10 Things You Should Take Plein Air Painting
Great art often results from chasing inspiration. Myself and another artist decided to paint en plein air on Laguna Beach at a small cove south of the Montage resort. Despite being a grey morning, the sun managed to peak out over a blue-ish green ocean. We planted our easels on a staired cement structure as local beachcombers took their spots in the sand.
The time went by quickly as we painted the outlines of cliffs, the seals spread across the dark, harsh brown rock masses sticking out from the waves, and the cool, warm grey sky. It was our first experience painting outdoors. It worked out marvelously, minus not having my hat.
I painted on watercolor board purchased from the Art Supply Warehouse in Westminster, California. It proved to be a good plan because it gave me a solid surface to work on. I didn't need anything under my paper as support. I highly recommend taking the following things if you are going to paint out doors for the first time.
- Hat
- Sunscreen
- Solid surface to paint on (such as watercolor board)
- Small wooden easel
- Two different brush sizes
- Extra water for drinking and for washing out supplies
- Paper Towel
- Sandals
- Mid morning snack for when you don't want to stop painting to go get food.
- Extra time
Mine (left), Mrs. Michelle Boucher (right)
Expect to paint quickly as we discovered our surroundings changed quickly. You can be painting the sky a certain color and then all of a sudden the clouds come by and the blue is no longer a brilliant turquoise but instead a shade of ultramarine.
But then again that's the fun of it!
You can also view Mrs. Boucher's art on instagram.