It’s important that you prepare well!
Introducing 10 of the best practices for artists painting ‘en plein air’ – meaning to paint a complete work outdoors.
1. Firstly choose the right materials:The key to successful watercolour painting en plein air is having the right materials. You should choose quality materials that can stand up to the elements for a longer lasting painting. Look for archival quality paper, paints, and brushes. See my choices at the end of this article.
2. Then choose a good location: Choose a location that has a good view and plenty of light. A shady spot can be beneficial, as the light will be more even and less likely to cause glare. Bear in mind your composition and the direction of light within it.
3. Next prepare your painting area: Make sure you have a comfortable surface to work on, as well as a container of water, a rag, and a palette.
4. And don’t forget to start with a sketch: Before you start painting, do a quick sketch of the scene. This will help you plan out your composition and determine the key elements that you want to capture.
And now you can begin your painting
5. Try to paint quickly: Watercolour dries quickly, so you need to work fast. Start with the lightest colours and the background, and then move to the darker elements. Secondly, remember that the light will change very fast — especially in the mountains!
6. And use a variety of brushes: To achieve different effects, use a variety of different sized brushes. Flat brushes are good for laying down large swaths of colour, while round brushes are better for details.
7. Paint in layers: When painting with watercolour, it’s best to work in layers. Equally important, start with the lightest colours and gradually build up to the darker ones.
8. It’s good to use a ‘light’ touch: Watercolour paints are very sensitive, so it’s important to use a light touch when painting. So don’t press too hard on the paper or you may end up with a muddy mess.
9. Finally take some breaks: Take frequent breaks to rest your eyes and to give yourself a chance to step back and evaluate your work.
10. And most of all, have fun: Above all else, make sure you enjoy the experience! Painting outdoors can be very rewarding and you’ll create some beautiful pieces.
10 of the best practices for artists painting ‘en plein air’ – what’s in my outdoor painting kit
I use a mix of paint brands; Winsor & Newton, Daler Rowney and my favourite, Daniel Smith. I’d recommend carrying a small sketch book and a graphite stick to produce a rapid, simple sketch to establish composition, perspective and the predominant light source. From this, I would use a watercolour block (the best quality you can afford). I prefer Canson’s L’aquarelle Heritage – a stable 300 gram cold pressed block. The advantage here is you won’t suffer the effects of the paper buckling when wet. It’s not a bad idea as well to mask off the area you’re painting within (using artist’s masking tape) to create a nice clean edge to the watercolour.
See the results of my landscape work here…
Really helpful article, thank you.