Plein Air Painting With Elora

by 78 Comments
September 24, 2026 78

While in New Zealand, I did a bit of plein air painting with my daughter Elora. She has been showing a keen interest in art and this was her first time trying her hand at plein air and working in oils. She’s a natural! I didn’t start plein air oil painting until I was an adult, so she’s getting a great head start. I imagine one day she will be teaching me a thing or two.

I made it hard on her and only gave her three colors plus white. Cerulean (blue), magenta (red), and cadmium yellow. I then showed her how to use these colors to mix the secondary colors. Red plus blue equals purple. Red plus yellow equals orange. Yellow plus blue equals green. She watched as if she were witnessing magic.

She went on to paint her first ever plein air landscape, with minimal assistance from me. And she signed it complete with an “E” using the tip of a palette knife. Hopefully the first of many beautiful plein air experiences with her! Below are some photos and a video of Elora in action.

Arabella also had a turn. She is a bit more of an abstract expressionist.

Plein Air Painting With Elora and Arabella, New Zealand, 2026 (9)

I managed to paint a small landscape from the balcony. It took about an hour to complete over two sessions (the second session was really just to make the water a bit lighter). As far as plein air painting goes, it was fairly comfortable. The only challenges were the wind, which forced me to hold the easel as I painted, and the cold, which slowly froze my hands. But other than that, it was smooth sailing.

Dan Scott’s Study (Left), Elora Scott’s Study (Right)

It truly is a landscape painter’s dream there in New Zealand. It feels surreal being surrounded by turquoise lakes, snow-capped mountains, and all the colorful trees, plants, and flowers. I envy those of you who live there.

In a separate email, I’ll share how I got these paintings home. Let me know your thoughts in the comment section below.

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Kind regards

Dan Scott

Draw Paint Academy

Dan Scott is the founder of Draw Paint Academy. He's a self-taught artist from Australia with a particular interest in landscape painting. Draw Paint Academy is run by Dan and his wife, Chontele, with the aim of helping you get the most out of the art life. You can read more on the About page.

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78 comments on “Plein Air Painting With Elora”

  1. Thank you so much for sharing these pictures and little video! Just darling! And yes, Elora looks like a pro already, doesn’t she! Lovely painting. But I sure would keep and frame the little Arabella abstract as well.
    Ok, Dan, I think your painting looks great also :-))
    Many thanks again for making us all part of your little family. Your photos always makes me feel good and I wish you could have seen the smile on my face when I opened the link.

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  4. What a great lesson for the girls! they are so sweet and lucky to have such a good art teacher for a dad!
    I have 6 grandkids, the oldest being 4 years old but I can’t wait to be able to share a little knowledge with them, this gives me the incentive to plan.
    Thanks for all you do, Dan!

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  5. Your daughters are naturals. I’ve been to New Zealand and am inspired to pull out some pictures to paint. Thanks for sharing such a wonderful family experience.

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  6. Well done for getting out in that frosty air so early in the season. En Plein air painting is an endurance sport as much as anything. You can be proud of the paintings and what a special place to share that experience with Elora.

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  9. What a lovely scene
    Your daughters already has an artists hand and gifted to know what colours they could actually see and play along in the canvas 💕

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  11. Thank you for sharing your daughters paintings. Really amazing that the colours and details are all so impressive. Elora is definately following in her Dads footsteps. Well done Elora.

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  12. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading all these beautiful comments this morning. Thank you for your kind words about my girls!

    I can’t see Arabella being into art as much as Elora is, but I have loved watching Elora grow and have a deeper love for art as the years go by, even at 5 years old.

    🙂

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  15. How absolutely WONDERFUL to be in such a stunning place for creating beautiful art, and to share the experience with your adorable daughters as the bonus!!

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  16. If that was Elora’s first real painting, you better hang it on a wall. The baby’s first painting as well. Two artist in the making. I like your Plein Air as well but wonder what it is that makes the hill in the background so light. Is it sun on the hill or is it something that is on that hill. Just curious.

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    • I would say… I have relaxed a lot over the years HAHA especially with both girls going through daycare, their clothes get destroyed.

      Mind you, Elora did get paint all over her jumper sleeve and it won’t come off :/, But paint on the jumper and seeing how proud she was of doing her painting is a good trade I think 🙂

      Reply

  19. So great to start them early. This spring I introduced my 9 and 11-yr-old grandchildren to oil painting which they really liked. Myself, I was well over 50 when I started making art! I wasn’t sure how to teach the kids, but a trip to the deYoung Museum in San Francisco Monet exhibit gave us much material to learn from! They picked their favorite painting and we worked at copying those paintings. Very successfully too! Then we worked at painting outside.

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  20. I love the fact that you are self taught. To me it means while you can gravitate to any painter and pick up something you liked you remain inherently free from a taught system of do’s and dont’s. So you are free to learn as you see fit. What has been your biggest advantage of being self taught? Thanks

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  22. Wow!!! Both girls did a remarkable job painting. They are following in your footsteps. They seem to have a great concept of drawing and a natural innate, intuitive expression.

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  24. How very sweet that little daughter of yours is! I’m sure she will be a terrific artist in not too many years!
    Thank you for sharing. I would like to try plein air again. I used to do it years ago when I was still painting with oils but now that I use acrylic it’s more complicated unless I invest a lot of money into Golden Open acrylics.

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  25. Way to go girls! Great paintings. Dad too. I have a granddaughter (now 14) but when about 2 she would walk in the house and head straight to the kitchen table and say, “I paint now!” Still loves her art. It is wonderful!

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  29. After taking an oil painting in college, I wanted to paint. Then I married and had 2 children. Life was so busy that I put aside my painting and my guitar. These were things I should have shared with my children.
    I admire how you encourage your girls enjoy your passion. These pictures were lovely to see. Thank you for sharing.
    Pat

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  30. What an amazing talent Elora has. I am glad you bring an artist will always support and encourage her. Congratulations to her on her first plein air painting. Wishing you both many such moments together!!

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  33. How wonderful to see Elora’s concentration and pride in her art.
    So amazing how clean she manages to keep her clothing and hands !
    This child is launched for many more paintings 🖼️ ‼️💝👍Bravo

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  34. Beautiful children and so talented. I can imagine their artwork when they get a little older. Thank you for sharing these lovely photos.

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  36. Absolutely delightful to see your beautiful child, painting, plain air, I have a daughter who is now a lawyer and I am so proud as I can see you are and will be congratulations

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  37. What a wonderful thing you have done by introducing Elora to art so early on in her young life. You are right. She is a natural, and adorable as well. It’s wonderful to know there are such good parents in the world for our future. Thank you for sharing.

    Geraldine Davis

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  39. Wow. I love this, and I agree, Elora is a natural. What a truly wonderful way to share time and talent. Her painting is wonderful, and yours is ok too😁

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  41. Thank you, Dan, wonderful experience! You’re great teacher!
    I admired all your paintings, but my heart was melted after Arabella’s picture :-)♥

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  43. THAT IS SO LOVELY. THANK YOU FOR SHARING. AS SOON AS I GET PASSED ALL MY PILEUP WORK, I HOPE TO TAKE YOUR CLASSES.

    PS. I WILL NED A POCHADE BOX AND VERY MUCH LIKE THE ONE YOUR LITTLE ONE IS USING. WOULD YOU IDENTIFY IT FOR ME OR TELL ME WHERE TO BUY. SEEMS GOOD TO PAINT SMALL AS I BEGIN CLASSES

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  44. What a wonderful experience for your children! They will draw inspiration from memories of this day plein air painting with Dad and it will sustain them through life’s challenges! Pretty good color mixers!!

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  45. Thank You ! for let us see your beautiful daugthers and the the paradise you have around you. Your art is amazing, congratulations.

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  49. Thanks for sharing these photos of your children painting, reminds me of painting with my Dad, precious memories. Elora has a 5 point perspective already, gifted artist!

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  52. What a magical experience to have with your children. They are clearly enjoying themselves and are showing some real talent.
    I too started teaching art to my granddaughters at a young age. The youngest never cease to amaze me with her talent.

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  55. I love Elora’s composition & color blocking. She clearly has been learning from you. Amazing to see someone so young tackling oils way to go Elora.

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  57. Thank you for sharing these photos, they’re just wonderful!!
    I’m sure that during paint mixing, the look on Elora’s face as she watched the secondary colors emerge was every bit as magical as the colors themselves.

    Thank you for all of your shares and articles, I learn so much from them!

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  58. I for one am impressed with those adorable children . To be sure Elora has an eye and is not afraid to use paint. Thank you for sharing!
    Ms Rusty Rodriguez

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  60. IT WAS BEAUTIFUL TO SEE YOUR CHILDREN INTERESTED IN PAINTING.
    I WISH I HAD SOMEONE TO SHOW ME WHEN I WAS THEIR AGE.
    YOU SHOWED HOW MUCH YOU LOVE YOUR DAUGHTERS !!!!

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  61. A delightful posting to read, a treasurable time with your daughters. Thanks for including the photos of your and your daughter’s paintings and process.

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  62. These are nice photos of your girls, they are getting a great start with painting. I bought some inexpensive frames and have a wall of art my 5 granddaughters have given me. They are ages 2-7 so rather it’s “abstract”but I want them to know that their grandma enjoys their art.
    Your landscape is lovely.

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  63. Elora has IT….but of course she has a great teacher who showed her how and where to begin. I’d love to see her work 10 years from now. She’s a sweetie, by the way. Liz P. Dundas, Ontario, Canada

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  64. Really cool to see you and your daughters painting. Does your wife paint as well? Just curious. Keep up all your great work and inspiring us.

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  66. Dan,
    Thanks for sharing your family art adventures….. Elora & Arabella’s works are great !

    NZ can get very cold : it bites through to the bones!
    Deborah.

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  69. Oh my goodness, your daughter really is a natural. She has an eye for colour and her composition was very good for her first time. I’m impressed. Well done Elora!

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  70. Unbelievably cute and you are doing amazing things with your daughters.I started painting with my daughter when she was two.She is now kind,wonderful teenager and paints daily amongst other stuff.Elora’s painting is adorable.That blue of the water made me happy just seeing it.Arabella has a distinct style too I must say.Your painting as usual made me wish I was in NZ.Stunning and thanks for sharing this.

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  74. Truly amazing both of you. You must be so proud of her.
    Did you make those paint box and easel? They look really handy and light. Or did you buy that? If yes please share.
    Very lovely paintings again 😀

    Reply

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