Painting en plein air is simply French for painting outside.
Painting outside gives me a reason to be outside. I confess, I’m a pragmatist and not particularly inclined to be amid bugs and humidity. I do really enjoy being outside painting though, from scouting the location to hiking out with a sense of accomplishment. My good friend Kyle Buckland’s YouTube channel is the first link. He and I used to paint together quite often and if he makes it look easy, it’s because he paints every day, sometimes several paintings a day.
It’s worth mentioning that Kyle Buckland and James Gurney both use gouache, as well as other media. I know most of you have gouache from your foundations classes. Here’s a chance to use those!
Some things to consider when you’re venturing outside to paint:
- Sunscreen, wear it.
- A big hat to keep sun out of your eyes
- Bring a bag to put your trash, rags, and things into.
- Consider how you’re going to transport a wet painting, if it’s oil.
- Hydrate.
- The light will change. At some point, you might settle on a light pattern and whatever changes in the scene before you, go with the value pattern you’ve established. Also, it’s sometimes nice to see a painting that’s a breathing document of the day, with those changes. It isn’t photography.
- Get comfortable. Wear good shoes, maybe bring a stool, don’t hike too far, eat a sandwich, be there long enough to be there.