10 Tips for Working En Plein Air
1. Apply sunscreen and dress appropriately for the weather.
Tina Rawson, an expressive painter who works in oil, acrylic, and watercolor also specifically suggests: “Wear sunscreen on your ears! And don’t forget to bring a hat because sunglasses change the colors of your subject matter.”
2. Be mindful that you’ll often be sharing the environment with critters and creatures.
Painter and mixed-media artist Margot Dermody advises putting on bug spray and watching out for ants: “They love to climb right up onto the artwork and you may find one in the photo or on the varnish!”
3. Keep in mind that time is a constraint when working outside so “don’t overthink your subject matter, trust your eye.
I always paint what I am drawn to within the first ten minutes of settling in and enjoying a location,” says waterscape and landscape painter Alex McLaughlin.
4. Embrace a bit of experimentation and play, rather than getting everything just right.
Baltimore-based artist Rosa Leff shares, “when I papercut live, I’m almost never as happy with the piece as if I’d made it in my studio, but I’d rather focus on teaching people about what I do and really engaging with them than expecting to get a flawless piece of art.” Along a similar vein, Canadian artist and educator Colleen Rose encourages you to consider working outdoors as “the perfect environment to rid yourself of perfectionism. Depending on the day, you may have to work more quickly than usual due to heat, rain, or bugs. You need to focus on getting your art done rather than second-guessing yourself.”
5. Maximize your creating time by preparing your materials beforehand.
Volta Voloshin-Smith, whose specialty is watercolor paintings with food as the subject, fills up her water brush pens in advance of any live painting event outside or on location: “That way, I don’t have to worry about cleaning out a jar of muddy water and can continue to chat and engage with people as I paint.” Similarly, Pittsburgh-based painter, educator, and artist coach Brooke Ebeling suggests to “pre-mix your colors! Get set up in your space and immediately start mixing. You have a limited amount of time before light changes so having the majority of the colors you’ll need ready to go will help save so much time.”
6. Consider sticking with the basics.
Wilmington-based oil painter Jen Hintz Eggers opts to work with a minimal palette. She says: “My travel palette for gouache is a modern primary set plus white. Trying to manage too many colors and a large mixing surface is just so unwieldy for me.”
7. Be aware of the sun, not just for burns!
Drica Lobo, a colorful California-based artist, notes to keep your canvas or whatever surface you choose to work on out of the sun: “I find it useful if you can have an umbrella because working in direct sun can distort the perception of color.” Especially if you’re using acrylics, it can also cause your paints to dry up faster.
8. Add your details later.
“If I get the feeling and the mood of the scene, I am happy with it. I can always take a quick photo and add more details back at the studio if I really want to!” shares Jessica Libor, a fine artist, professor, and host of the Inspired Painter Podcast.
9. Protect your tools from the elements too.
For digital artists, graphic artist and painter Victoria Kukla recommends using Adobe Draw on a tablet device to create vectors outside. She adds that “you can easily upload to Adobe Illustrator once you get back to your laptop or desktop. Be sure to use a sturdy case with a flap cover as well as a glass screen protector to avoid scratches from sand. Carry a small towel in case of outdoor moisture or rain to prevent water damage and if you’re going to be outside for a longer period of time, it’s a good idea to have a portable battery charger.”
10. Remember to hydrate and enjoy!
If you end up using any of these tips, please let me know. I’d also love to see what you create!
Cheers,
Alicia
