Prince William Art Society (PWAS) is a group of local artists in Prince William County in Northern Virginia dedicated to an appreciation of the visual arts and fine crafts of local artists and this is their Blog, Artistry Spin. Find information about and by PWAS, our events, our Scholarship Program, our artists, our art shows and exhibits plus much more. Many of our artists display art at locations all around Prince William County, Manassas and beyond.
Have you ever wanted to grab your art supplies and just get out in the fresh air and paint away? Don't know where to begin? Here is your chance to learn some Plein Air Painting tips, techniques, fundamentals and more! A great workshop with Michele Frantz at the Occoquan Regional Park on Saturday, October 19 from 9am to 1pm.
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NEW EVENT - Plein Air Painting with Michele Frantz on Oct. 19
Explore the fundamentals of plein air (outdoor) painting with accomplished local artist Michele Frantz. This hands-on workshop includes topics like: choosing the scene, establishing values, mapping the shapes, using perspective, and more. We hope you can join us on October 19th at Occoquan Regional Park for this fun event. Membership is not required. The event is free, but you must RSVP on our Registration page: https://www.princewilliamartsociety.com/register. This event is made possible with support from the Prince William Arts Council and Prince William County Parks and Recreation.
Suggested Material to Bring:
Small sketchbook for value sketches
Paint Supplies for medium of choice (surface, brushes, paints, etc.)
Portable easel
Chair or stool
Attachable umbrella
Drinking water
(I would also add a camera to record for your reference location, lighting, etc.)
Occoquan Regional Park 9751 Ox Rd, Lorton, VA 22079-3435 Meet down by the boat ramp.
Don't forget our other exciting Prince William Art Society events!
PWAS members (+1) can register for our free bus trip to the National Gallery of Art on Oct. 26th. Bus leaves from the Tall Oaks Community Center. YOU MUST SIGN UP BY OCTOBER 12! We must have a minimum of 20 people!
We hope to see you at one of our events or at our regular monthly meetings for the
Prince William Art Society which are held on the 4th Monday of the month at the Tall Oaks Community Center 12298 Cotton Mill Road, Woodbridge at 7:30pm
Author: Donna Liguria 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
Have an idea for a blog post? Are you a writer and want to help with the blog? Let me know! Thank you for visiting, and remember to Share, Follow, and Comment! pinterest-site-verification=3ad32cc9cfeae507ba5a382d62fcee17
Saturday, June 8, 2024 9am. Nine of the Prince William Art Society members met at the Occoquan Regional Park with Marni Maree (our Plein Air Teacher) and Tom Payne (PWAS Member at Large and Workshop Coordinator) in the shade, down by the river with our plein air backpacks, sketchbooks, and a bucket.
Artists in the Great Out Doors
Some of the students were experienced plein air painters and a few were first time painters out in the wild of Occoquan. Although fish were jumping out of the water behind Marni, and the ducks a-quacking, the students listened attentively to our fearless leader's instructions.
Photo by Tom Payne of The Plein Air Posse with teacher, Marni Maree
Photo by Tom Payne of the students gathered around Marni, down by the river.
Photo by Tom Payne of Marni instructing her attentive students.
Photo by Tom Payne of Marni giving the plein air students 3 challenges.
A Day of Painting in a Van Down by the River
A very beautiful day it was. The temperature was very comfortable, the sky was a big blue umbrella and the shade next to the Occoquan River was a big bonus too.
Location to Paint: Occoquan Regional Park 9751 Ox Rd, Lorton, VA 22079 Lots of lovely amenities besides all the paintable views including a restaurant and restrooms!
Sidenote: Whenever I hear the phrase down by the river, I remember the Chris Farley SNL sketch of Matt Foley. Well, we weren't in a van, but we were certainly down by the river, with other folks getting their morning walk or runs in. Give a shoutout if you remember that one! Some people biking, some strolling, some with a good book on a bench. Others were on the water in various floating devices and boats. They were all fair game if they happened to appear in one of our paintings.
Supplies List
The supply list was easy, nothing complicated and very easy to carry.
Sketchbook
with watercolor paper
Ink pen (waterproof)
Mini watercolor palette
(3-5 colors)
Water brush (filled with water)
Paper towels or cloths
Chair or stool
Photo by Tom Payne of Marni demonstrating her plein air techniques
After giving out her instructions, the students were let loose. Release the Krackin. Plant thyself in your spot. Bust out the colors and throw down!
PWAS Plein Air Painting Class Members
Now I must say, in defense of our art, for those of us that need it (me), the first step in the first of the 3 challenges was to quickly and without too much thought to the process, use only about 3 watercolors with a large aqua pen to block in the basics of what we saw in our selected paint subject. Step 2 was to let that dry. Step 3 was to then use a waterproof ink pen in our NON-DOMINANT hand and draw in the shapes of what we saw. As you can imagine, if you're right or left-handed and have to use your other hand to draw...your brain explodes.
Yet, it was a very interesting lesson.
And thank the powers that be for creative license. The photos of the plein air paintings below may or may not be done per artist and their choice to add more or not after they got home.
Donna Liguria
Donna Liguria beginning her painting, photo by Tom Payne
Photo by Donna Liguria, Reference photo for the plein air painting, view toward the Town of Occoquan and the 123 bridge
Donna Liguria's first time plein air painting (and first time drawing with my left hand, and barely any watercolor experience...)
Mark Murphy
Photo by Tom Payne of Mark
Kayaking by Mark Murphy
David Dillon
Photo by Tom Payne of Dave
Robert Dew
Photo by Tom Payne of Robert
Wow! As you can see, Robert was VERY productive!
Anna Gatling
Photo by Tom Payne of Anna
Photo by Tom Payne of Anna and Marni
Photo of Anna's plein air painting
Emily Hawes
Photo by Tom Payne of Emily, whom I hear went fishing...
Emily Hawes Reference Photo
Emily Hawes plein air painting
Kathleen Gates and Joe Gates
Photo by Tom Payne of Joe and Kat Gates with Marni
Kat's Reference Photo
Kat Gates plein air painting
Sonya Cromwell
Photo by Tom Payne of Sonya
Plein air painting by Sonya Cromwell
Plein Air Painting
Artists
are nothing but out-of-the box creative people aren't they? And Marni
gave us so many tips and suggestions that were so very helpful! I do
believe we all had a terrific time and it was so nice to be out of the
studio, out of the house and watching, hearing, experiencing nature -in
your face- for a change. The chirps and quacks, the snippets of passerby conversation, the pitter-patter of jogging feet, as well as the ever present zoom of cars across the bridge were all a part of the flavors of the day from this spot on the river.
Photo by Donna Liguria, view of the Occoquan River toward the I95 bridge, and Robert Dew working on his painting
Visitors approaching, Photo by Donna Liguria
Noisy, nosey visitors watching us paint, and I didn't like the attitude of that art critic 2nd from the left. Photo by Donna Liguria
Lunch break with Marni, Photo by Donna Liguria
Challenge 2 was to take 2 pages of your sketchbook, breaking up into sections and doing small studies of something you see. Like close up leaves and grasses, or reflections on the water.
Challenge 3 was to do something we see but leave room on the page to write words - about the day, the location, the feeling...in a way its a diary of the day. Not sure many of us got to this challenge but it is a great way to remember the day in your art journal. Did anyone finish this task yet?
PWAS Question: Do we members that take a PWAS Plein Air Class, automatically become a part of the Plein Air Posse? Inquiring minds want to know. And second question, when can we do this again?
Free with support from the Prince William Arts Council and the Prince William Parks and Recreation
Author: Donna Liguria 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.
Photography/Video Credits: Tom Payne, Donna Liguria and each artist
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
Have an idea for a blog post? Are you a writer and want to help with the blog? Let me know! Thank you for visiting, and remember to Share, Follow, and Comment!
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
You'll only need to carry what you will actually use and what is necessary for the particular medium you will be working in.
David Dillon, a member of PWAS and the Plein Air Posse painting at the Bluebell Festival on April 7, 2024 in Nokesville, VA
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.
Packing for Plein Air Painting (best easels and air travel tips)
Robert Dew, a member of PWAS and the Plein Air Posse painting at the Bluebell Festival on April 7, 2024 in Nokesville, VA
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.
Guest Speaker, Marni Maree at a Prince William Art Society meeting discussing art supply packing for plein air and traveling options
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.
Doren Dauer,a member of PWAS and the Plein Air Posse painting at the Bluebell Festival on April 7, 2024 in Nokesville, VA. Photo by Tom Payne, PWAS Member at Large
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
Jeff Holman,a
member of PWAS and the Plein Air Posse painting at the Bluebell
Festival on April 7, 2024 in Nokesville, VA. Photo by Tom Payne, PWAS
Member at Large
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
Jess Kodad, a
member of PWAS and the Plein Air Posse painting at the Bluebell
Festival on April 7, 2024 in Nokesville, VA. Photo by Tom Payne, PWAS
Member at Large
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
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?...)
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.
Additionally, there are indeed lists of supplies and tips out there if you are flying and what you can or cannot pack, so be aware of what is allowed.
Just remember, whatever you pack, you have to transport it there and back again.
Off the Beaten Path
Depending on where you are painting and who you are painting with - solo or with a group of painters, or perhaps along a trail with curious passersby,
you will probably be interrupted at some point. The distractions are potentially all in a days palette, so embrace the day - even if you are trying this different painting style of quickly applying your brush and capturing that exact light essence before its gone. Perhaps move off the path a ways to stay out of any major traffic flow when its safe to do so.
Its good for ALL of us to be out in the open air, its good for our health and feeds the soul - I think even more especially, the creative ones.
Do you have any supplies not listed here, suggestions, tips or advice?
Author: Donna Liguria 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.
Photography/Video Credits: Donna Liguria and Tom Payne
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
Have an idea for a blog post? Are you a writer and want to help with the blog? Let me know! Thank you for visiting, and remember to Share, Follow, and Comment!
