Plein Air Painter
Dorothy (Stott) Clark
www.griswoldart.org
Truck Painting Supplies
for a
Plein Air Painter
First, I was astounded to receive a phone call from the head of our local art council who was involved in the film industry in NY asking me, "What is a Plein Air Artist?"
Second, here is the definition:
1: of or relating to painting in outdoor day light. 2: of or relating to a branch of Impressionism that attempts to represent outdoor light and air.
Third, back to my shock with this question from the head of The Griswold Art Council! Even though our Florence Griswold Museum with their art school training Plein Air Painters, is twenty minutes away from the center of town,
and is the first home of
American Impressionism,
we still have a lack of fundamental education of what a classically trained painter is.
Truly, I practice a lost art in our computer world and in our little community!
Hopefully as I expand my computer skills, and expand my website with each painting I create from life, I can explain more about the art of
a Plein Air Painter.
Supplies:
1. An Old Truck!
(Preferably an old truck with a bench seat)
(Preferably an old truck with a bench seat)
2. A small sketch book.
l like the spiral ones with hard covers. When with my fellow classmate from Paier in San Francisco, Christopher Greco introduced me to these small square books. Like Christopher, I am now in the habit of carrying them everywhere.
3. A number 2B pencil, kneaded eraser & pencil sharpener. I use a single edge razor & sanding block to remind me of Mrs. Zalinger, my drawing teacher from art school. Remember a small paper bag to place under the pencil when sharpening. I don't like leaving pencil shavings on the ground.
4) Small water color blocks or water color paper taped to card board. I like Arches & Sennelier Blocks & Twin Rocker Handmade paper in sheets. All ROUGH 140lb. Block/paper taped to cardboard NO larger than your stirring wheel. These can rest nicely inside the stirring wheel for your Easel. Please don't use cheap masking tape to cut corners or you WILL damage the paper fibers. Use DRAFTING TAPE 3/4" from "where to buy supplies below".
My thanks to Attorney George Kennedy for the drawing table with a slit on top that slides over the stirring wheel so I can do larger paintings comfortably.
5. Watercolor painting materials:
"Keep the following SIMPLE & SMALL"
I use the Winsor & Newton Palette (Doug Cushman's suggestion) or
the "Whiskey Painters" Palette
I use the following paint tubes:
Holbein Professional Paint Tubes:
Cadmium Yellow
Yellow Ocre
Cadmium red light
Alizarin Crimson
French Ultramarine Blue Deep or Light
(remember deep is grainy)
Hookers green
Sap Green (Mr. Sovek's favorite)
with
Winsor & Newton Paint Tubes:
Winsor Blue
(from my illustration life with Mercer Mayer)
Winsor Red
All colors including brown can be mixed from all these basic colors!
No tricks. No salt & definitely NO white or black!
Plan the paper for the white. Mix all your colors together for a beautiful black.
Poland Spring Water bottles. I keep these in the flatbed of my truck.
Winsor & Newton collapsible cup to fit into your truck's drink holder. This has a great base & does not warble like the camping cups.
A hot water maker that plugs into the cigarette lighter. This fits into my other cup holder & makes great tea! It also is a hand warmer in winter.
Folding red sable Isabey travel brushes various sizes: one large #12 for wash area &
#8 is my most used with the rigger for lines.
Bounty paper towels & plain white Kleenex.
Remember to put these in your little brown paper bag with your pencil shavings to stay neat!
6. A small backpack to carry everything easily in!
My new favorite is made by Lug.
7. A camping hair dryer: great to plug into your cigarette lighter to speed drying time.
8. A small pillow for your back & small quilt to use over your knees in the winter for warmth. Thank you to Mrs. Caffary for the gloves with cut off finger tips to keep my hands warm.
9. Sheets of cardboard cut to fit your truck windows. This helps block sun out of your eyes & prevents glare on your painting. I store these under the bench seat for easy access.
10. Most importantly keep a sense of humor! I have been confronted by police officers tapping on my window wanting to know what I'm doing parked in the old truck!
11. Keep doors locked & STAY SAFE. Keep keys in the ignition. I was unexpectedly flashed at a painting site and made a clean get away. Remember STAY SAFE because we are all alone in our portable studio.
12. Small Camera or IPhone camera. I take a photo with my iPhone each time I'm at my painting site.
When I return to the site, even if it is the next morning, I am amazed by the changes. I hold my phone above my stirring wheel & snap the photo through my windshield before I leave!
My art supplies come from Dick Blick Art Supplies:
www.dickblick.com
my camping supplies coming from Amazon. As a Prime member free shipping is great!
www.amazon.com
My handmade watercolor paper comes from TwinRocker in Brockton Indiana. Call and ask for Fran. She is wonderful & sends out the paper with love. It is expensive. Become proficient & confident with the blocks first.
phone: (765) 563-3119
www.twinrocker.com.
12. Keep no secrets when painting & learning. Share what works just for you with others who love home made art and painting from the life around us. Foster Caddell taught me this at a very young age.
"The joy is in the making and not in the end result."
Dorothy (Stott) Clark
Note to my beginning Plein Air Painting Students:
I cannot help you if you do not begin by drawing fifteen minutes each day in your sketchbook. Again, # 2B pencil, A small sketchbook, an eraser, and 15 minutes to draw anything around you each day. Simple in word but not in deed. Truly, I have heard every excuse as to why not. Please don’t tell me yours!
So again, for those who chat, tell everyone they are an artist and don’t draw: don’t waste money on supplies or chatting with me about your art if you can’t show me your sketchbook.
“The word Artist is pulled taught, stretched and played with like a rubber band by those who are not.”
Dorothy Parker
"Keep the following SIMPLE & SMALL"
I use the Winsor & Newton Palette (Doug Cushman's suggestion) or
the "Whiskey Painters" Palette
I use the following paint tubes:
Holbein Professional Paint Tubes:
Cadmium Yellow
Yellow Ocre
Cadmium red light
Alizarin Crimson
French Ultramarine Blue Deep or Light
(remember deep is grainy)
Hookers green
Sap Green (Mr. Sovek's favorite)
with
Winsor & Newton Paint Tubes:
Winsor Blue
(from my illustration life with Mercer Mayer)
Winsor Red
All colors including brown can be mixed from all these basic colors!
No tricks. No salt & definitely NO white or black!
Plan the paper for the white. Mix all your colors together for a beautiful black.
Poland Spring Water bottles. I keep these in the flatbed of my truck.
Winsor & Newton collapsible cup to fit into your truck's drink holder. This has a great base & does not warble like the camping cups.
A hot water maker that plugs into the cigarette lighter. This fits into my other cup holder & makes great tea! It also is a hand warmer in winter.
Folding red sable Isabey travel brushes various sizes: one large #12 for wash area &
#8 is my most used with the rigger for lines.
Bounty paper towels & plain white Kleenex.
Remember to put these in your little brown paper bag with your pencil shavings to stay neat!
6. A small backpack to carry everything easily in!
My new favorite is made by Lug.
7. A camping hair dryer: great to plug into your cigarette lighter to speed drying time.
8. A small pillow for your back & small quilt to use over your knees in the winter for warmth. Thank you to Mrs. Caffary for the gloves with cut off finger tips to keep my hands warm.
9. Sheets of cardboard cut to fit your truck windows. This helps block sun out of your eyes & prevents glare on your painting. I store these under the bench seat for easy access.
10. Most importantly keep a sense of humor! I have been confronted by police officers tapping on my window wanting to know what I'm doing parked in the old truck!
11. Keep doors locked & STAY SAFE. Keep keys in the ignition. I was unexpectedly flashed at a painting site and made a clean get away. Remember STAY SAFE because we are all alone in our portable studio.
12. Small Camera or IPhone camera. I take a photo with my iPhone each time I'm at my painting site.
When I return to the site, even if it is the next morning, I am amazed by the changes. I hold my phone above my stirring wheel & snap the photo through my windshield before I leave!
My art supplies come from Dick Blick Art Supplies:
www.dickblick.com
my camping supplies coming from Amazon. As a Prime member free shipping is great!
www.amazon.com
My handmade watercolor paper comes from TwinRocker in Brockton Indiana. Call and ask for Fran. She is wonderful & sends out the paper with love. It is expensive. Become proficient & confident with the blocks first.
phone: (765) 563-3119
www.twinrocker.com.
12. Keep no secrets when painting & learning. Share what works just for you with others who love home made art and painting from the life around us. Foster Caddell taught me this at a very young age.
"The joy is in the making and not in the end result."
Dorothy (Stott) Clark
Note to my beginning Plein Air Painting Students:
I cannot help you if you do not begin by drawing fifteen minutes each day in your sketchbook. Again, # 2B pencil, A small sketchbook, an eraser, and 15 minutes to draw anything around you each day. Simple in word but not in deed. Truly, I have heard every excuse as to why not. Please don’t tell me yours!
So again, for those who chat, tell everyone they are an artist and don’t draw: don’t waste money on supplies or chatting with me about your art if you can’t show me your sketchbook.
“The word Artist is pulled taught, stretched and played with like a rubber band by those who are not.”
Dorothy Parker