Dear Art Lovers,

As this year comes to a close, I thought I would share my favorite tools and materials of the year. Since I’ve been predominantly painting en plein air, the list will focus on the materials I’ve been loving for outdoor painting. Whether you’re a seasoned plein air artist or just starting out, I hope this will give you some inspiration and help you find the perfect tools for your work.

1. Pochade Box + Tripod

I’ve been using the Sienna Pochade Box together with Manfrotto Element Traveller Tripod for more than 4 years, and have been enjoying this combo a lot. Together, they weigh about 3.5 kg. They’ve held up nicely during these 4 years of use and have traveled to 6 different countries with me. The tripod is sturdy, compact, and lightweight. The pochade box is beautifully made and comfortable to use, and it comes with a glass palette that is easy to clean.

If you’re used to a French easel for your plein air work, as I was, a pochade box might be a bit of an adjustment. It has size restrictions for your canvas, a smaller palette space, and less stability in windy conditions. However, it is still my preferred setup for almost any situation. It is lightweight, compact, easy to travel with, and can be set up on uneven terrain. It can be carried in a backpack and allows much more mobility than a French easel.

Sienna Pochade Box by Richeson, size large

Manfrotto Element Traveller Tripod with Ball Head, size small

2. Long Bristle Flat and Filbert Brushes

When it comes to bristle brushes, I used to work mostly with short flat brushes in various stages of decay 😅 But lately, I’ve been loving long brushes for their loose and dynamic brushstrokes. I’ve also found filberts very helpful for painting natural forms such as trees and mountains. I don’t really reach for my short flats anymore, and about 80% of my plein air work is painted with long bristle flats and filberts.

3. Rosemary & Co Eclipse Extra Long Combers

I love these brushes! I use them to soften edges (especially in the background), and to add a bit of something extra to the painting in terms of brushwork variety.

Rosemary & Co Eclipse Combers on the left and bristle brushes by various brands on the right

4. View Catcher

This is a very handy tool for plein air painting that helps to choose the best composition for your work. I use it when painting outdoors to see how my chosen subject will fit into the format of the canvas, what pattern will the main shapes create within this format, how objects will be cropped, where my diagonals will fall, etc.

5. Winsor & Newton Artists’ Painting Medium

I like to work with paint that is on the thicker side, so having a medium on hand to make the paint more workable is useful. The one I usually go for is Winsor & Newton Artists’ Painting Medium. It’s a mix of linseed stand oil and a mineral spirit and has a thin consistency. It is non-yellowing and versatile as it can also be used for oiling out dull patches. When working en plein air, I use it to adjust paint consistency for fine details or large passages.

View Catcher by Color Wheel Company on the left and Winsor&Newton Artists’ painting medium on the right

6. Jackson’s Clear Glue Sized Panels

I love these panels for plein air work. They come sized with transparent glue and can be primed with your preferred primer. I like to leave the natural color and texture of the linen visible, so I use transparent gesso. I apply three coats of transparent gesso, either from Liquitex or Winsor & Newton, sometimes adding a bit of acrylic ink to the final coat to add color. This recipe gives me the perfect surface – a neutral grey or colorful background with enough texture for impasto work, but not so much that it becomes difficult to work with. The paint catches slightly on the canvas rather than gliding too easily, and that is what I prefer. These panels come in various sizes and two linen options: fine and rough. I use both.

Jackson’s Handmade Board Clear Glue Sized Linen on MDF

✨ Wishing you a Happy New Year! May 2025 bring endless creativity, joy and new adventures 💫

Thank you for reading!

I’d love to hear your thoughts, so feel free to leave a comment and start a conversation!