Discussion: Does anyone use watercolors outside?

[sbwood007]

I like your bike set up! Thinking about doing the same with my mountain bike!

[backspin]

I totally agree with Doug--for me plein air painting is about getting out & doing something I love, and coming back with the memories. The quality of the painting is secondary to me--which is good, because I'm not very good at it!! lol

I find it freeing, as my primary goal is not to be a great painter, but to capture a scene that I want to remember. I always use watercolors, it's my preferred medium in general. I have a portable/fold-up chair, and a small backpack that holds all my gear. I usually carry a half-gallon jug of water too, although if you're near a lake or stream just get your water from there! I know I could pare down my kit if I had to.

[Bobar57]

I'll love to paint plein air,but due to health problems I'm unable to do so.However because the lack of space in my apartment,I use a plein air set up to do watercolors at home.

Bob

[Chris Robinson]

Originally Posted by Yorky

I paint plein air because it is fun!

The results don't matter so much, it is so good to paint what is in front of you and enjoy the fresh air and the countryside.

Doug

Heavens forbid, Doug. You are not supposed to enjoy yourself!!!!

[Yorky]

Doug

[clayville]

I'm not confident or focused enough to paint in the midst of a lot of strangers, but painting outdoors is very liberating for me the way I most often approach it.

I usually do quick and small (6" x 10" up to about 9" x 12") watercolor sketches, perhaps 3 in an hour, working much more loosely than I do in my studio work. I'll often use a very soft and small squirrel mop for these (mine is an Isabey 3/0). Outdoors I find it much easier to "edit" the landscape that I see, selecting those elements that are important to emphasize while easily eliminating those that are distracting. Inside when I'm working from photos, I find it much more difficult to 'break through the photo plane' and enter the scene, and I tend to get bogged down in detail. But I do bring a camera with me when painting outside just in case...

A gasketed palette that minimizes mess and a small water jar with a lid can help:
http://www.dickblick.com/products/ma...roof-palettes/

I usually get by with either unstretched spiral pads of paper, Arches blocks around 9 x 12, or I'll tape some down to a piece of plywood I have that (barely) fits in my bag. But I do sometimes haul out a half-sheet stapled to gatorboard.

Doug is right: it should be fun. Good for the eye, and food for the soul.
Clay

[noge]

Originally Posted by clayville

I'm not confident or focused enough to paint in the midst of a lot of strangers, ......
Clay

Dont worry
1) If you are painting there is no need to paint in the midst of strangers If you are sitting few yards beside the mainstream .....

One of the most importend things is : The painting place !!!
Try to find a place where your backside is prodected - a tree , a wall, a fence ......
2) Most people ignore a painter - if you are not a barrier on their way - they dont care about you

[treeshark]

For most of my life I only painted plein air in watercolour, I came very late to doing scenes in the studio, I actually find in harder indoors. The only thing that really makes outdoors watercolour annoying is when it's damp... I sometimes take one into the car and turn the heater blower on full to dry it out! A few examples below from many years ago. I was young and didn't realise it was hard...
Rob

[Yorky]

A few examples below from many years ago. I was young and didn't realise it was hard...

You certainly make it look easy Rob.

Lovely work.

Doug