As spring inches closer, I’m preparing for plein air season. Maybe it’s wishful thinking, as we are barely above zero degrees still, but thinking about flowers blooming and lambs in the fields gets me excited. I want to dust off some winter cobwebs and start preparing for it so when April finally arrives I’m ready to go.

Each April I do a really fun art challenge called #Pleinairpril, and I’ve shared lots of those experiences online. You can watch the playlist here or see some of my sketches here.

Starting a New Gouache Sketchbook

I LOVE starting a new sketchbook, especially with a specific purpose. It puts me in the mood for studying and playing – both of which are extremely important. In this new Stillman & Birn Nova Beige sketchbook  (UK EU)(USA), I plan to do lots of landscape studies to prepare for plein air season. I’ll be painting scenes that remind me of spring, and testing out new color combinations. I’ve also updated my gouache colors in my Portable Painter (all my favorites are listed on my supplies page). I just felt like trying something a little different. So far I’m really enjoying the new colors!

Shinhan Design Gouache Colors:

• Naples Yellow
• Lemon Yellow
• Permanent Yellow Deep
• Primary Magenta
• Alizarin Crimson
• Burnt Umber
• Lamp Black
• Moss Green
• Shadow Green Pale
• Cobalt Turquoise
• Cobalt Blue
• Ultramarine Deep
• Lilac
• Primary White

And one lonely Daniel Smith Color: Buff Titanium

And as usual I’m using the Portable Painter Classic (UK EU)(USA) with the custom expansion pans (UK EU).

I have found that it’s nearly impossible to keep my Portable Painter clean because I use it so often and apparently I’m a messy painter. My colors get a little mixed up after a few sessions. I try to clean it every weekend, but sometimes I forget. But I’m so used to it that it doesn’t bother me.

Another thing I’m utilizing is a plastic mixing tray. I put it on top of beige paper, or whatever color matches the paper I’m painting on. This is ideal because as I’m mixing color, I know it will look the same on my painting. It removes a lot of guesswork.

For now I’ll continue with my spring-inspired studies, and in a month or two I hope to feel ready to take on #pleinairpril 2024!

Watch the video:

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