Making a successful plein air painting is a big challenge.
It’s actually more about preparation and mindset, than painting skills.
So for growing artists, here are 5 small (but easily fixable) mistakes most people make. If you can avoid these, your paintings have an exponentially higher chance of success.
1. Too Much Gear
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Carrying too much drains your energy and focus.
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Keep your setup light and simple with just the essentials.
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Save your effort for the painting, not lugging supplies.
2. Being Unprepared For The Weather
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Your preparation for weather can make or break a painting session.
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Check the forecast and dress for hot, cold, windy, rainy, buggy, etc.
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Stay comfortable so you can focus on painting.
3. Chasing The Light
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Natural light and color changes quickly, especially on sunny days.
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Block in big shapes and values, then stick to them.
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Embrace this constraint to paint fast, bold, and loose.
4. Failing To Simplify Complexity
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Nature is full of distracting detail, so don’t paint every leaf.
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Group shapes and focus on the big picture.
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Strong values and large shapes are your foundation.
5. Being Too Hard On Yourself
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Treat plein air painting as a sketch or practice
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Not every painting is going to be a masterpiece.
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Be kind to yourself and enjoy the process.
See and avoid these common mistakes. You will have a much better chance of a successful plein air painting and enjoyable time outside.