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Pack Up Your Gear and Paint Outside Painlessly

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It's Spring and It's Time to Take The Plunge and Paint Outdoors!

There is nothing as fresh or dynamic as paintings or sketches that we make en plein air (or outside). It's a great opportunity to stretch yourself, but it can be a bit tiresome if you bring along too many things. I'll guide you through the essentials of what you need for different scenarios of painting outdoors.

How Do You See Yourself Painting Outside?

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Travelling On Foot

When Light-weight Is The Way To Go

Backpacking Kit (and my lunch)

For me, I take my kit with me every time I know I'm going to venture out on foot. Whether I'm taking the subway downtown or going on a really long hike with the family I grab my Ziplock bag, filled with everything I need, and toss it in my bag or backpack. Anything that doesn't fit into the Ziplock bag is going to be something that I won't need and simply will weigh me down. I have a pencil, a waterbrush, Daniel Smith Watercolor sticks, a Watercolor Sketchbook, or small watercolor block, and a set of PITT Artist Pens. See the lists below for my favorite brands and items.

You can start with my set of goodies and replace what works best for you, but I find that this is really the most efficient and compact kit that I have. I can't recommend the Watercolor Sticks highly enough. They are really the most amazing thing for painting at home or away from home.

The Backpack Kit

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Daniel Smith Watercolor Sticks

Choose two sets of primaries (warm and cool) plus a brown and a green for landscapes. 8 sticks is all you need for you Backpack Kit
Daniel Smith Extra Fine Watercolor Stick 12ml Paint Tube, Hansa Yellow Medium

Daniel Smith Extra Fine Watercolor Stick 12ml Paint Tube, Hansa Yellow Medium

Amazon Price: $12.49 (as of 06/03/2012)Buy Now

These are ideal for the painter on the go, draw on your page with them like pastel, then wet to release the color. Or you can wet them like a pan of watercolor and paint away in a traditional sense. They are so packed with pigment that you can get the equivalent of 2-15ml tubes of paint out of them, and all the gorgeous color you expect from Daniel Smith.

Really Is That All?

Really, that is all I take, aside from some paper towels that I can also use for napkins for my lunch. My kids' "sketch kits" are similar except that they use watercolor pencils or crayons to draw out their picture first, then the waterbrush if we have time. I take this kit everywhere so it has to be compact. However, there are other things I bring along for other situations.

Leaving On A Jet Plane

A Kit for When You are Abroad

peacockIf you are traveling on a plane, and given the rules about bringing liquids on board, I strongly suggest the Daniel Smith Watercolor Sticks I linked to above. No liquid, no problem. If you are going to Great Britain then I suggest you buy your painting equipment there. Great Britain is not the place to bring art supplies to, it's the place to bring art supplies from. There are so many great manufacturers there that you will end up buying a lot of stuff there anyway. Save yourself some luggage space.

For big trips I take my Backpack kit plus a travel brush, container for water and some larger surfaces for making complete paintings. See my list below for recommendations.

Traveling Abroad

When you want more than photos to remember your trip

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I Don't Really Want to Go That Far

Painting In Your Own Backyard or Out Of Your Car

LilacsSometimes you just want to paint in the garden, or beside the park down the road. That is great. You are practically Monet! But painting in your own backyard, or out of your car doesn't mean you'll want to bring your whole studio outside with you. When I stay close to home I either paint at my picnic table, or pull out a lawn chair and a portable easel Don't forget a hat for yourself, and if you have one an umbrella to shade your paper.

Take the combination of the two kits above, and add in an easel, something to sit on, shade hat, and umbrella and you will have all you need.

Going Bigger Staying Closer to Home

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Now You Are All Set!

Get outside and start painting! There is something that is very satisfying about painting on location. You can capture the light the is always missing in photographs and when I paint on location I remember the place so much more clearly than if I take a picture. When I look at the painting I hear what I heard, I smell the smells, and I feel the sun on my back like I did when I painted it. Don't take my word for it, go out and try it yourself!

Are you ready to head out? Let me know what you think, and how it goes!

  • paperfacets May 8, 2011 @ 4:12 pm | delete
    I love to see artists painting outside. It is intriguing to stop, watch and exchange a few words. All the better if they are not on a sidewalk in the city.
  • Calliope May 8, 2011 @ 6:39 pm | delete
    I agree. I'm too intimidated to paint downtown, but I love painting in the mountains.
  • puerdycat Apr 30, 2011 @ 3:22 pm | delete
    Time to get started on this, too! like-fave-len-roll to my light and joy, Mary Cassatt
  • artyfax Apr 27, 2011 @ 5:12 am | delete
    I must start taking my sketching equipment out with me again. there is no other way to work as far as I am concerned. I am not a studio painter, too much like work.
  • Calliope May 8, 2011 @ 6:39 pm | delete
    I like both - but I feel more authentic when I'm outside.
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About Kathleen

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by

Calliope

I am a professional artist, full time student and parent, living in Canada.
My work has appeared on pendants, ACEO cards, and traditional canvases. I... more »

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