What to pack, why it matters, and how to keep your kit light and effective.
There’s nothing quite like stepping outside with your brushes and letting the landscape dictate the story. Plein air painting forces you to make decisions quickly, simplify shapes, and chase that shifting light with a sense of urgency that studio work rarely delivers. The trick, of course, is having the right tools — and only the right tools — so you’re not dragging half your studio into the field.
Below is a practical list of the essentials I recommend for any painter, whether you’re working in watercolor, oil, or gouache.
1. The Easel or Support
Your easel is the “backbone” of your setup. A good plein air easel should be sturdy, portable, and quick to deploy.
Options:
- Tripod + pochade box for oils or gouache
- Lightweight watercolor easel with adjustable angles
- Sketchboard + clamp system if you prefer to stand or sit low
Why it matters:
You don’t want wind wobble, sagging canvases, or a setup that takes fifteen minutes to assemble. The less you fight your gear, the more you can focus on painting the light.
2. Your Paint Kit (Compact is King)
Watercolor
- A small metal palette or travel palette
- A curated set of 12–18 half pans (stick to your reliable pigments)
- Collapsible brushes or a simple roll-up brush carrier
Oil / Gouache
- A compact paint box
- Limited palette: two blues, two reds, two yellows, plus white and a neutral
- A sealed solvent container (for oils) or small jar of water (for gouache)
Why it matters:
Plein air rewards simplicity. A tight palette makes color harmony easier and keeps your kit stress-free.
3. Paper, Panels, or Substrates
Bring surfaces that hold up to weather, humidity, and your medium.
- Watercolor: 100% cotton blocks (9×12 or smaller)
- Gouache: heavyweight watercolor paper
- Oil: gessoed panels, linen panels, or oil-primed paper taped to a board
Why it matters:
Wind + flimsy paper = comedy you don’t want to star in. Blocks and panels stay put.
4. Brushes (Just a Few Workhorses)
You don’t need your full studio set.
Watercolor:
- #8 or #10 round
- 1″ flat
- A rigger for branches, grasses, and fine work
Oil/Gouache:
- 2 flats
- 2 filberts
- 1 round
- 1 small detail brush
Why it matters:
Versatility beats volume. Each brush should earn its spot.
5. Water, Solvent, and Cleanup Tools
- Water: Collapsible bottle + extra small container
- Oil solvents: Gamsol in a leak-proof jar
- Paper towels or shop towels
- A trash bag that won’t blow away
Why it matters:
Field cleanup is part of the plein air rhythm. Make it easy on yourself.
6. Weather Protection & Comfort Items
You don’t have to suffer to make art — this isn’t 19th-century romanticism.
- A hat (sun or drizzle)
- Sunscreen
- Bug spray
- Lightweight stool
- Small umbrella with clamp (for the painting or yourself)
- Fingerless gloves in colder months
Why it matters:
If you’re miserable, your painting shows it. Comfort keeps your focus on form and value.
7. A Simple Carry System
This can be as humble as a backpack or as organized as a dedicated field bag.
What matters is this: everything fits, and everything is reachable.
- Backpack
- Messenger bag
- Rolling case for heavier oil setups
- Belt pouch for brushes and wipes
8. Extras That Feel Small but Make a Big Difference
These are the little helpers no one talks about — but every plein air painter secretly treasures.
- Bulldog clips
- Masking tape
- Pencil + kneaded eraser
- Viewfinder or simple value finder
- A gray palette surface (helps you judge color better outdoors)
- Sketchbook for warm-ups
Packing Mindset: The Two-Minute Rule
When you set up, you should be ready to paint in two minutes or less.
If something in your kit slows you down, rethink it. Plein air is about the dance between the moment and the materials — quick decisions, bold shapes, honest impressions.
The simpler your gear, the more freely you can move.
Closing Thoughts
A well-packed plein air kit isn’t about having everything — it’s about having what helps you react to light, shape, and atmosphere without hesitation. Once your tools disappear into your muscle memory, the landscape becomes the real subject again.
Let the wind, the clouds, and the changing sun guide you. And enjoy that beautiful feeling of painting in the open air — where everything is a little unpredictable and a lot more alive.
