Want to Paint Outdoors? Here’s What You’ll Need to Paint en Plein Air

In 1841, the American painter John Goffe Rand patented the metal paint tube. With that simple piece of equipment, he launched the practice of painting outdoors known as plein air painting, which is still gaining followers to this day.

Pronounced “plen air,” and popularized by the Impressionists, this method of painting has long seen artists taking their paints and easels outdoors and working from direct observation, striving to capture the light, color, and movement of the world beyond their studios. The paint tube allowed artists to carry paint without worrying that it would dry out or make a mess in their bags, but it was the first invention of many.

Today, there is a wide array of equipment devoted to servicing plein air painters. There are easels and accessories to suit your needs, whether your goal is to paint in a city park, or at the top of a mountain.

Easels

Plein air easels fall into four categories.

1. Field Easel

Field easels are the most basic plein air option. These three-legged easels are made of wood or metal, and do nothing more than hold a canvas.

While they are lightweight and inexpensive, field easels lack the convenient storage and palette-holding capability of more elaborate easels. You may want to add both brush and palette holders (which you can clip onto your easel) or bring along a small folding table so that you won’t have to put your tools on the ground when you’re not using them.

2. French-style easel

For their plein air paintings, the Impressionists used French easels, which are still a popular option thanks to their many useful features. Available in wood or aluminum, this style offers ample storage compartments for a palette, paints, mediums, and brushes, and even has a place to hold a finished, wet painting. Its attached, adjustable legs fold up against the body of the easel to create a suitcase shape, which is easy to carry using a shoulder strap or handle.

The traditional wooden French easel is sturdy and economical, but can be heavy when fully loaded, so you may want to consider a lightweight version if you intend to carry your gear for long distances.

3. Pochade box

The French word pochade means a rough or quick sketch; pochade boxes are well-suited for small works. They’re compact and lightweight enough to fit into a backpack, making them ideal for painters who hike to remote locations to capture the views. And while they have less storage than French easels, pochade boxes do have interior compartments for a limited number of paint tubes, cups, and small tools. The bottom of the box contains a palette and storage compartments or drawers, while the hinged lid opens to become an easel for your painting panels.

One downside of the pochade box is that it doesn’t have legs. You can hold it on your lap, use it on a table top, or mount it to a sturdy camera tripod, allowing you to stand while you paint. If you choose to use a tripod, make sure it’s equipped to carry the weight of your pochade box, as most are designed for the lighter weight of a camera.

4. Tripod-based easel

Another option is an easel system that’s built around a strong tripod. These arrangements are made out of wood or metal, and have two basic components: a palette holder that attaches to the tripod legs, and a panel holder that fits onto the head of the tripod.

Tripod systems are lightweight and can be set up quickly, and their palette surfaces are often larger than those of the French easel and the pochade box. Having a generous area for mixing means you’ll spend less time cleaning your palette as you work, and it makes it easier to work on large paintings.

Like the field easel, however, these easels lack storage. You’ll need a backpack or cart, as well as a panel carrier to transport your paints, brushes, and wet paintings, along with the easel components themselves.

Easel accessories

There’s a tempting abundance of equipment on the market to accessorize your plein air easel. You can purchase clip-on brush holders, shelves, clamping umbrellas to shield your canvas, paper towel holders, and more. However, since each piece of equipment increases your easel’s weight and setup time, it’s worthwhile to do some trial runs with your easel and a minimum amount of equipment before purchasing these extras. You’ll quickly determine which accessories would improve your plein air experience.

A packing list for plein air painting