Learn Outdoor Painting with Confidence

Download your pdf Plein Air Painting Guide. This video lesson provides a suggested list of materials to make up your plein air painting kit.

Composition is always important. It is a skill that develops as your artist's eye develops. But there are a few handy tips you can keep in mind. Plus download the infographic and keep it in your painting bag for reference.

A basic painting process that you can rely on! This is one of the secrets to consistent successful painting outdoors.

This is a step-by-step process that can be easily followed. This method is only a guideline. You can add to the process as you develop your own style. However it is helpful when painting outdoors to have a basic guideline to follow. This simply one thing less to worry about when painting outdoors.

A second demonstration following a similar step-by-step process with a different subject. This simply illustrates that the basic process can work with any subject. This hopefully will give you the confidence to tackle your outdoor painting without too much concern.

The main points about mixing color outdoors is to be aware of color value, temperature and saturation. Be sure to download your value scale and color wheel.

The benefits of a limited palette of primaries are explained. Plus we look a a few common color mixes that you will use outdoors. Remember to think of color temperature and value relationships at all times.

Use grays to get authentic colors in your landscapes. No tube colors necessary except the primaries and white. You will soon be a color mixing expert!

This assignment is intended to get you working on something practical. This is an easy way to reinforce the lesson on paint mixing. Talking only goes so far. So take a moment and try mixing colors.

Before we start painting let us consider the benefit of gathering information outdoors. All this information in the form of sketches, notan value sketches and simply being there to experience the scene all contribute to the final painting.

A fun look at the many ways you can gather information outdoors. This is part of the painting process to get the creative ideas flowing. I love the peace and tranquility of this stage. It is like meditation in the fresh air!

Time to get some references from the outdoors. Make it simple sketches, watercolor swatches of color and value. Basic stuff from your backyard on the balcony. If you are adventurous try out your local park or beach.

Nervous about painting outdoors? There is no reason to be, but we all feel a little nervous when starting out. Try starting from your backyard or balcony! There are many ways to build confidence before venturing out into the public.

In Part 1 we look at blocking in the main shapes: darkest darks, lightest lights and the mid-value shapes. These are the basic process steps that will form the backbone of all our plein air paintings.

Now to develop the shapes further. This stage is to bring emphasis the light with thick juicy oil paint. Remember this is a quick study and not an overworked studio painting. Plein air is often about making studies that teach us about mixing color, observation and painting intuitively.

Now to review the painting in its frame.

Ready to try your plein air painting?

In this Section I am painting a beach scene Port Alfred. This is a holiday town in the Eastern Cape with stunning beaches. This demonstration shows how to take advantage of weather changes. The weather was initially cloudy when I started painting, but then bright sunshine broke through onto parts of the beach. I added these patches of light to the scene to contrast with shaded areas for a more interesting painting.

In Part 1 I am establishing the composition and blocking in darks, lights and mid-tones.

PS: Purely as a bit of fun I have added an mp3 download in the resources. This is a recording I made of the sea sounds near to the actual scene in the demo. Play it in your studio to get that "outdoor feel" or simply to relax.

In Part 2 I go on to develop the shapes adding detail by by using smaller brushstrokes and paying close attention to color relationships.

The finishing touches are added then back to the studio to assess the final result.

An introduction into how we can use the plein air study or sketch for a larger studio work.

Preparing the large panel for transposing the plein air painting onto the large panel.

The studio painting and a summary of the process.

This video is about an outdoor painting I did in a village called Port Alfred, South Africa. It was a very windy day, but I found a relatively protected spot alongside a quiet road. There was some puddles in the road from rains the night before. These together with the morning light produced a nice subject. Very simple composition, but potential for color and value contrasts and lots of light and shadow. 

It is a fun lesson with my basic process. I use a few more convenience colors on my palette like yellow ochre and burnt sienna. Hopefully you can see that outdoor painting can be kept simple, spontaneous and fun. Just you and nature having a moment together.

Another beach painting adventure!

Now to finish this painting and take it back to the studio.