Colleen Reynolds Fine Art

Plein Air Supplies for Registered Artists

Supplies for Plein Air

 

PAINT: A warm and cool of each primary color. One green. One Violet. One Orange.  A yellow ochre-like color, a burnt sienna-like color, and an opaque white.

 

For plein air I generously load my palette, but I take my tubes along in a clear plastic baggie.

 

These are my tube colors (all Daniel Smith except where indicated). Yours can be different:

Hansa Yellow Light, New Gamboge, Raw Sienna Light, Quin Coral, Pyrrol Red or Scarlet, Quin Rose, Quin Lilac, Rose of Ultramarine, Cobalt Blue Violet, Ultramarine Light (Holbein), Phthalo Blue (GS), Manganese Blue Hue, Cascade Green, Transparent Pyrrol Orange, Titanium White or white Gouache (in tube, not in my palette) 

 

PALETTE:
A small folding palette with at least 5 mixing areas. 

 

BRUSHES:

Large round synthetic with a good point 

Medium round synthetic with a good point 
Flat brush Large 1.5 - 2” flat brush (for wetting the paper)
Rigger or Script brush #0 for line work 

 

PAPER:
Your choice. Recommend Arches 140 cold press or rough. About 11”x15” or smaller. Make sure it is professional grade! A watercolor block is nice for plein air as it also acts as a board. Be sure it is good paper. 

 

MISC ITEMS (click links for more details):

  • Water containers - Recommend collapsible plein air cups or lightweight plastic recycled food containers
  • Terrycloth towel (small) or sponge
  • Waterproof support board (if not using a block) about 12”x16” (not too big), lightweight such as Gator board.  I like to have 2 or 3 with paper taped down before I start a plein air day.
  • Paper towel or tissue (I like Viva cloth-like towels)
  • Pencil (#2 soft lead) - I like a mechanical pencil with 7mm #2 lead. 
  • Kneaded Eraser
  • Spray Bottle with misting spray
  • Sketchbook (keep it small and lightweight if you can)
  • Masking Tape (I like 3M Contractor grade from Home Depot or Lowe’s)
  • Waterproof black ink pen
  • Apron with pockets

Plein air specific "stuff" (See image of me painting below)

  • Plein air easel, or small lightweight chair and paint on lap, or paint from hotel room balcony
  • Floppy sun-proof hat that covers your ears
  • Sunscreen
  • Bug-off spray
  • Umbrella? I find these cumbersome
  • Viewfinder
  • Grayscale (often comes with a viewfinder)
  • Extra water (both to drink and refill painting water)
  • Cell phone (for taking pictures, and for emergency contact)
  • Bag or tote to carry everything. I like a somewhat shallow open top stiff-side tote, so I can see everything at a glance.
  • Collapsible chair (I use mine as a small side table sometimes)
  • Refuse bag to take away used towels, etc. - recyclable is better, with handles if possible. 
  • Rocks or small stones for weight if windy (we can probably find these lying about). Put in refuse bag. 

Optional items I seldom leave home without