“En Plein Air” is a French expression which means in the open air and it is particularly use to describe the act of painting outdoors.

To paint outdoors your equipment needs to be light weight and easy to handle. So, you can track into the forest and up the hillsides, compact and ready for impromptu weekend, painting getaway or leisure ocean voyage.

The water color pocket box is in indispensable tool for water colors. A portable ISO with telescopic legs and built in paint box and pallet is perfect for this painting adventure.

A folding chair or stool is in must to rest while you paint. An umbrella and a hat are also necessary to provide shade and block the glare.

Do not forget your paints and brushes too. Pack back, messenger bag or a car are great for transporting your supplies.

Also take digital or film photos of everything you paint. Do not try to make paintings large, polished, finished are perfect. Get down adjust to the scene and try to get the colors accurate because you can work from these water colors sketches and your photos later in the studio or create a larger more elaborative painting.

Light changes constantly change outdoors with the weather. So, work fast with confidence, accepts mistakes as part of the process painting and try to find fun ways to use them later on. A bad wash can become a cool under painting for colored pencil or pastel drawing later on.

Digital edge can be an in glare too. So, bring your computer outside with a special glare card and get out in the open air. Now, enjoy painting outside because it is a lot of fun and you can have ages of memories with your paintings from outside.