Written by Taking your paints and sketchbook outside is an incredibly rewarding way to make unique memories of a special place, but if you find the thought of creating plein air intimidating, you’re not alone. When I first ventured outside with my sketchbook, I felt a bit overwhelmed. What should I sketch, what if it all went wrong, what if people looked at what I was doing? Thankfully, I gave it a go, and sketching on location is now at the heart of my art practice.
Working plein air helps me slow down and build my sense of connection to a place. My sketches aren’t perfect, but they keep locations in my memory in a way that taking photos with my phone doesn’t.
I feel like my sketches are just for me, which takes away some of the pressure when I’m sketching. Sketches don’t need to be works of art, worthy of hanging on the wall. I can treat my sketchbook like a playground, a laboratory and a journal – I can have fun, record my thoughts and experiences and I don’t need to share it with anyone if I don’t want to!
Where to sketch
My first attempts at sketching outside were mostly done at coffee shops. I’d sit at a window seat or find a quiet table outside. I used small sketchbooks, often portrait format so it looked like I was taking notes. Most people were so focused on their coffee and conversation that they didn’t notice what I was up to, and sometimes I felt confident enough to take out my little watercolour palette or aquarelle pencils and add colour.
Park benches also made quiet places to sit- especially if they had a wall, tree or hedge behind them. And wearing a large pair of headphones sent out ‘don’t talk to me’ vibes (leave the music off if you want to listen to the birds or be aware of what’s going on around you)!
Our plein air sketchbooks can be just for us and it’s up to you whether you share yours or not.
What to sketch
I like to focus on whatever interests me most about a scene. Choosing what to include in a sketch can feel overwhelming, and it’s easy to finish a painting and realize that there is so much going on that the most important thing doesn’t stand out at all- or I’ve run out of space to include it! Painting the most important thing first means I can make sure it’s the star or the sketch, then I can add more of the surrounding scene if I want to.
It can be hard to filter out all the details, especially if we’re at a location where there’s lots to see. Squinting at the scene helps us tune out all that extra information so we can focus on the main shapes and values. It can also be fun to just sketch the details- you don’t need to paint the whole building if the windows are the bit that really catch your attention.
Working small and simple is also really helpful when we don’t have much time. A lot of pages in my sketchbooks are made up of thumbnail sketches- quick, tiny paintings that only take a few minutes and show the main shapes and colours or values in a scene. I love to make series of thumbnails to show the changing light on a landscape or interesting features of a building.
What if it all goes wrong?
Sand, bugs, dirt, pollen, overexcited dogs, sunscreen, rain, wonky lines, watercolor paint with a mind of its own… many things can happen to a sketch! I try to give myself permission to let my sketches be (very) imperfect and to enjoy the process and the experience of creating outside. Specks of rain just add to the story, and getting the perfect wash seems less important than the joy of slowing down for a few minutes, really looking at a place, and trying recreate the way it feels with paint on paper.
Have you ever tried sketching on location? Do you have questions about taking your art outside? I’d love to hear!
Wonderful article, Andrea! There is something so special about being out in nature with a sketchbook, pen and brushes. Love your art!!!
Thank you Mary! I know a lot of your art is inspired by nature too!
Sage advice! I don’t get out and do plein air often enough, and you’re inspiring me to get off my duff and do it!
It can be hard to fit everything in sometimes- but taking our art outside can be a great refresher (and it doesn’t have to take long)!
Beautiful art and excellent reminders to get out there!
Thank you Laura! I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Wow, your art is delightful, Andrea…I love it! Also, thank you for the inspirational words. I do get nervous about sketching in public but I will have to give it a try.
The nerves definitely get better over time- I hope you give it a go!
I love your article and have been wanting to do plein air however, Houston Texas doesn’t have very many places to paint. Think of the church garden, what do you think?
I think that sounds like a wonderful place to start! And I’d imagine Houston has an Urban Sketchers chapter- they might have some great ideas (and meetups for sketchers of all levels)
Gread read! I appreciate tips like squinting to focus and tuning out the details. I often find my mind gets in my own way. You are so inspiring! Thank you for taking the time to share.
I’m glad it was useful, Peg! Our minds can be our biggest stumbling points- it can take practice to turn off the left side when we don’t need!
I’ll tell you what defeated my attempts at plein air painting – wind! Gusty, hot wind that dried everything in seconds, coupled with intense heat and sun.
Quick thumbnail sketches and light washes with a large brush may be your friend! Or doing the pen doodle on site and adding the wash later. Or finding a spot with AC and drawing the view from the window! There’s usually a solution- but there’s no point being miserable (my plein air habit definitely decreases during our cold wet PNW winters)
Beautiful paintings…..and lovely read, Andrea…..I am always a little bit in awe of plein air artists ….my comfort zone is my home/studio 🙂