My Painting Pack
Packing Up
My plein air kit has evolved over the years and I want to share the essential tools and some helpful tips I’ve learned!
Having a lightweight pack and easy setup is useful for avoiding exhaustion. Painting outdoors has its challenges and hopefully your paint kit isn’t one of them.
Pochade Box
I used to pack around a heavy French easel but switched to a pochade box and have noticed many benefits. My pochade box (by Guerilla Painter) is compact enough to fit in my backpack, has a compartment for small paint tubes, room for a couple 6x8 panels, surface area for mixing, and attaches to a standard camera tripod. When I want to paint larger, I simply clamp-on the larger painting surface.
Tripod
I use a sturdy camera tripod to support my paint box which is super convenient and compact. It’s easy to setup and tear down and is handy to have around when I’ve packed my camera and want to grab a few shots.
Backpack
I found a useful hiking backpack from Burton which is tall and fits almost everything I need (other than my tripod and umbrella). In the main compartment you’ll find my paint box, apron, brushes, palette knives, panels, mineral spirits, trash bag/bungee, and paper towels. The top zippered pouch is good for placing business cards, pens, and my phone-charging brick. The side pouches hold my bug spray, extra palette knives, pepper spray, and of course, my snacks.
Umbrella
Carrying an umbrella is useful for avoiding the rain as well as protecting your canvas from the sun. Painting on a surface in the direct sun can be rough on your eyes and negatively impacts your color value perception, causing paintings to turn out much darker than intended. Another thing to keep in mind when choosing an umbrella is avoiding colors that could cast a tint on your canvas, look for either silver or white.
Painting Surface
There are a variety of painting surfaces you can choose from, I typically bring along multiple canvas panels and Gessobords. I like them because they are lightweight and less expensive than stretched canvas, making them ideal for quick outdoor studies. Sometimes I paint directly in my sketchbook, either my Moleskin or on brown craft paper. My painter friend Aimee created a useful video on how to prep your paper for oil paint here.
Panel Carrier
With long drying times for oil paint, it can be difficult to get a fresh painting home safely without adding color to my car in the process. Using a panel carrier has been a great solution. I have a large and small carrying case and both are designed to fit multiple panels. If I have my large case with me, but paint on a smaller panel size, I just tape the painting to a larger unused canvas.
Bring A Buddy
For safety, bring a buddy if you can. Disclaimer: your friend doesn’t have to be a painter, my husband draws comics and my mom reads murder mysteries. Not only is this for safety, but they can also help pack around your supplies and snacks. ;)
Airline Travel Tips
If you have a rollup brush holder, place a long sock over the top, it keeps the brushes from spilling out into your luggage.
Leave a clear note on your paint box to explain the safety of your paint, along with your name and phone number. You can see an example here.
Never pack turpentine or mineral spirits, purchase some at your final destination.
Full list of supplies:
Backpack
Paper towels
Paint
Brushes
Palette Knives
Water bottle
Folding chair
Bag for trash
Drinks/snacks
Painting surface (canvas/panel)
Panel holders (for taking artwork home)
Paint container - when you want to bring lots of paint
Camera
Tripod
Sunscreen
Phone charging brick
Flashlight if you’re painting at sunset or at night
Sketchbook for quick composition studies
Light clip - if you’re painting a nocturne
I hope this list is useful, plein air painting is such a joy especially when you have the right tools with you. :)