The term “en plein air” is a French phrase and means “in the open air” so watercolor painting en plein air is painting out doors. Now painting outdoors gives you a feeling of being one with nature and just gives you the perfect constantly changing light. These are the ideal criteria to make your perfect watercolor painting of a landscape or outdoor still life.
If you are planning a vacation don’t forget to take your painting material, why not combine one pleasure with the other. Ones you have been painting en plein air you will either love it or hate it. The biggest secret of plein air painting is to capture the essence of a landscape at its right color and light at a precise moment.
One of the biggest things that makes your painting a success is the way you translate your observation to the paper. And the observation is something that is influenced by several conditions. Your observation depends a lot on how the atmosphere is on that particular time of the day. What I mean is what is dust, pollution, water vapor doing to your observation. This is very important to the end result. But this is also the extreme joy of plein air painting.
When you decide to go plein air watercolor painting travel light. There is no sense in taking all your studio equipment with you. By the time you unpacked everything the perfect picture, ideal colors ideal light, are gone already and you can pack everything again. Below I made a list of things to take with you when you go on a plein air trip.
As promised here a list of utilities that should make your plein air trip to a joyful and successful trip. If you have got all these accessories it will be like your own watercolor outdoor studio
»French box easel or pochade box
»tripod, if using a pochade box
»paint
»brushes
»medium
»paper towels
»umbrella
»painting panels
»sun block
»bug repellent
»extra sweater or jacket
»trash bag
»view finder
»lunch
»hand warmers in the winter
»cell phone
At this place you can buy most of your Watercolor Plain Air needs just click here
All what is left to say is go out and make your watercolor painting, who doesn’t want to be one with nature I think it is the best feeling you will ever experience. And don’t forget to observe and translate that into your painting it is that personal feeling what makes your painting stand out from the rest. And it will give you a greater satisfaction if you can recognize your own feeling
