #pleinair

River painting

Sarah Burns plein air painting

Gouache plein air closeup

Spey River kayaking

Day 13 of #pleinairpril was chilly 🥶 I caught the only bit of sun before the clouds rolled in. As I was packing up these kayakers went by, might need to paint that in the future! Love the pop of red.
#gouache #pleinair #pleinairpril2025

Thank you ☺️

Gouache sketch

Gouache Forest sketch

Forest stream

Quick gouache forest sketch, so tired! #gouache Day 12 of #pleinairpril almost halfway through.

Thanks so much!

Urban sketching watercolor

Urban sketching watercolor

Elgin capital

Any excuse to use turquoise! I’m game 😎 Day 11 of #pleinairpril

Dome = Phthlalo turquoise, white gouache and lots of water.

Stone = Potters pink, buff titanium, water

Details = potters pink, ultramarine

Splashy wave paintings

Gouache wave paintings

Gouache wave splashing

Plein air sketching in Scotland

Day 10 of #pleinairpril The colors of the sea were mental! #pleinair #gouache #pleinairpril2025

Elgin Cathedral

Sketching at Elgin cathedral

Sketching at Elgin cathedral

Elgin cathedral

Day 09 of #pleinairpril Sketched between errands.
Love this combo of water soluble graphite and ink brush pen. #urbansketching #scotland

Thank you!