Plein Air
Checklist
• It's easy to get caught up in what you're doing and end up sitting in the sun for an extended period, sometimes over the hottest part of the day, so remember to take some sunscreen and a sunhat.
• Dress in layers that you can easily take off as you get hot (and put on when it gets colder).
• If it's cold, take a windproof jacket as you won't be moving around much.
• Fingerless gloves help keep your fingers warm while still giving you good motion and grip.
• Something to sit on, such as a small cushion or an extra jumper. Consider taking a fold-up stool or chair if you know there's not going to be a convenient rock or wall to sit on and you don't want to sit on the ground.
• Some water to drink (don't rinse your brushes in it!) or a flask with coffee or tea (hot chocolate!) if it's cold.
• Wear neutral colored clothing (creams, beiges) rather than white which can reflect too much light onto your painting or bright colors which can reflect some of their color onto your painting.
• Insect repellent.
• A bag to put rubbish in, such as dirty pieces of paper towel.
• A large plastic bag can be useful as an emergency rainshield.
• Paints, pencils, scrap paper and any other supplies you will need to work with your chosen medium.
* It is suggested that we bring some sort of a drop cloth in case of drips or spills, we would like to keep the property clean.
A camera is useful for recording the scene in case you want to finish or work on the painting back in your studio.
Watercolour Plein Air Painting Checklist:
• Watercolour paintbox or selection of tubes
• At least one brush
• Pencil and eraser
• Four (rustproof) clips or pegs for keeping your paper in place when it's windy
• Paper towel or cloth for wiping brushes on
• Bottle of water
• Cup for washing brushes
• Watercolour paper
• If necessary, an empty bottle for pouring dirty paint water into, for disposable back home.
Tips: • A largish zippered pencil box or toiletry bag is ideal for putting your brushes etc. in.
• Retractable brushes take up minimal space.
• One of those blocks of watercolour paper where the paper is 'stuck down' is ideal because you don't need to stretch it, but you will need something sharp to separate off a sheet once you're done.
• Consider buying a watercolour field set – a small box of paints complete with retractable brush; some even have waterbottles.
Acrylics Plein Air Painting Checklist:
• A selection of acrylic paints
• At least one brush
• Bottle of water
• Cup for washing brushes
• Paper towel or cloth for wiping brushes on
• Palette
• Paper, boards, or canvas
• If necessary, an empty bottle for pouring dirty paint water into, for disposable back home.
Tips: • Consider using pieces of primed canvas which you tape to a board (foamboard weighs the least), then roll up when the painting is dry. Back home you can stretch them onto stretcher bars or glue them down onto a board.
• A disposable paper palette makes cleaning up easy.
• A moisture-retaining palette with a solid lid makes it easy to transport your paints.
Oils Plein Air Painting Checklist:
• A selection of oil paints
• At least one brush
• Mediums
• Paper towel or cloth for wiping brushes on
• Palette
• Paper, boards, or canvas
• A container for for pouring mediums into, for disposable back home.
Tips: • A disposable paper palette makes cleaning up easy.