Plein Air Watercolour Sketching Kit

It's important that my watercolour plein air kit is as light-weight as possible and can also be used to paint or sketch in my car. In this video I show you what I use to carry my watercolour sketching supplies when I'm painting away from the studio, in a cafe, at the park or in town. I also demonstrate how I set up to work in my small car. I have come up with some easy solutions that I think you might find useful.

[@gorway7]

Love the nappy bag idea - your so right about high tech brand name and camera type bags, I had a work bag that I carried my flask and sandwiches in but it looked very much like the trendy Billingham style camera bags and I had to deal with 3 attempted muggings in London within the space of a month - so I started using my wife's 'Save The Children Charity' cotton tote bag and was never bothered again. They see what they want to see and if it looks like it contains something valuable , you become a target. Many artists, myself included are using tripods as portable easels so that in itself could attract unwanted attention.

[@MDCampbell]

Always nice to see the other side of the artist's work! This was terrific! Well done, Patricia! :)

[@MPLangerArt]

Thanks Mark. I really appreciate your kind words.

[@lenegriego4498]

Hi Patricia, it’s nice to meet a fellow photographer/artist. Covid-19 put an end to my studio and most of my photography business. I did family portraits, weddings, charity events, conventions, the usual large group stuff. Now I spend most of my time painting and looking at what other people are painting. I especially love your hacks, artists are so good at making things work. Thank you for sharing.

[@MPLangerArt]

HI Lene. It's just now that I picked up your comment and wanted to thank you for taking the time to share your experience. I'm so sorry to hear about your photography business. I'm glad to hear that you are painting. Keep it up!

[@essietangle9931]

Lots of good thought for different occasions. I too am a lefty and have to move to passenger side. Thank you for sharing your setup.

[@pattimcclelland6635]

Love the diaper bags idea.

[@dianacolt8104]

Hi my art friend, I just wanted to thank you for this video , it inspired me to put together my own plein air kit and I just moved my self into a brand-new 12 pocket diaper bag and it works real well. I also made the Liz Steel board. It has been a really fun project for me., the really hard thing for me is to take less not more, but that is must me. I very much enjoy your video so keep them coming. Thank you again

[@MPLangerArt]

Wow Diana, that's great about the diaper bag and Liz Steel board! I expect you'll have lots of fun times doing plein air using both of those and would love to hear how it goes. Like you, taking less not more is an ongoing challenge. Thanks so much for commenting.

[@doseofinspirationclips]

Smart and this makes me very happy. I have many kits, and you speak my language. THanks

[@farmwife7944]

The clear tray in the majello palette is to turn upside down and place over the paints when you are ready to close it up. That way the wet paint in the big mixing area on the top half will not contaminate your paints.

[@michelletulumello661]

OMG Haha this is the kind of thing I would never notice, thank you!

[@btwilks]

I guess there are as many approaches to selecting, packing and carrying art materials as there are to the painting process itself. I always enjoy seeing how others solve the various problems (opportunities?) that present themselves in these areas. My ancient joints mean that I have to travel even lighter than you do, but your video gave me one or two ideas to think about - many thanks for recording, editing and sharing the video. Regards, Brian.

[@MPLangerArt]

Thanks Brain for commenting. If you have strategies for carrying watercolour sketching supplies into the field I would love to hear them. Please feel free to leave them here in a comment.

[@ReemAlhalyan]

This is a really great video. I love how soothing your voice is LOL. I carry around similar things with me, but I almost never take more than a few so it was really interesting to see your setup if I did want to carry more things around.

[@fionafrazer8820]

Excellent setup and explanations, Patricia - dog hair/cat hair - it can add texture to a painting!

[@MPLangerArt]

LOL Fiona, but isn't it supposed to land in the trees, not the sky?? Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@OneTrueWord1988]

Fiona Frazer: A new twist on "granulation!" I like it! (I have a much-loved cat.) :)

[@CyclingM1867]

Good point about name brand camera bags. I'm an amateur photographer & am currently using a small messenger bag for my gear, but I needa bigger bag. So I shall see if I can find a diaper bag or something similar to use instead. Baggies are a great idea because you can keep things compartmentalised & protected from spills or the weather or other stuff that would ne messy. I hope your car was fine after the ice. Thanks for this post! 😊

[@dibyoshreepaint9241]

This is so inspiring, I’ve been wanting to get into plein air painting for a while, but the pandemic has kept me from going places, I’m stuck at home studying from reference

[@annetteprice9947]

Very impressive light weight kit ideas. No matter how I try to pack minimal items I still feel like I’m carrying around a bag of bricks! And there is always something I havent packed and regret it. It really does need careful planning, you have thought of everything. Will have to try and track down your very useful drawing board here in UK. Thanks for sharing your ideas

[@MPLangerArt]

Thanks for your comment Annette. Regarding my support board, I made it from something called coroplast. In the U.K. it's called something else but I can't tell you what!

[@naturesketches126]

Very neat set up! Thank you for sharing. Subscribed.

[@MPLangerArt]

Thanks Aneta. And thank you for subscribing.

[@PatrickLeyGreaves]

Some great ideas Patricia it’s going to help a lot of people. Certainly have the same problem with dog hair as you have with cat, they get everywhere!

[@MPLangerArt]

Thanks for commenting Patrick. What would a painting be without cat or dog hair though! i will look forward to seeing how you set the camper van up for plein air and hope you'll share it with us in a video!

[@cjenkins8785]

Although, I am viewing your video on February 9, 2020, thank you for this very helpful plein air information.

[@michelletulumello661]

I tend to like the flat open pencil or pen cases or the roll cases, both of which display all the stuff so I dont have to dig around looking for it. I like that board. I might make one soon. Well, when we all dont have to stay at home anymore.

[@ingridh7822]

Great video! I like your setup with the diaper bag a lot. Thank you for sharing! Have to add: I love how calm you seem, and the way you talked about the ice storm made me laugh a bit in the start of the video. Hope your car didn't die!

[@MPLangerArt]

Thank you Ingrid. The diaper bag works so well for me so I'm happy to share it. No, the car didn't die.

[@DrawingWithFire]

Hi Patricia, great video! 😁 You did an awesome job explaining your plein air setup. I have an artist bag/backpack & it's full. 😉 The diaper bag is a really good idea. My backpack is about the same size just oriented with zippers differently. 😃 Don't feel bad about all you wc you take. I have (2) 24 half pan tins I carry. You never know when you need that special color. 😆 I have the same mission palettes with the extra mixing tray. I pull it out and use all the areas. I'm just like you, it fascinates me the people who can use tiny tins. I'm definitely not one of them. I hope you are doing well & thanks for sharing! 🤗

[@MPLangerArt]

Thanks Val! As I learn more about what I need and how I use things out in the world, the beloved old diaper bag may get changed out but for now it works. It's so good to hear that you also carry as many paints as I do!

[@Blissfulthings]

Nice setup thankyou,! I've subscribed 😊

[@MPLangerArt]

Thank you Blissfulthings. I' m so glad you've subscribed!

[@zeroa6]

Very nice! Subbed =)

[@SteveAtkinsonFineArt]

Really nicely done Patricia! I know these are a lot of work and not easy to do... even when you're not in the middle of an ice storm! I hope you've thawed out by now!! Keep up the great work!!

[@MPLangerArt]

Thanks for watching, Draw, Paint. Repeat. LOL, I have thawed out quite thoroughly and am enjoying a bit of a heat way.You're new to me so I'm going to pop over and visit your channel.

[@SteveAtkinsonFineArt]

Thank you, that's very kind of you. I'm pretty new here on KZbin (well, my channel is). But we all start somewhere, right?!?

[@MPLangerArt]

I just had a look at your Instagram as well and Steve, with that quality of work, your channel will take off in no time. Just keep posting those videos!

[@SteveAtkinsonFineArt]

Thank you for taking the time to look! I hope I can contribute to the community of ArtTubers... at least I'm gonna try. =) and I'm another lefty and paint on the passenger side as well.

[@MrsBarnabas]

Hi, Patricia. I've just 'found' you and thoroughly enjoyed watching this video. It was good to watch a calm presentation in real time from an older lady when there is a plethora of younger KZbinrs who speed through what they do at an accelerated pace! I've noticed from your home page that you haven't posted for a year, and wondered if you are ok?

[@pesto12601]

Very nice.. though for me - still way too much stuff to carry around and drag out for a quick urban sketch.. though I suppose if you are sitting in one spot for awhile - this is a great setup. Thx for sharing!!!

[@mussoorie100]

Lots of good tips, thank you - also a women after my own heart because I need a "certain amount" of gear as well, now I'm off to the hardware store to find coriplast (sp??)!

[@ElizabethKilbride]

Do you have a link to a video to how you made your backboard? I love that concept and would like to make one for myself. Love the diaper bag concept too. Ingenious

[@sharonoddlyenough]

'There's an abundance of watercolour in my life.' Quite right! If you use it, it's not too much

[@missusparsons]

"it's just Canada" :D

[@CyclingM1867]

That's funny! We do have an interesting country weather-wise. haha

[@gwenhutson]

Where did you get the black leather bag? What brand? I love it!

[@claudiahemmings2080]

I prefer to keep my plein air kit more minimal (everything contained in a Derwent A4 Folio, which opens out to use as a work surface) but it's interesting to see a 'maximalist' kit!

[@loveandlife4222]

I miss your videos! I hope you’re doing well. 😊

[@MPLangerArt]

@Love and Life Thanks so much for your kind thought. I am doing well and intend to get back to making videos in the not to distant future. I hope that you are well also.

[@kjellkanin]

Sorry if you mentioned this in the video, if so I didn't catch it, but where is the airtight metal tin with clips from? I have similar ones from Onyx, but not in a tall slim shape like that. I hadn't thought about using them for water, but of course that would be perfect! Just haven't seen the same you have anywhere. Very useful information here!

[@MPLangerArt]

Hi Agathe. I'm glad you found the video useful! The metal tins with clips are from a local Canadian art store and were only a few dollars.

[@OneTrueWord1988]

I so enjoy seeing what other artists pack, and this was very enjoyable! I've been an "over-packer" all my life, and it's a constant struggle to try to pare down. It's refreshing to see someone who carries even more than I do! :) Do you have a source for the curved, black and orange-tipped clamps to hold your palette to the board? They are just what I need! Thanks so much. New sub.

[@MPLangerArt]

Thanks for commenting @OneTrueWord. Yes, like you I am am still trying to pare down. The orange tipped clamps come in many sizes and I purchased them at Canadian Tire. I'm sure they are available in other places. Let me know what you find.Best, Patricia

[@OneTrueWord1988]

@@MPLangerArt Hi Patricia! Thank you so much for your answer. I looked on Amazon, and there are so many different sizes. Would you please tell me the length of the handle on yours, and how far it opens? No rush; I don't wish to impose. I want it for the same thing you are using yours for, to clamp a metal palette to a board. Thank you so much, and again, no rush. I live in Northern Lower Michigan, and our plein air days are almost over! Tomorrow is supposed to be low 60's, so I'm going to go to a nearby lake to paint the beautiful oranges and golds of the leaves. Have a wonderful weekend! Donna

[@bruceosborne1892]

I like your style sweetheart.

[@vashisth2600]

can you provide us a link for that flexible red water cup you showed us

[@bumblebill1]

Try pet stores or ll bean

[@parmeshwarsahu9205]

Aap jo oil pryog karte ho vo chahiye