Eric Rhoads stands as a transformative force in the art world, having dedicated his career to democratizing art education and fostering vibrant creative communities worldwide. As founder and chairman of Streamline Publishing, Inc., he has fundamentally reshaped how artists learn, connect, and thrive. His media empire includes the flagship publications PleinAir Magazine and Fine Art Connoisseur, alongside American Watercolor, Plein Air Today, Realism Today, Fine Art Today, Inside Art, and Pastel Today — reaching hundreds of thousands of artists weekly.
When the global pandemic threatened to isolate artists, Rhoads’ entrepreneurial spirit sparked the creation of Watercolor Live, the world’s first virtual watercolor conference. This success led to the launch of Realism Live, PleinAir Live, Pastel Live, and Acrylic Live, collectively connecting over 60,000 artists across 59 countries. His daily YouTube show, launched during Covid, has garnered over 16 million views worldwide, becoming a vital lifeline for the art community.
Rhoads’ commitment to artistic excellence is further exemplified through PaintTube.tv, a comprehensive platform featuring masterclasses from over 700 world-renowned artists. His flagship event, the Plein Air Convention & Expo (PACE), has grown into the world’s largest gathering of outdoor painters, and his Figurative Art Convention & Expo (FACE) has brought hundreds of realist painters together.
A passionate plein air painter himself, Rhoads leads three annual 100-plus-person retreats: Winter Art Escape, the Publisher’s Invitational Adirondacks, and Fall Color Week. His vision has taken artists to paint in Cuba, Africa, New Zealand, and Japan, while also guiding collector groups through exclusive behind-the-scenes museum tours across Europe for over a decade.
Recognizing that artistic talent alone doesn’t guarantee success, Rhoads pioneered Art Business Mastery, a comprehensive program helping artists build sustainable careers. His contributions to art education have earned recognition from prestigious institutions including the Art Renewal Center, the Florence Academy, Laguna Plein Air Painters, the California Art Club, and the American Society of Marine Artists.
From his home in Austin, Texas, where he lives with his wife and college-age triplet children, Rhoads continues to innovate and inspire. His legacy extends beyond his publishing empire and events to the millions of artists whose lives he’s transformed through his unwavering commitment to making art education accessible to all.