Getting creative when you are out in the fresh air and natural light is exhilarating. As the weather starts to warm up and spring sprouts new shoots, blossoms and clear blue skies, you can just feel yourself drawn to the outdoors. Being out in the open air is what en plein air is all about. Whether you are heading half way around the globe or just outside your door, it's a great way to add some new inspiration to your creative process.

Taking your creativity outside can be as simple as grabbing your pencil and sketchbook, or as elaborate as packing a mini-studio into a tote bag to carry with you. Portability is a neccessary consideration no matter what your plein air plans are. Pencils in tins or cases, a small selection of coloured media, pans of watercolour paint, a favourite brush—these are key items when planning to work outdoors. Keeping your supply list simple will also make your time outside more pleasurable.

Opus has some great product ideas for your outdoor adventures:

• A case or tote to carry it all in. We like the Sooke Mini Table Easel, any of the ArtBin totes or boxes, and the Tran Deluxe Tote Bag. All are designed with portability in mind.



• If you plan on painting, make sure you bring a folding or disposable palette to mix your colours. Some of our favourite choices are: Maruman disposable palette (the size of a postcard!), or the Sta-wet palettes.



• A sketchbook or pad, a portable canvas, a stack of your favourite paper—don't forget that you need something to record your vision on while you are out and about. You might consider one of these: Maruman Folding Sketch or Watercolour book, Montval Acrylic pads, Fredrix Canvas panels, or a small Opus Studio Canvas.

Certain media are better for working en plein air. Watercolour, drawing and acrylics make good choices for working outside. Oil painting requires a bit of drying time, which means that your work may still be wet after you have left the field. With a good canvas carrier or proper tote easel, or even some drying mediums, this may not be an issue. After all, we know that oil painters have been working outside for centuries, and they managed just fine.

Another thought when taking your creativity on the road, is the travel involved. Short trips by foot or car are simple enough to plan for—your main concern will be how much you want to carry. Longer trips to more exotic locations like Italy, Spain or Mexico (sigh!) will involve air travel. This can affect what you pack simply because of the restrictions placed on the types of materials that you can take onto a plane. It's worth checking with your airline before packing to determine what you can take on board.

Of course it's not always about art materials. We also want to remind you to include your sunscreen and a sunhat when going art trekking, or a windproof jacket and fingerless gloves for those chilly days. Plus something to sit on and something to drink—water, coffee, tea or maybe a little wine with your plein air! A flashlight can also come in handy, to cast some light on your surface if you are working through a sunset. A camera is a good idea as well, to help record the scene. And remember an extra bag for any garbage you have.

Plein air is a great opportunity for some solo art making in the complete solitude of nature—but it is also a great way to share art making with a friend. Grab a picnic and make a day of it.

Whatever your final destination and whomever you chose to share it with, being creative in the great outdoors is just another aspect of the art making process that is worth experiencing. There is simply no greater joy than capturing that magnificent light just before dusk, the ephemeral glow of daybreak, or the bursting blossoms of a new spring day.