10 Plein Air Painting Mistakes You Must Never Replay

"I wish I knew how it happens so I could fake that quality in the studio, but that’s the magic of plein air. Our experience comes out on the canvas. All our senses help to create the painting, not just our vision."

Kathleen Dunphy

Let there be light and an easel to paint! Yes, working in natural light conditions is a journey that every budding painter would love to experience. Are you the one who enjoys working in nature’s lap, appreciating the little things around, just being mindful of the moment? It is a kind of bliss to be an outdoor painter, understanding the anatomy of natural light, capturing the interplay of changing light conditions in the golden hours. This is a real task, though! Every canvas has a story to share. And, for plein air painting, the sheer vitality, and the natural warmth of the surroundings work as a hypnotic cue on the minds of a naturalist painter, just like a child toying with paintbrushes, fully consumed in the present moment.

En plein air is all about setting yourself free amidst nature's embrace and letting your artistic intuition and skill do the talking! So, one needs to know the tricks of the trade - how to meet the challenges, especially the budding artists and painters who wish to try their luck under the sun, grabbing the plein air kits like a vacationist camping in the woods. This blog is really going to help those promising artists with the right dose of Dos and Don’ts in this journey. It doesn’t matter at all if you can’t finish off the painting in a day; what really matters is to keep all your senses wide open, to catch the light, to breathe in the sunshine, to enjoy the dappling of rays on your hands while you paint, and to catch up with the overflowing life surrounding your canvas. It is important to experience more than you paint! 

Just be Mindful of these Dos and Don’ts of Painting Outdoors:

1.     Don’t Miss Out on the Research Part

While you get set for an outdoor painting, do not miss out on exploring the weather conditions, the place of study, etc. Without understanding the basic logic behind open air painting, you can land up in a mess. Don’t end up in frustration, it’s better to make the checklist handy. Choose a place of plein air study that is accessible and safe to hang out in for a day. If you can scout there beforehand to know the light conditions, there’s nothing like it!

2.    Ignoring Weather Conditions can be a Spoiler!

Taking in the weather fluctuations and getting attuned to the ambiance is a must for outdoor sessions. If you cannot handle weather turn-ups like rain, windy conditions, harsh winter days, or a day under scorching sun, it will get you nowhere. Have the weather variations in mind, while painting, as a winter day can demand a quick wash, so that the paint won’t dry early. 

A summer or humid day can take up the paints more, with heavier doses of paints, as the hands will move slowly due to the sluggish weather. 

For a rainy-day cover, carry a light-weight umbrella or a waterproof gear.

Go for soft and dreamy washes on a smoggy morning.

Make room for some impromptu arrangements as nature will take her own course, ignoring all your plans! Wait out till you get the sun’s angles perfect.

3.    Ignoring Essential Things to Pack can Backfire!

Do not forget to pack your essentials for plein air like the ideal brushes, watercolor, oil or acrylic paints, canvas, palette knives, and other materials. You would also need stool, easel, sun blocks and hats to avoid exposure to sun.

Yet, don’t go overboard! Do not OVER-PACK or burden your painting logistics with unnecessary brushes, heavy weight paint tubs, stools, etc. as they can be clumsy. It won’t be wise to get fatigued easily. Travel light and put only the basic things inside your paint carousel. Working with versatile brushes and limited colors can bring out the best at times. Invest in materials that are portable and easy to handle.

4.    Working at the Wrong Hours can Lead to Stress!

You don’t have to rush against time, for a good understanding of the natural light variations will help you come up with the best outdoor marvel. The light impacts the mood and the color choice of the painter, so working in harsh light conditions, or under a scorching sun can make the portrait or landscape painting burdened with unwanted shadow and washed-out colors. If you can paint during the golden hours like in early morning set-up or late afternoon, the light will be much softer and dynamic. For the beginners, it would be difficult to gauge the light variations and they would wish to paint hastily to work in full exposure, but that too can lead to stress.

5.    Lack of Clarity and Perspective for the Composition

What would be the basic motif or central theme of the painting? Having a clear idea of what your basic theme is like or what message you would try to convey through the image will help you move forwards. Ignoring composition can result in a mess, as lack of clarity and focus can overwhelm your canvas, with haphazard or chaotic placements. Painting in nature can often burden the painter with too many elements and inspirations to accommodate in a single frame. So, do not lack focus.

If you want to add an authentic feel and depth to your landscape, don’t miss out on the perspective, or else it would look flat. Draw foreground objects and extended horizons to create a sense of space.

6.    Having A Prior Sketch can be a Savior!  

Better if you can have a mini or thumbnail sketch of the composition you would like to paint on! It won’t be wise to jump into painting without a prior plan. You can save a lot of hassle using this mini map to head straight on your plein air journey. Planning in advance will definitely pay off.

7.     Ignoring the Color Palette or Value Study can be a Mess

The color value study is crucial for plein air portraits and paintings. You must take care of the lightness and darkness values of the colors, to have the perfect balance in a painting. Or else, the colors will look synthetic and over-imposed on the canvas. It is true for acrylic plein air or plein air watercolor, or any other medium for that matter.

Sometimes working with minimalistic palettes like black, grey, or white tempt the painters more. Monochromatic palettes do wonder when artists feel extremely worked up or bogged down with the sea of color choices. Working with the core values of black and white can add more contrast and tonality to the image, eliminating stress.

8.    Don’t Get too Attached to the Outdoor Scene  

Do not get too attached to the minute details of the scenery. The outdoor scene can cram your head with elements that you would surely not want to miss. But, plein air is not about replicating the scenery, but to improvise and omit details for the sake of it! Harmonize the elements, adapting to the whole process of artistic elimination and sieving.  Make room for creativity and contemplation.

9.    Don’t Over-do the Painting: Know Where to Stop

Feeling the heat & dust of the ambiance and engaging with the immediate environment make more inspiring plein air pieces. Beginners often get too engrossed with their paintings, losing the connection with the surroundings. Over-worked paintings are not intended; it is better to know where to stop. That shows artistic maturity. Look at your artwork from a distance, and observe it carefully to know whether things are at the proper place, with the eyes of an onlooker. If you miss the nuances, the spirit will be lost.

Get in conversation with the local people or passers-by, as these interactions will enrich your canvas and impact your understanding of the people and places for the plein air study. Embrace every curious glance, as this can result in brilliant open air artwork.

10.  Don’t Get Discouraged: Maintain the Regularity  

It’s not likely that your plein air portrait or landscape will be finished in a day and you have good reasons to smile on! They can be frustrating and you have to take more than one attempt to hit the right spot! Outdoor compositions often get better with regular sittings. Erratic and inconsistent visits will hamper the progress of the painting. So, don’t lose heart and go for the challenges, experiment with new set-ups, new weather conditions, and more, till you get a hang of it like a seasoned outdoor painter.

Prepare for the Hit & Misses of Plein Air: Happy Painting Under the Sun

Enjoying the simplicity of working under a shade of a tree, or gazing through the nearby hills and sun-kissed pastures, painting to your hearts content, oblivious of ‘space and time’ except for the joy and bliss to stay on the canvas, that’s just about plein air. Painting outdoors, in that sense, has a curious and calming effect on the painter.

For all the budding painters heading for a next plein air mission, having great expectations, here is a simple message to drop in - just be a little wary of the common goof ups, and dash for the most illuminating experience, where every brush stroke paints a story, every color is baked in sunlight.

So, what’s your next great motivation for en plein air?

Have some happy outdoor hours for your inner child to play!

And, invite yourself to be curious!