Oil Painting. Materials for plein air

Keeping your kit as lightweight as possible is vital. All my kit fits in a rucksack, including lunch, drinks, stool, A4 canvas pad. etc. If in doubt leave it at home.

Easel. I would recommend a simple sketching easel available at

https://www.jacksonsart.com/search/?q=sketching%20easels

Mine is a Manfrotto tripod with a universal ball-head glued to a carbon fibre sheet. It involves glueing and welding. If you serious, better to buy from

https://enpleinairpro.com/collections/packages

As for canvases, they are too heavy and bulky for travelling. So I buy ready made canvas pads

https://www.jacksonsart.com/arches-huile-oil-painting-paper-pad-9x12in-300gsm-not

There are various sizes available. The 9x12” suits me fine. Each pad has 10 sheets. The pads sit easily on the sketching easel.

I use ShinHan oil paints, from

https://www.jacksonsart.com/search/?q=shinhan%20oil%20paint

I use 50ml tubes, but in truth 20ml tubes would be more sensible for traveling.

Colours:

Two reds.. Cad Red and Alizarin Crimson

Two Blues… French Ultramarine & Cerulean Blue.

Two yellows…Perm. Yellow deep and Cad. Yellow light.

An earth colour… Raw Umber

White… https://www.jacksonsart.com/griffin-alkyd-oil-37ml-mixing-white

I use the Winsor & Newton’s Alkyd white as it dries rapidly and makes homeward transport much easier. The 37ml tube might do you for a week. Or if you use a lot of white, as I do then you may prefer the 200ml tube.

Medium. Most artists use a standard medium such as Winsor & Newton’s Liquin. I prefer a quick drying medium and so use ‘Glaze medium’

https://www.jacksonsart.com/search/?q=oil+Glaze+medium

though I note that Jacksons only deliver by road.

The quicker drying time means that paintings are dry within a few days and easy to pack. (Sheets of kitchen wax paper between canvases makes transport easier).

I carry the paints in a toilet bag. On the airplane I pack all tubes in zip-lock bags and place them in the hold. They have a flashpoint over 55° but I suggest you attach a notice such as the one below.

If you are transporting medium… Its flashpoint is more suspect. I take it as carry on hand luggage in two 100ml clear plastic bottles (purchased in Boots).

Sometimes I use a melamine palette that scrapes clean easily or sometimes a tear-off paper palette.

https://www.jacksonsart.com/search/?q=tear+off+plalette

You will need a small medium dipper

https://www.saa.co.uk/shop/accessories/palettes-pots/paint-boxes-storage/saa-oil-palette-double-dipper--52547/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIvNy4hcbP_wIVWOvtCh3P0AAjEAQYBSABEgITN_D_BwE

I use synthetic brushes. Long flats. Two or three brushes are plenty.

https://www.jacksonsart.com/rosemary-co-oil-and-acrylic-brush-set-of-7

White spirit bottle. I use a Nalgene bottle. Say a 250ml HDPE to take on site.

https://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/p/nalgene-container-250ml-E6124035.html?colour=180

Palette knife. https://www.jacksonsart.com/r-g-m-palette-knife-no-98

Charcoal stick…optional. I tend to sketch with a brush and paint.

Dirty white spirit container. Again the Nalgene bottles are good.

Rags are best, but kitchen roll will do (pack, say, 6 sheets per painting).

Parasol Serious plein air painters use a parasol when painting in the sun. When travelling I tend to pick a shady spot and not bother with a parasol.

Peeked cap.

Apron optional.

Stool optional.

Bulldog clips.. various sizes.

My demos are  A3 - A4 size. Bigger paper is tricky to pack for plane journeys. I enjoy doing two or three small half hour ‘oil’ sketches in the same time as others might do one large singe piece.