Author: Scott_Burkett, Contributing Editor

Working en plein aire (outdoors) can be a wonderfully rewarding experience for artists of all levels. Feeling the fresh salty air from the sea blowing through your hair as you begin to sketch out your new painting, or hearing the echos of nature through a picturesque valley while you contemplate your next move, are all things that plein aire artists dream of. But for many artists, actually "getting there", on site, with everything you need, can be a challenge, especially if you are a beginner. This article attempts to provide an overview of the essential plein aire gear and some tips on how to get organized for your next outdoor excursion. Pictured to the left, WC! member Larry Seiler is hard at work blocking in a fresh new plein aire work.

Before we get into a discussion on the actual materials and packing techniques essential for plein airing, a quick presentation of the "rules of the road" is in order. Travel as light as possible! If you have doubts about bringing something, you probably don't need it. For every item that you decide to bring, examine potential ways to bring smaller portions. For instance, do you need that 150ml tube of Cobalt Blue, or will a smaller tube suffice? Do you need to lug that entire monster-sized can of Turpenoid around, or can you find a smaller size (or a smaller container in which to transport it)? Pack the night before, and do a "dry-run" of your setting up. This is a fantastic way to ensure you don't get caught in the wilderness without the appropriate tools.

Shown above is the "big spread". This is what I like to do the night before I leave for my trip. I lay out everything I plan on bringing. This allows me to double check my supplies (so I don’t forget anything), and also allows me to really think twice about what I am packing. Here, I look for ways to streamline my load, or to identify a smaller, lighter alternative to something. Believe it or not, all of the loose items will fit inside of my little pack (shown at the top/center of the photo).

Shown to the left is my fullsize Jullian French Easel. Wrapped around it is a nifty product called the Studiopack, which is a harness made to fit french easels. It allows you to carry a french easel on your back, in the same fashion as a backpack – priceless when hiking! If you are carrying a half-size french easel, you probably won’t need a harness (the little strap that comes with the easel usually suffices). Of course, if you are working with media that doesn’t require a vertical surface (watercolors, pastels, pencils, etc.), you probably won't carry one of these. You’ll likely just put a sketchbook or something similar in your pack.

Inside of the easel itself, you can pack your paints, brushes, painting knives, charcoal sticks, etc. Shown to the left is my half-size french easel, made by Winsor & Newton. My full size Jullian easel holds twice as much stuff, but, of course, is twice as heavy - lol. Take advantage of this space – NEVER carry an empty french easel – you would just be wasting space! When selecting your paints, only bring the essentials! Don’t bring something that you can mix on site, such as green. Our good friend Larry Seiler recommends you bring 2 of each primary color (1 cool and 1 warm variant of each), plus a large tube of white. When selecting your brushes, try not to bring your entire brush collection! I typically bring one large flat, one medium flat, and one small flat. Sometimes, I’ll bring an extra of each, in order to reduce the number of times I have to clean them in between colors.