Gear Up! 5 Accessories to Enhance Your Plein Air PaintingÂ
Painting outdoors can be exciting and fulfilling, but it doesn’t come without some challenges. It’s often a love-hate relationship with the elements that keeps the spark going for many plein air artists. A gust of wind, a change in light, uneven ground —these are just some of the frustrations a plein air artist encounters. Having the right tools and accessories, like the ones listed here, will help you navigate these problems and allow you to focus less on the elements and more on your painting.
Shade
The sun is constantly a challenge when painting outdoors. It can be problematic to paint in direct light, so having shade available is tremendously helpful. An umbrella or canopy isn’t just a sunblock; it’s a shield against glare and color distortion. Easel-mounted shades can be convenient, but can make your easel less stable in windy conditions. This Guerrilla Painter Shadebuddy Umbrella comes with a stand that secures the umbrella in the ground. Another plus: The silver canopy reduces color distortion from reflected light.
Brush Cleaner
Clean brushes are important for managing color, especially in the fast-paced experience of plein air painting. That’s why a portable brush cleaner comes in handy. Compact and efficient, these Guerilla Painter Mighty Mite Brush Washers are lightweight, portable, and most importantly, leak proof.
Wet Painting Carrier
For plein air painters, transporting wet paintings without damage is a persistent concern. That trip from the easel to your vehicle can leave your painting particularly vulnerable to dropping and blowing debris. That’s why having a wet panel carrier can be a handy addition to your painting set. Designed specifically for artist’s panels, this carrier accommodates a variety of sizes and helps ensure you get your painting back to the studio safely.
Sienna Plein Air Wet Panel Box
Easel Weights
Wind is possibly the most common challenge to manage outdoors, threatening to topple easels, scatter canvases, and blow debris into your wet paint. Portable weights like these can make your easel more stable and secure. A benefit of these weights is that they can be suspended under your easel or mounted directly to the legs. They can also be filled with a variety of materials (sand, rocks or water) to create a weight that works best for you.
Easy-Going 4-Pack Sand Bags
Brush Holder
These are just a few of the innumerable accessories available to outdoor painting. What would you add to the list?In the chaos of outdoor painting, it can be difficult to keep your brushes from tumbling to the ground, where they get lost in grass, covered in sand, or washed away in a stream. A brush holder like this keeps tools within reach and off the ground. With its simple yet effective design, the brush clip keeps your brushes organized, stable, and in reach.
Brush Grip Rotating Brush Holder
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Meet the Artist
Scott Maier is an artist and a content contributor to artistsnetwork.com. He’s also the author of the instructional art book See, Think, Draw: An Easy Guide for Realistic Drawing and Beyond.
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