Materials for Outdoor Painting

Fresh from travels and painting in the US, Friday sees the first of our "Painting in Manchester"workshops. Questions abound as to what materials are needed, what type of easel is best etc. Here is a very basic roundup of what I use. Every artist finds their own solution and you will too.

• Expect to forget something vital and know that you will probably be able to improvise. 
• Don't set your expectations too high - painting outdoors is unpredictable and great fun.

Easels

Lightweight Aluminium easel (Devon)

+ Very lightweight
+ Holds any size canvas
- Need to hold palette in hand while painting
- Transporting palette and wet painting can be tricky


French (Box) Easel

+ Holds any size canvas
+ Carries wet palette and can carry wet painting
+ Provides palette table
- Heavy to carry- also available in half box size, which is lighter.



Pochade Box

+ Very compact and transportable - but need tripod too unless working on your knees
+ Can carry up to 3 wet paintings and wet palette
- Only one size painting (this is a 10" x 8" made by Abbey Easels)
- 3 sides of painting are inaccessible and need touching up later

Materials 

This is what I have in my backpack, along with a camera.

• Brushes (about 12)
• Palette knife
• Small sketchbook and pencil
• Paper towel
• Jar to hold wet brushes
• Small bottles of Zest-It and Linseed Oil
• Mirror
• Yellow Pages
• Raincoat (if weather forecast suggests)
• Peaked cap
• Plastic bag for dirty rags
• Primed hardboard panels (10 x 12, 10 x 14, 10 x 16 inches. If you do not have an easel which can carry wet paintings, half matchsticks can be glued to the back of these small panels near to the edges so they can be stacked on top of each other without disturbing the wet paint).
• Viewfinders 
• Metal dipper for solvent
• Paints - 37 ml tubes and 200ml white

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