Light hitting a field in a way that stops you cold.
A path through the trees that looks like it leads somewhere worth going. The world goes quiet, and something in you leans in.

That's the moment I paint for.

I'm Steve Puttrich, a plein air painter based in Holland, Michigan. I paint landscapes and portraits in oil, watercolor, and gouache, most of them outdoors, on location, in whatever weather the day hands me. I teach painters across the country to see more and paint less. And I write books for working artists about the part of the job nobody teaches.

If you've ever stood somewhere beautiful and felt something you couldn't name, we already have something in common.

Paintings
Original work from the field and the studio. The small bright thing standing against all that dark.
→ See available paintings

Workshops
Design gives clarity. Story gives meaning. Freshness gives life. Come learn to paint with intent, on location, without overworking.
→ Upcoming workshops

Books and Tools
Field guides for the working artist, and the Fairview Finder, the composition tool I built because I had a hard time seeing what mattered most.
→ Books | Fairview Finder