Plein Air Painting Supplies for Creating Outdoors
En plein air painting means creating art outdoors, directly from the landscape and changing natural light. Art Shed’s En Plein Air Edit brings together portable easels, compact paints, sketchbooks, brushes, palettes and lightweight painting surfaces selected for artists who want to take their practice beyond the studio.
Pack light. Look longer. Paint what is actually there.
Shop Outdoor Painting Essentials
Whether you are painting by the coast, sketching in a city street, working in the bush or simply setting up in the backyard, a good plein air kit should be portable, practical and suited to your chosen medium. Browse our curated collection below or explore the essential categories for building your own outdoor art kit.
How to Build a Plein Air Painting Kit
The best outdoor painting setup is not necessarily the biggest. Choose materials you can carry comfortably, set up quickly and pack away without turning the outing into a small military operation.
1. Choose your support
A lightweight field easel is easy to carry and adjust on uneven ground. A French box easel is heavier but combines an easel, palette and storage in one portable workstation.
2. Match the surface
Use a sketchbook for drawing and quick studies, watercolour paper for washes, or canvas panels and boards for acrylic and oil painting. Smaller surfaces are usually easier to manage outdoors.
3. Simplify your palette
A compact selection of warm and cool primary colours, white where required, and a useful earth colour can produce a surprisingly broad range of landscape mixes.
4. Pack the practical bits
Bring a palette, water container or painting medium, cloths, clips, masking tape, pencils and a bag for taking every scrap of rubbish home again.
Which Art Medium Is Best for Plein Air Painting?
There is no single correct plein air medium. The best choice depends on how lightly you want to travel, how quickly you work and the finish you enjoy.
Watercolour
Compact watercolour pans and a water brush make an exceptionally portable setup. Watercolour is ideal for quick colour studies, travel journals and transparent landscape washes.
Gouache
Traditional gouache provides opaque, matte colour and can usually be reactivated with water. It suits illustrators and painters who want bold shapes, compact materials and easy corrections.
Acrylic
Acrylic paint dries quickly and layers easily, making it practical for short outdoor sessions. In warm or windy conditions, a mister or stay-wet palette can help keep colours workable.
Oil
Oil paint stays workable for longer, giving artists more time to blend changing colours and refine edges. A secure wet-panel carrier and careful transport of mediums make the setup easier.
Pencils and Drawing
Graphite, coloured pencils and watercolour pencils are ideal for artists who want the lightest possible setup. Add a sketchbook and sharpener and you are ready to work almost anywhere.
Plein Air Kit Checklist
- Portable or field easel
- Sketchbook, paper, canvas panel or painting board
- Compact paint or pencil selection
- A small range of versatile brushes
- Palette or mixing surface
- Pencil and eraser for planning
Useful Extras
- Water container or sealed medium container
- Clips or masking tape for windy conditions
- Cloths or paper towel
- Hat, sunscreen and drinking water
- Wet-panel carrier for oil paintings
- Bag for packing out used materials and rubbish
Art Shed tip
Start smaller than you would in the studio. A compact surface encourages quick decisions, is easier to shield from wind and helps you respond to changing light before the entire scene decides to become a different painting.
New to Painting Outdoors?
Learn how to choose a location, organise your materials and begin working from life in our En Plein Air Painting Guide . It is a useful starting point for beginners and studio artists taking their first creative expedition outside.
Frequently Asked Questions About Plein Air Painting
What does “en plein air” mean?
“En plein air” means “in the open air”. In art, plein air painting and drawing refer to creating outdoors from direct observation rather than working only from photographs or memory in a studio.
What supplies do I need for plein air painting?
A basic plein air kit includes a portable surface, sketchbook or painting panel, a compact selection of colours, a few versatile brushes, a palette and the water or medium required for your paint. An easel is useful but not essential.
What is the best plein air setup for a beginner?
Beginners often find a sketchbook with pencils or a compact watercolour pan set easiest to manage. Both options are portable, quick to set up and allow you to concentrate on observation, colour and composition.
Which easel is best for painting outdoors?
Choose a lightweight aluminium or timber field easel when portability matters most. Choose a French box easel when you want greater stability plus built-in storage and a palette. Always check its supported canvas size before buying.
Can I paint outdoors without an easel?
Yes. A sketchbook, watercolour block or small canvas panel can be held, placed on your lap or supported by a drawing board. This simpler setup is particularly useful for urban sketching, travel and short sessions.
Can acrylic paint be used for plein air painting?
Yes. Acrylic paint is portable, versatile and fast drying. Because it can dry particularly quickly outdoors, carry a water mister or stay-wet palette and work with manageable amounts of paint.
Take Your Art Outside
Shop Art Shed’s curated En Plein Air Edit for portable easels, outdoor painting supplies, sketchbooks, brushes, palettes and travel-friendly surfaces. Order art supplies online for delivery across Australia or visit our Moorabbin art store for help building a plein air kit that suits the way you create.
Browse the complete plein air painting collection below.