Aaron Schuerr
Aaron is an internationally recognised plein air artist who works in pastel and oils.
Livingston, Montana artist Aaron Schuerr has embarked on solo plein air painting treks across the Grand Canyon, over the Beartooth Mountains, and deep into the alpine wilderness areas of Montana and Colorado. He also makes regular trips to the coast, painting and teaching workshops in Maui and along the California coast.
“To be a plein air painter is to be nimble and ready to change plans based on conditions.”
He has been a guest on The Kelly Clarkson Show, interviewed about his plein air paintings. His work has been featured in publications as diverse as The Daily Telegraph, The Times of London, Bored Panda, My Modern Met, Southwest Art, Art of the West, Big Sky Journal, Western Art and Architecture and Plein Air Magazine. Schuerr is a frequent contributing writer to The Pastel Journal and The Artist Magazine and has penned a cover article for Plein Air Magazine. He was awarded “Best Pastel” for the 2022 Plein Air Salon for a coastal plein air pastel and has won numerous awards for the Laguna Beach Plein Air Painting Invitational, including The Seascape Award in 2023. He is represented by The Legacy Gallery, Illume Gallery West, Montana Trails Gallery, and Huse/Skelly Fine Art Gallery. Schuerr resides in Livingston, Montana with his wife and three sons.
Master Class Information
Master Class No 1 – “Fresh and Direct Plein Air Pastel”
Thursday 25 & Friday 26 September 2025 (plein air)
Peel Region, Western Australia
From thumbnail sketches to finished painting, we will explore the possibilities of landscape painting. Learn to paint it in a way that is direct, simple, fresh, and honest. Engage in fun exercises designed to focus on value, color, and shape. From that foundation, you’ll explore edges, atmospheric perspective, color and shape relationships, composition, and mood. We’ll talk about ways to get the most out of your colors. Most importantly you’ll learn to paint with greater intention.
Through demos, group discussions, composition walks, painting exercises, and plenty of individual instruction, you will learn to approach the landscape in enthusiasm and confidence. We will focus on plein air painting, but we will explore strategies to plan studio paintings from plein air studies. This workshop is open to pastel and oil, but demos will be in pastel.
Two Days $440
Includes Morning Tea, BYO lunch
Master Class No 2 – “From Plein Air to Studio”
Wednesday 24 September 2025 (studio)
Mandurah, Western Australia
How can you take a favourite plein air painting and plan a larger studio painting from it?
How can you preserve the freshness of the study while strengthening the idea?
In this class we’ll play with possibilities. (Emphasis on play!)
Through thumbnail sketches and small studies you’ll explore different aspects of the composition to arrive at an idea that is exciting and personal to your experience. I’ll finish the day with a brief introduction to charcoal preparatory drawing as an effective planning step. I call it my “what if” step. It’s a low-consequence high yield medium that helps me quickly play with different possibilities before diving into a large painting. I’ve learned taking a few extra steps before diving into a studio painting actually saves me time in the long run. It’s worth the trouble!
One Day $230
Includes Morning Tea, BYO lunch
Demonstration Information
Live Pastel Demonstration, Saturday 27th September, 1pm
How can you take a favourite plein air painting and plan a larger studio painting from it?
- What makes a strong composition?
- How is the preparatory drawing done?
- How are colour choices determined?
During Aaron Schuerr’s live theatre presentation, he will demonstrate how he begins his pastel painting, and the steps and techniques he uses to create a masterful artwork.
Registration $40
Mandurah Performing Arts Centre, Fishtrap Theatre
Note: Fully Registered Artists – DO NOT REGISTER as this is already included in your Access All Areas Pass.
