Yes it is a bit mad, but it is the silly season and almost time for the holidays. A bit of fun after a busy year never did anyone any harm right? For me this means family time and because it is summer for us in the southern hemisphere it is prime time for plein air painting.

Now I know that the idea of painting outdoors scares many artists out there. Is it safe? Will I make a mess and waste my time? The biggest worry is whether you will make a fool of yourself.
My answer to these are: Yes it is safe with a little common sense.
Yes you may make a mess, but so what. How else do we learn and finally -
No you are not making a fool of yourself. Plein air painting follows a long tradition of master artists getting outdoors to learn from the real world.

So how can you be a plein air superhero these holidays? By getting organised you set yourself up for success.

If you are travelling away for a few weeks and want to make sure that you have your studio essentials then try this Studio In A Box set-up. I have used a metal toolbox with drawers that holds more than enough oil paints, pastels and watercolor for a few weeks. Plus other studio items like gesso, spirits, tape, brushes, palette knives, paper towel and medium all fit in safely.

This is a heavy box once filled up, but takes very little space. It is not for lugging to the beach, but rather to set up your base at your holiday destination.

For an easel there is no better kit than a pochade box. This painting box that fits onto a tripod will make your life much easier. You can do away with the tripod and simply put the box on your lap, but ideally you want to move back and forth regularly to see the painting clearly.

Of course there are the larger easels like the French box easels and more expensive aluminium ones. However travel light as possible for a pain free painting day!

For more portable travel arrangements a converted suitcase backpack will do the trick. The bag below takes my pochade box and tripod plus all the paints and brushes I require plus many other little items.

I can take this bag anywhere and set up whether on the beach or in the countryside.

Additional items could include a large umbrella especially for beach painting. Sunscreen, hat and water. A container that can be sealed for solvents and other painting waste for safe disposal later is essential. 

A wet panel carrier makes life easier for transporting oil paintings back home. You can also use spacers between panels and then secure the panels with elastic bands with the dry surface facing outwards. Some painters simply use a few match sticks glued onto the rear of the panel's edges for this purpose.

Have fun painting wherever you go these holidays!

The first thing to do was cover the canvas in a red wash to remove the bright white look. That gives one a sense of achievement already. The process has started and all you need do is take the next step. 

Then draw in the shapes with charcoal to start getting the design worked out. Once that is in place it is simply a case of block in the big shapes of light and dark and develop the painting until it is time to stop.

There are other technical points too such as varnishing and getting the painting dry enough for packing. Always a worry! 

Then packing the painting so that it can arrive at it's destination a 1000km away in good order. The most nerve wracking time of all.