Plein Air Painting Equipment and Supplies
This post looks at the what the plein air artist might want to pack for a painting session in the great out-of-doors. Depending on what the medium the artist desires to work in, such as oils, acrylics, pastels or watercolors, these lists will show how the supply list might vary and we'll give some options to consider when you are heading out for a plein air painting session.
What's in Your Checklist?
By the look of the lists below it may not seem to be the KISS method (Keep it Simple Stupid) but that is honestly what you do need to do for plein air painting. An artist will figure out rather quickly what they think they might need as opposed to what they actually must have before AND most assuredly after they go out.
Your actual checklist of art supplies needed for plein air painting will also be based on other variables like:
- Will your car be parked nearby?
- Distance to walk and current conditions on the ground like rocky, hilly, wet, dry, arid, snowy, etc.
- How heavy your fully loaded art supply carrier will be.
- If flying to your destination, check those further restrictions
At one of the Prince William Art Society meetings in 2023, (PWAS), we had guest speaker, Marni Maree telling the story of her adventures in traveling and plein air painting. She showed us examples set out down the table, from left to right of her various art supplies and equipment as she lived and traveled, packed and repacked her art supplies for her outings. The funniest part of the whole presentation was how the art supply list and equipment downsized - tremendously- down the table, AKA, got smaller and smaller. Less weight, more compact, and then NOT packed.
Now, let's explore the options of real need in what you must pack, some good choices, and how the plein air backpack may vary depending on the art medium the artist might use.
Traveling Light but Protected
Before the artist goes lugging his whole art studio across a field or up a mountain, at least a little bit of research and some prepurchasing might be needed to make life out in nature while capturing its beauty a little less stressful, sweaty, or leaving you feeling like you just wrestled an alligator the next day.
- Hat - a good one with a wide brim
- Clamp-on Umbrella that is flexible, attaches well to your chair or easel, and is tiltable. Hopefully a sturdy enough one and large enough to protect you from the sun, and your painting too. Here are some options:
- Wondershade on Amazon
- Dick's Sporting Goods - small umbrella for $9.99 (suggested by David Dillon)
- Best Brella
- ShadeBuddy
- Sunscreen, Advil, Bug Spray
- Pepper Spray - unfriendly animals or people
- Whistle, Binoculars, Compass - just how far are you out there wandering?
Plein Air Painting Basic Supplies
Plein air painting does call for some purchases that you may not already have. Selections will need to be made based on budget, your medium(s), your style of painting, perhaps even where you think you will be painting.
A Backpack - can also be used as an easel weight, so the bungee cords may come in handy. Select a large enough BP to handle the bulk of your supplies. Consider one with a "cooler" section for beverages/ snacks, or a way to hang your drinking water bottle from the pack.
A Portable/Collapsible Easel/Tripod. A lightweight field easel, pochade box or simply a sketch clipboard may be all you need, depending on if your medium is oil, acrylic, watercolor, pastel, or other medium or if you are doing a sketch or using color pencils, etc. Painting outside is often on uneven surfaces so versatility is important.
Easel Suggestions:
Pochade Box - a small paint box mounted on a tripod, often used by oil painters, used for painting on location. Pochade means "a rough or quickly executed sketch or study".
Field Easel - or plein air 3-legged easel, is a portable, lightweight, and easy to store easel of mid to small size, and is often collapsible, foldable, or has telescopic legs. They are meant and built for the open air studio with the intention of easy setup and take down. Check out any pros and cons when researching for your needs.
French Easel - full or half-box and the old rules apply. You get what you pay for. It is a type of field easel with a box for storing art supplies, a handle or straps for carrying.
Folding Chair or Stool - up to the artist's needs here and whether they are more comfortable standing or sitting to paint, or do both. A compact collapsible, lightweight portable chair is very necessary in my opinion.
Chair Suggestions:
ArtComber Portable Rolling Chair - has built in storage, front wheels and folds into a chair.
Camp Stool - there are lots of options out there, along with bags to hold them, and sometimes accessories to consider.
Essential Art Supply Items - No matter the medium, choose to bring only the colors, brushes, palette, or any appropriate mixing solutions absolutely essential for the project, or to get the artwork started. Some artists can complete a painting quickly, others will finish in studio. Smaller sized tubes, containers etc will lighten the load - obviously.
Think ahead and adjust the colors you take to what you will be painting that day. As David Dillon suggested, if you're painting at the ocean, your pallet may be more blues; if in the woods, your pallet may have more greens and browns. A cityscape or street view may be more colorful. Many PA artists have mini palette packs ready to grab and go depending on beach, woods, or wherever.
It is recommended to always use artist-grade paint and not student-grade, so always purchase the best that your budget will allow.
Supply Suggestions:
Mini Palette Cups - clip on cups of stainless steel
Mini Brush Washer - stainless steel
Brush Holder for the tripod
Collapsible water holders
Sketchbook - many artists sketch first to decide composition and colors. Consider your medium you are using and what you might need your sketchbook to handle. Watercolor paper, mixed media paper, etc.
Pencils, Graphite Pencil, Markers, Waterproof Pen with Black Ink, Watersoluble Pencils - any of your selections here would go in a zippered bag with waterproof lining like a toiletries bag. Also include Pencil Sharpener, Eraser.
Supports, Your Painting Surface - Your choice in painting surfaces is yours to make as well as the size of the surface. If you paint on a gessoed canvas or gessoed panels, its suggested to use a surface the sun doesn't shine through. Papers will need to be secured or your drawing of 'down by the river' may end up floating down the river.
Common sizes in plein air is 6x8 or up to 12x16. As the light changes on you, there will probably not be time to complete a larger surface, but you do you.
Your Cell Phone/Camera - Take reference photos of your subject with the time of day your main concern to capture the lighting the way you want to paint it. The light will change on you - in seconds! While some artists can knock out a plein air painting quickly and can capture the essence of the subject, others will finish up the painting later with their reference photos.
Be Prepared
- in case of changes in the weather, heat, cold, rain, whatever. Also,
if its quite breezy, think how your artwork can be anchored down to
keep from being air borne.
Clothing - Dressing in layers is a great idea for those "iffy" days so that dressing up or down will help you stay cooler or warmer as needed and a raincoat, poncho, or a windbreaker may be a consideration as well. Pants are recommended (look at cargo pants too because of all the pockets), as well as dressing in neutral colored clothing as white and bright colors can reflect onto your painting.
If you read the link in the above story about Marni Maree, you may also consider a vest with multi pockets.
Shoes/Boots - be prepared for the right footwear whether hiking, mudding, or sitting in a location with a variety of creepy crawlies. And when mud boots are recommended like at the Bluebell Festival, wear the boots. Bluebells LOVE and grow in mud. Closed-toe shoes are suggested as well.
And for the Ladies: Remember hair ties or clips and lip balm! Also, see the options list at the end. Tissues might be good too.
Seasonal: Paint in all seasons - and do push yourself to include all weather conditions! To truly appreciate the differences in lighting, colors, contrasts and more, it helps to practice and gain that experience. The best time of day to paint outside because of the lighting is early morning or late afternoon. The light of a sunrise or a sunset are of course, much more dramatic.
SHADE is imperative in the heat. See a great potential scene for a painting but there's no shade, snap a picture and paint that one in the AC. Cooling towels are another option when in the heat. And drop your hat under the water for a soak too.
Water
for clean up, water for you. Collapsible containers may work there too. Nonetheless, especially in the heat, DRINK WATER OFTEN, whether thirsty or not.
Food - Is it still plein air painting in a McDonald's parking lot? You'll need to have some easy to consume food and/or snacks too. Think granola bars and fresh fruit, which are good options for your energy levels. Or you may need a cooler to handle your munchies. Just remember, CLEAN UP AFTER YOURSELF!!
Paper Towels, blue shop towels, or rags for cleanup, plus some plastic trash bags including a large bag in case of an emergency rain-shield.
Suggested Reading:
PWAS Plein Air Posse
Acrylic Plein Air Painting Tool Kit
Plein air painting supplies for various mediums have many of the same tools and some big differences as well. As we all know, the beauty of acrylic paint is that it dries quickly. When plein air painting with acrylics on hot sunny days, consider being in the shade and out of the wind as best you can to prevent your paints from drying out on you. Other painters suggest a smaller canvas, painting quickly and leaving your brushes in the water when not in use.
- Acrylic Paints
- Titanium White, Cadmium Yellow Lemon, Cadmium Yellow Medium, Cadmium Red Light, Quinacridone Rose, Permanent Madder Lake, Ultramarine Blue, Turquoise, Burnt Sienna, Raw Sienna
- Golden Open Acrylics offer a slower drying paints.
- Sta-Wet Palette
- Plastic Sorting Container
- Palette Paper or Water Palette
- Acrylic Paint Brushes
- At least 5 sizes; rounds, flats and filberts in sized #2-10
- Soft synthetic bristle brushes may work best
- Surfaces like Canvas Panels, Wood Panels, or Sintra Panels (wiped down with isoprophyl alcohol)
- Retarder
- Golden Acrylic Glazing Liquid to extend drying time
- Atelier Interactives dry a bit slower
- 1-2 Palette Knives
- Brush Carrier - roll or tube
- Wet Paint/Canvas Carrier - if you apply paint on the thick side, drying time may extend some, nonetheless, a carrier can protect the painting while traveling.
- Water Container(s), Brush Washing Container - I'm a 3 water container person myself: 1. with soapy water for cleaning, 2. with clean water for rinsing, and 3. with clean water for dipping brush and mixing. So Containers are needed for your style here too.
- Small spray bottle of water - to mist your paints and/or surface
- Fill 3:1 mixture of water and Open Thinner
- Sponge(s)
- Plastic zip lock bags
- Mechanical Pencil, Eraser
- Scraps of aluminum foil to cover main paint blobs on your palette
Acrylic Plein Air Painting Suggested Reading:
Advantages of Acrylic and Plein Air
Essential Plein Air Painting Tools You Shouldn't Leave Home Without!
Plein Air Painting with Open Acrylics
Oil Painting Plein Air Painting Tool Kit
The Alla Prima painting approach is a direct completion of the painting all in one sitting. This could very well be a different way to paint for many artists in their studios that work at a painting over days or even weeks, painting and building layers. And realizing that your work will NOT be dry when you are done for the plein air painting day means a special way to carry the piece home to protect it is essential.
There are now water-based oils so some of the essentials will change.
- Oil Paints
- Limited palette suggestions for oil painting is Cadmium Red Light, Yellow Ochre, Ivory Black (for Blue), and Titanium White
- Oil Paint Brushes
- Hog Bristle Flats sizes #2, #4, #6, #8
- Odorless Mineral Spirits like Gamsol or Turpenoid
- 1-2 Palette Knives
- Brush Carrier
- Wet Paint/Panel/Canvas Carrier
- Solvent Container
- Brush Washing Container
- Palette for mixing paint
- Paint Eraser Tool
Oil Plein Air Painting Suggested Reading:
Dan Schultz Fine Art Plein Air Painting Gear Checklist
Plein Air Painting Supply List for the Oil Painter
Plein Air Painting Techniques: 16 Tips for Success
Watercolor Plein Air Painting Tool Kit
Many an artist consider watercolor painting outdoors as the easiest to work with, the supplies aren't as many, the drying time is quick, and other notable items in the PRO column.
- Watercolor Paints
- Watercolor Paint Brushes
- Water Brush Pens
- Watercolor Pencils, Pencil Sharpener
- Brush Carrier
- Wet Paint/Canvas Carrier/Protection for the surface
- Water Container, Spray Bottle
- Brush Washing Container
- Lap Clip Board
- Masking Tape, Mechanical Pencil Eraser
- Sketch Paper, Watercolor Paper Pad and/or Notecards
- T-square Ruler
Watercolor Plein Air Painting Suggested Reading:
Plein Air Watercolor Survival Guide
Basic Guide to Plein Air Painting
Top 5 Affordable Watercolor Plein Air Setups
Pastels Plein Air Painting Tool Kit
Pastel artists that plein air paint tend to keep their pastels in their own box rather than the French Easel box to prevent breakage.
- A limited selection of pastels, Pastel Box
- Paper, Clips to hold paper down
- Spray bottle of turp, water or rubbing alcohol, Small container
- Fixative
- Latex Gloves or Wipes
- Tortillons, Stomps
- Putty Eraser
- Masking Tape, Glassine or smooth paper to tape over the paper to protect it when traveling home
Pastels Plein Air Painting Suggested Reading:
Embracing the Imperfection in Plein Air Painting
Suggestions on Optional Supplies:
- If you are painting on stretched canvas, consider a piece of cardboard to put behind it to prevent the sun from shining through it.
- Retractable brushes
- Swiss Army Knife, a few tools like a wrench, screwdriver, good glue. Regular maintenance on your plein air equipment is needed to keep it all in good condition.
- Mahl Stick or Retractable Back Scratcher - to keep your shirt sleeves and palms above the paint surface and not in the paint.
- Empty bottle for pouring dirty paint water in for disposal at home.
- Sponge Brush for dusting, blending and softening edges
- Cotton Swabs, Toothbrush, Stim-U-Dents - various textures and marks.
- Brass Window Washer Squee-Gee - mark making tool for edges.
- Bluetooth Speaker (maybe birds tweeting aren't your thing?...)
- Portable Battery Charger for your phone
- Disposable Plastic Gloves, Fingerless Gloves, Apron
- Vice Grips or Nut Cracker for opening stubborn tubes.
- Stand Up and Pee for Women - I'll let you look up this one. Or just do what they do in Times Square for New Year's Eve and wear diapers/Depends.
- Small pack of Wet Ones or Soil Love
- Small rug, old table cloth to stand on in wet grass, snow or ice or a yoga mat
- Bungee Cords, at least 4 Binder Clips, Carabiner Clips, Magnets
- Directions, entrance fee, gate codes, where to park/not park
- AND bring your business cards. I saw it at the Bluebell Festival where someone walking by wanted to buy the painting right off the easel of one of the PWAS artists!
- Be aware though that depending on WHERE you are painting if there are any "sales" type of restrictions and permission agreements, which is a possibility in some public spaces.
Off the Beaten Path
Artistry Spin Blogmaster and an artist member of PWAS in Woodbridge, VA, specializing in acrylic painting. She paints landscapes, seascapes, animals and many subjects. Visit her Website at DonnaLiguriaArt.com, her Donna's Esty site and her Blog at Donna’s Cave Paintings.
Local Art: The Prince William Art Society is a 50+-year-old non-profit art group in PWC for the appreciation of fine art throughout the county and Northern Virginia. Visit us at any of our local art shows or join us for our monthly meetings - held on the 4th Monday of the month at the Tall Oaks Community Center at 12298 Cotton Mill Dr, Woodbridge, VA at 7:30pm
Want to join PWAS? Go to https://www.princewilliamartsociety.com/membership
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