Primer for Plein Air: Part 1 / Gear

What do you need for an easel or a paint box?

Here’s a primitive but useful easel. (Eugène Decan 1829-1894 “Corot at his Easel”) If it worked for Corot…

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While you're waiting for that last snowbank to melt, you should be taking stock of what you have for gear and materials. When the moment strikes and you're finally able to go out without first having to recharge the batteries in your heated socks, it'll be easier if you have everything ready to roll.

At the start of plein air painting season, I always lay out my kit on the studio bench to see if I have all the right components. (And I also take the opportunity to re-evaluate what I used last year; I like to change things up once in awhile, like adding a new color or a different brush.) Then, once I'm satisfied the kit is complete, I pack it up—I like to keep it as a sort of "go bag" that I can just grab as I head out the door.