Plein Air Equipment
Keep your equipment and materials simple. Mobility is important, and you don't want to have to spend 20 minutes getting everything set up. My plein air kit consists of:
- 12 whole pans in a metal box
- 1 1/2" flat brush
- Round kolinsky sable travel brushes: #6,#8,#10,#12.
- Small, flat nylon brush for loosening paint.
- Paper towels/kleenex
- water bottle (I use a 1-quart nalgene bottle for backpackers.)
- Small spray bottle with water
- Pencil -- usually an F or B hardness (with a cheap plastic sharpener)
- Kneaded rubber eraser
- Watercolor block, 12x16 is a convenient size for me.
- Sketchbook
- Sunscreen
- Insect repellent
- Floppy hat to keep the sun out of my eyes
All of this goes into a small backpack that folds out into a seat.
Don't try to paint in full sun. Look for a spot with some shade. This will make it easier to judge value and color. If you can't avoid the sun, it's a good idea to use a white or gray umbrella to keep the sunlight off your paper.
* When you are getting started, try doing watercolor sketches of simple things -- maybe a single flower or a leaf or a tin can -- instead of a whole painting. You'll have enough of a challenge getting accustomed to working outside -- washes dry really fast, light can be strange, the wind blows. Don't set the bar too high at first.
