My Homemade Plein Air Kit

If you've ever wished that you had a small painting kit that you could just grab and take with you, this might interest you.  I wanted a small kit that I could take with me when I drove into town to run errands, etc.  I can even paint sitting in my car if I see something that catches my attention. When my painting is finished I close the lid and everything is contained - safe and tidy.

This 8x12 plastic box was just the perfect size to hold everything I needed.

• Paint brushes with the handles shortened.
• An empty Liquin bottle is just the right shape for turps and seals well.
• A small plastic box holds my five colors of paint.
• A plastic lid stored in a freezer bag serves as my palette.
• A packet of tissues and a zip top bag with a few Handi-wipes for cleanup.
• Three 5x7 canvas panels.
• Plastic clips and a small plastic knife for scraping.
• Another small freezer bag for trash.

A clip holds my canvas to the lid as I paint.  

Another clip keeps the wet canvases separate.

When I get home I give the kit a cleaning and restock my supplies but I don't add fresh paint until needed.  I wrote myself a note on the cover to remind me to add the paint.

My kit stores neatly in a small canvas tote.  Just give me two minutes to refill the paint and I am ready to go.

You can easily modify this kit to fit larger canvases - just get a bigger box.  Happy painting.

Thanks for visiting.
Celene

May

I didn't have much time to blog in May. It was an eventful month. We lost two of our dear friends and they will be sadly missed.

And spring means lots of yardwork, cleaning up the debris of winter, working in the gardens and trying to stay ahead of the weeds. Our dog was spayed and that required keeping her on a leash for 10 days and going for long walks. No running through the fields and climbing over stone walls chasing chipmunks and squirrels. She patiently put up with the leash and now is free to run and play again.

There wasn't much time to paint outside so I have been working in my studio, experimenting with limited palettes and color harmony. I have worked with several combinations of the three primaries, with and without an earth color. Even though all the colors can be mixed from these primaries (and they will vary slightly depending on the primaries chosen), I found that the mixing time broke the rhythm of my painting.

After much experimentation, I am now working with the six basic colors of the color wheel in their brightest, cleanest hue. I may add an earth color or two, but only if necessary.

Below are two paintings that were done with my earlier primary palettes. As I continue to work with my new six color palette, I will share the results with you.

Summer Hay 8x10, oil.
Available on my Ebay page.  Click here to view.

Your Breakfast is Ready 9x12, oil.
Available on my Ebay page.  Click here to view.

Thanks for visiting.

Celene