* 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, 12×16 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.