Capturing the Moment: Why I Love Painting En Plein Air

There’s something magical about standing outside, surrounded by nature, with a blank canvas in front of you. As an artist, I’ve always been drawn to the beauty of the natural world, but painting en plein air – or painting outdoors – takes that connection to another level. You’re no longer simply observing a landscape; you’re immersed in it. The wind, the light, the smells—all of these things become part of the creative process. For me, plein air painting is not just about capturing a scene; it’s about capturing the feeling of a specific moment in time.

The Joys of Painting Outdoors

One of the most rewarding aspects of painting en plein air is the immediacy of the experience. When you’re outside, you can’t afford to overthink or get bogged down by details. You’re painting in the moment, responding to the shifting light, the movement of the wind, and the changing colors. There’s an energy in that spontaneity, and it often brings out the most vibrant and expressive brushstrokes in my work.

Impressionist painters were known for this approach. Artists like Claude Monet and Pierre-Auguste Renoir would take their easels into the fields and forests to capture the fleeting beauty of nature. They understood that the essence of a scene could never be fully conveyed in a studio—it had to be painted on location, with all the imperfections and surprises that come with being outside.

For me, that’s where the magic happens. Painting outdoors invites me to step outside of my comfort zone, take risks, and let the scene unfold naturally on the canvas.

The Challenges of Plein Air Painting

Of course, plein air painting comes with its own set of challenges. Weather is perhaps the most obvious one. If you’ve ever tried to paint on a windy day, you’ll know the frustration of watching your canvas flap like a sail! Rain can ruin a session just as quickly, and strong sun can make it hard to see your colors accurately. But part of the joy is learning to adapt to those conditions and seeing them not as obstacles, but as part of the process.

Another challenge is time. Nature doesn’t stand still, and neither does the light. When painting outdoors, you might start with bright morning sun, only to find that the light has completely changed by the time you’ve finished your first layer. This means working quickly and learning to capture the essence of a scene without getting too bogged down by the details. It’s a fantastic way to improve your ability to paint what you see in the moment, rather than what you think you see.

Tips for Plein Air Painting

If you’re thinking about trying plein air painting yourself, here are a few tips that have helped me:

1. Pack Light: It’s tempting to bring your entire studio outside, but trust me, you won’t need it all. Bring a limited palette of colors, a few brushes, and some paper towels or rags. You’ll also want an easel that’s portable and sturdy, as well as a way to secure your canvas on windy days. And don’t forget water and snacks—you’ll need to stay hydrated and fueled!

2. Choose the Right Time of Day: Lighting is everything when painting outdoors. The golden hours of early morning or late afternoon offer the best light, with long shadows and softer colors. Midday light, on the other hand, can be harsh and flatten out your scene.

3. Be Flexible: Nature is unpredictable, and conditions can change fast. Learn to adapt and embrace those changes as part of the process. If the light changes or the wind picks up, incorporate that into your painting rather than fighting against it. Sometimes, those unplanned moments lead to the most exciting results.

4. Focus on the Big Picture: When painting outdoors, it’s easy to get lost in the details, but remember that you’re trying to capture the overall mood and essence of the scene. Focus on big shapes, values, and colors first. Once you’ve laid down the basics, you can refine and add details as you go.

5. Enjoy the Experience: Finally, remember that plein air painting is as much about the experience as it is about the final painting. Take time to soak in your surroundings, breathe deeply, and appreciate the moment. Whether or not your painting turns out exactly as you hoped, you’ve had the opportunity to connect with nature and translate that connection into art.

Essential Tools for Plein Air Painting

When heading out for a plein air painting session, it’s important to pack smart and travel light. Over time, I’ve found a few essential tools that make painting outdoors more enjoyable and efficient. Here’s a quick guide to what I always bring with me:

A Portable Easel or Pochade Box: I use a portable French easel for most of my outdoor painting sessions. It’s sturdy enough to handle windy days and uneven terrain but still lightweight for easy transportation. For more compact setups, a pochade box is also a great option—these boxes allow you to carry your paints, palette, and canvas all in one small package, making it perfect for quick setups or longer hikes.

A Limited Palette: Keeping your color palette simple not only lightens your load but also makes mixing colors in the field much easier. My go-to palette includes:

• Ultramarine Blue

• Burnt Sienna

• Cadmium Yellow

• Alizarin Crimson

• Titanium White

These colors are versatile enough to mix a wide range of hues and tones, helping you adapt to any lighting or landscape conditions you may encounter. If I’m working in a more vibrant or unique environment, I might add an extra color or two for more range, but this basic palette works for almost every situation.

Odorless Mineral Spirits (for oil painting): I always bring a travel-size container of odorless mineral spirits for cleaning brushes while I work. It’s great for oils because it helps with cleaning up between colors without the strong scent you’d get from regular turpentine. Make sure to secure the container properly—no one wants a leak in their painting kit!

Canvas Panels or Small Stretched Canvases: For plein air work, I usually opt for canvas panels or small canvases (no larger than 16x20 inches). They’re lighter and more portable than large stretched canvases, and they fit neatly into a pochade box or backpack.

Brushes and Palette Knives: I stick to a small selection of brushes, usually three or four, including a large flat brush, a small detail brush, and a medium round brush. For texture and impasto techniques, I also bring a palette knife, which adds an interesting dimension to the painting when you’re in the moment.

A Viewfinder: When I’m trying to settle on the perfect composition, a viewfinder helps me frame my scene. This small tool allows you to isolate different parts of the landscape and choose the best focus for your painting.

Sun Protection and Water: Plein air painting often means spending hours outside, so don’t forget to protect yourself from the elements. I always pack sunscreen, a hat, and plenty of water to stay hydrated—especially on those long, sunny days.

Packing light allows you to stay nimble and respond quickly to the changing outdoor conditions, but with the right tools, you’ll be ready for anything. Whether it’s a bustling cityscape or a quiet forest, these essentials ensure you can enjoy the process and focus on the creative experience.

One of my paintings that captures the breathtaking coastal views of Maine

Challenges of Specific Weather Conditions

Painting outdoors means working with the ever-changing conditions of nature, which can be both inspiring and challenging. Over the years, I’ve learned that different weather conditions affect not just the mood of a painting, but also the painting process itself. Here are a few common weather challenges and how I approach them:

Windy Days

Wind can be one of the most frustrating aspects of plein air painting. Strong gusts can send your easel toppling, blow debris onto your canvas, or dry your paints too quickly. When I know it’s going to be a windy day, I take extra precautions:

• Stabilize Your Easel: I make sure my easel is securely planted, sometimes even weighing it down with rocks or tying it to a nearby tree or post.

• Use a Smaller Canvas: The larger the canvas, the more likely it is to catch the wind. On especially blustery days, I opt for smaller canvas sizes to reduce the sail-like effect.

• Protect Your Palette: Wind can blow dirt and leaves into your palette, so I try to position myself with my palette sheltered from the wind or use a palette box with a lid.

While wind can be a challenge, it can also bring energy to your work. The movement of leaves, grasses, or water adds a dynamic element to the scene, and I try to capture that motion in my brushstrokes.

Overcast Days

At first, overcast days can seem a bit dull, with gray skies and diffused lighting, but I’ve found they can actually be a hidden gem for plein air painting. On cloudy days, there are no harsh shadows, which allows for a more even, subtle light. This soft light brings out the richness in color and detail that can sometimes be lost in bright sunlight.

• Focus on Color and Detail: With no harsh shadows, colors can appear more vibrant. I often use these days to focus on capturing subtle color variations in the landscape, especially in foliage or water.

• Add Warmth: If the scene feels a little too cool or flat, I’ll add warmth through my color choices by incorporating warmer tones into the shadows or foreground elements, creating balance against the cooler grays of the sky.

Bright Sunlight

Sunny days bring their own set of challenges, particularly with glare on your canvas. I’ve learned to manage these by adjusting my setup:

• Find Shade: If possible, I set up in the shade to avoid direct sunlight on my canvas. Not only does this help with glare, but it also keeps the paint from drying too quickly, especially when working with acrylics.

• Use an Umbrella: A plein air umbrella is a great investment for sunny days. It provides shade over your canvas and palette, allowing you to see colors more accurately. Just make sure to anchor it securely, especially if there's a breeze.

• Be Prepared for Quick Changes: Bright sunlight can create strong contrasts and deep shadows that shift quickly as the sun moves. I work fast to capture the light as it is, often blocking in the large shadow shapes early in the process to maintain consistency throughout the painting. I’ll also sometimes snap a picture of the scene when the light is just right so that I have a reference to use when putting final touches on the painting back in the studio. This allows me to keep the painting true to the light and mood I experienced in the moment, even if the outdoor conditions change rapidly.

Cold Weather

Cold weather can make it harder to manipulate your materials, especially if you’re working with oils. The paint thickens, and your fingers may feel stiff after a while. On chilly days, I make a few adjustments:

• Dress Warmly: Layers are key! Keeping my core warm with layers and wearing gloves that allow dexterity help me stay comfortable and focused on the painting.

• Use Mediums to Adjust Paint Consistency: If my oils are too thick in cold weather, I’ll add a bit more medium to keep the paint smooth and workable.

• Work Quickly: In cold conditions, I tend to work more quickly and avoid too many fine details. The cold brings a sense of urgency to the work, and I often find that the results have a fresh, energetic quality because of it.

Rainy Days

Rain can be a plein air painter's nemesis, but a little preparation can keep you painting even in light showers.

• Use a Waterproof Cover: There are lightweight, collapsible shelters you can set up to protect yourself and your work from rain. In a pinch, I’ve even used an umbrella, angling it over both myself and my canvas.

• Opt for Quick Studies: On rainy days, I often limit myself to quick studies or sketches, especially if the rain is on and off. These can serve as references for more detailed studio work later.

Why Plein Air is Great for All Skill Levels

Plein air painting is truly for everyone, whether you’re a seasoned artist or just starting your journey with painting. While the fast pace and ever-changing conditions might seem intimidating at first, plein air painting offers unique benefits for artists at all levels. It’s a wonderful way to improve your skills and tap into a more intuitive way of painting.

For beginners, plein air painting helps to simplify the process. When you’re outside, you don’t have time to overthink every brushstroke. You learn to work quickly and focus on capturing the essence of a scene, which is a fantastic way to train your observation skills. It encourages you to look at the big shapes, values, and colors instead of getting bogged down by every tiny detail. This approach not only improves your ability to see and paint the world around you but also builds confidence as you learn to trust your instincts.

For more experienced painters, plein air offers a new set of challenges that keep the process exciting. The shifting light, changing weather, and varying moods of nature push you to adapt and respond to your surroundings in real-time. It sharpens your problem-solving skills as you figure out how to maintain consistency in your work despite the variables in the environment.

Whether you’re new to painting or have years of experience, plein air painting helps you break free from perfectionism and enjoy the process of creating art in the moment. It's not about creating a flawless masterpiece but about capturing a moment in time and translating it onto the canvas.

How Nature Influences My Creative Process

Painting en plein air has fundamentally shaped my approach to art. Being in nature helps me see and feel things differently—it’s no longer just about representing a scene accurately but about interpreting it through my personal lens. I’ve found that the fresh air and the immediacy of working outside brings a new kind of energy to my brushstrokes and color choices. The result is not just a painting of a landscape, but a snapshot of my emotional response to that landscape in that particular moment.

In many ways, plein air painting allows me to capture the fleeting beauty of nature in the same way the Impressionists did. It’s about the movement, the changing light, the wind in the trees, and the smell of the earth. It’s a reminder that life, like art, is ever-changing and always evolving.

If you haven’t tried plein air painting yet, I encourage you to take your easel outside and give it a go. You might just fall in love with it, as I have.

Share Your Plein Air Experiences

Have you ever tried plein air painting before? I’d love to hear about your experiences! Whether you’re just getting started or are a seasoned plein air painter, feel free to share your tips, challenges, and favorite locations in the comments below.

What’s your go-to setup? How do you deal with changing weather or light? Let’s start a conversation and inspire each other to explore new ways of painting outdoors.

If you’ve never tried plein air painting, what’s holding you back? Ask me any questions you have—I’m happy to offer advice to help you get started. Let’s build a community where we can share our love for art and the natural world!