It’s spring, and a young artist’s fancy lightly turns to thoughts of painting outdoors.
Lord Tennyson may have been talking about young men and their yearning for the company of a charming maid, but spring does conjure up all sorts of fanciful and romantic thoughts.
For artists who live where there’s four definite seasons, the promise of warmer weather will have their thoughts turning to getting out of the studio.
It’s that time of year again, and many masochistic artists will decide to assemble their gear and strike out into the great outdoors to paint en plein air.
Minimalism Is The Key
Artists tend to collect thing. Paints, brushes and all sorts of neat stuff winds up in an artist’s tabouret. If you’re planning to venture out for a plein air painting experience, just remember that you will be carrying everything you take with you. It may be just across a parking lot, or it could be a trek up hills, down gullies and over babbling brooks. Keep that in mind as you select your painting gear.
Acrylic and watercolor paints are easier to use during an outdoor painting session. Consider your subject material and take a subset of your paints that are appropriate for the landscapes or seascapes you’ll be doing. You don’t need to take every color in your paint box. If you’re a watercolorist, half pan painting sets are very convenient for travel and even include a built-in palette.
When it comes to brushes, consider just how many sizes and shapes you truly need to do a relatively small painting. You probably can pare your collection down to just two or three for your excursion. Okay, you can take a couple more – they are relatively small and don’t weigh much.
Use a disposable palette and choose a small support. If you’re a watercolorist, a block of paper is convenient and allows you to work without stretching your paper on a board. Acrylic painters may choose primed Masonite, as it is easy to transport without damage.
Other Essential Painting Gear
Now that you’ve assembled your paint, brushes and supports, it’s time to gather the rest of your painting gear. You’ll need an easel, unless you’re planning to prop your support in the limbs of a tree.
There are inexpensive, lightweight, collapsible easels that are perfect for lugging into the wilderness. If you’re a watercolorist who prefers to paint horizontally, you should either find a flat rock or bring a stool to sit on. You can prop your painting block in your lap, or use a portable camping table.
You’ll need water and a container. A roll of paper towels is nice, but at least stick an old cleaning cloth in your bag so you have something to wipe up messy fingers and brushes.
Niceties That Add To Your Plein Air Experience
If you’ve gotten this far and are still determined to go through with this outdoor painting adventure, you might as well make yourself comfortable.
While you’re packing, make sure and include sunscreen and insect repellant. Shove a baseball cap on your head, or if you still have that romantic notion choose a floppy wide brimmed or dashing safari hat. You’ll want a hat, as you shouldn’t paint wearing sunglasses.
Wear appropriate shoes or boots, as you may wind up stomping through mud or water. Take a rain jacket or poncho if there’s any chance of showers. A camera is a good idea to capture the views for posterity. Back in the warmth and security of your studio, you’ll have your own images to draw upon for further reference.
Take along some snacks and water or other tasty beverage, and you’re ready for a pleasant day of painting, removing bugs from your painting and communing with nature.
Putting It All Together
Once you’ve assembled your arsenal of artistic accoutrements, you’ll need to stow it in something that’s portable and easy to carry. If the terrain is easy to traverse, a collapsible handled rolling tote may be the answer. Perhaps a backpack is your choice, or a tote bag flung over your shoulder could be the answer.
If, after you’ve experienced the joys of painting outdoors, you decide this really is something you plan to continue, investigate other portable setups and carrying cases. There are many commercial setups available, or you may cobble together a great, inexpensive plein air painting ensemble.
Experience Plein Air Painting With Others
Outdoor painting is a great way to share and join in with other artists. There are plein air workshops with instructors who teach the best methods for outdoor painting, as well as landscape or marine painting. Prices vary, and you’ll find these workshops in many locations.
Some communities have informal meetups for artists interested in joining with others to paint in a group setting. These can be formal clubs, subsets of a local art group or just a bunch of artists that agree to meet somewhere at a certain time to paint together. These gatherings are a great way to network, see how other artists perceive the same scene and maybe learn a thing or two.
Plein air painting may not be for everyone, but you’ll never know if you never give it a try. So, shove some paints and a brush in a duffle bag, grab a support, a can of Deep Woods Off and head off into the great unknown. Or, at least walk to the far side of your back yard.
