Preparing Your Supplies for Plein Air Painting
Plein air painting offers a unique way to capture the colours, light, and atmosphere of a place directly from observation. Whether you're painting in a park, garden, by the water, or while travelling, a few carefully chosen essentials are all you need to create comfortably outdoors.
Discover the supplies that will help you build a practical, versatile, and easy-to-carry outdoor studio.
1- Paint Sets and Colour Palette
Acrylic and oil paint sets provide an excellent starting point for painting outdoors. Many compact formats make it easy to bring the essentials while still offering a wide range of colours.
A limited palette made up of versatile colours is often the best choice. For landscapes, a few primary colours, earth tones, and white are usually enough. This selection allows you to create a wide variety of colour mixtures and capture the subtle nuances found in nature.
Tip: Before heading out, create a quick colour chart of your favourite mixes. It will save time when the light changes quickly.
Recommended Materials: Acrylic and oil paint sets, compact paint tubes, primary colours and earth tones
2- Canvas Panels and Stretched Canvases
Canvas panels are especially popular for plein air painting. Lightweight and easy to transport, they take up little space in a bag and are ideal for creative outings.
Stretched canvases offer additional stability while remaining practical to carry. Ultimately, the choice depends on your personal preferences and painting style.
Tip: Bring a sketchbook on your outings. Creating a few quick sketches before painting allows you to test different compositions and better plan your artwork.
Recommended Materials: Canvas panels, stretched canvases, sketchbooks
3- A Portable Easel for Outdoor Painting
A portable easel allows you to paint comfortably while maintaining good stability. Many folding models are easy to pack and set up quickly in a park, garden, or by the water.
Box easels are particularly practical because they allow you to carry both your art supplies and painting surfaces in one compact setup.
The best easel for you will depend on the size of the work you plan to create and how much weight you are comfortable carrying.
Tip: If you plan to paint in windy locations, choose a sturdy model or add weight to the base for extra stability.
Recommended Materials: Portable easels
4- A Practical Palette for Easy Transport
Closable palettes help protect your colours between painting sessions and make transportation easier. They are particularly useful for acrylic painting, as paint can dry quickly outdoors.
Airtight palettes also help reduce waste and extend the life of prepared colour mixtures.
Tip: Leave enough open space on your palette for mixing colours and recreating the subtle shades you observe in the landscape.
Recommended Materials: Closable palettes, masterson airtight palettes
5- Brushes and Storage Solutions
A small selection of well-chosen brushes is usually all you need for plein air painting. Versatile shapes such as flat, round, and filbert brushes can handle everything from fine details to larger areas of colour.
Brush cases and brush rolls help protect your brushes while keeping them organized between painting sessions.
Tip: Store your brushes in a case that allows the bristles to dry properly to help maintain their shape over time.
A good transportation system can make the entire experience more enjoyable. Backpacks and bags designed for artists make it easier to carry supplies while keeping your hands free.
The goal is to find the right balance between comfort, organization, and portability.
Tip: Plan a safe way to transport wet paintings, such as using a carrying box or rigid separators. This helps prevent accidental contact and protects your artwork on the way home.
Recommended Materials: Backpacks, carrying bags
Embracing the Rhythm of Outdoor Painting
Plein air painting encourages you to see your surroundings differently and develop your artistic eye. With a few carefully selected tools and easy-to-carry supplies, it becomes simple to transform a park, garden, or landscape into a creative workspace.
The key is choosing equipment that suits your practice so you can fully enjoy the experience of painting outdoors.
Continue your creative journey with new techniques, fresh ideas, and inspiration for your next project.