Today I headed out to the Pittsfield Preserve off Marton Road in Pittsflield Township. A sunny day with temps about 65 were perfect conditions to start a plein air painting.
Here is my setup; a great deal on this easel - $25 - off Craigs List. I stored my most used pastels, figuring that those would be the ones I would likely use outdoors.
Given the limited time available to paint on site, I found these "rules" to help:
Don't walk too far to find your site. Best to park nearby if possible.
Focus on defining the values (and getting them right), then the basic hues.
Broad strokes to capture the values and hues, then a quick alcohol wash (that will dry within 5 minutes).
Take the time to select the specific pastel palette for the scene
Start laying those pastels and details.
The easel folds up into a suitcase, with a strap to cart around. Cover your painting with glycine (or tracing paper), taping it closed.
I also took several photos of the scene, as I have returned to my studio to finish the work.