En plein air painting, or painting outdoors, was central to Monet’s artistic practice. He believed in capturing the essence of nature directly from observation rather than relying on studio sketches. Monet and his Impressionist colleagues were quite unusual – most painting, at that time, was done inside in studios or people’s homes. By painting outdoors, Monet was able to convey the ever-changing qualities of natural light, capturing fleeting moments with remarkable precision. This technique became integral to the development of his distinctive style and contributed to the revolutionary impact of Impressionist art. Below you’ll find some suggested equipment for outdoor painting with kids, along with some instructional videos to practice Monet’s landscape techniques with scenes in your local area.
DID YOU KNOW? Paint tubes were invented in 1841 by John Goffe Rand, making it easier for artists like Monet to carry and use paint. This changed Monet’s style because he could now paint outdoors more easily.
Art Supplies for Painting Outside with Kids
Paint Pens and Paint Sticks are great for younger kids who are still developing fine motor skills. They are mess-free and dry in less than a minute – so great for short attention spans and moving on to the next activity! Colour blending is possible by layering the colours.
Squeeze n Brush sets take the paint tubes of Monet’s day a step further and provide a mess-free way to carry paint for painting outdoors with your kids.
Your main limitation here is colour mixing, but you could always carry a couple of spare brushes and a small palette box. Used brushes can be popped in a ziplock bag after use.
A small palette box like this can be used in combination with Squeeze n Brush tubes to expand the colour range. Once you’re done, the two halves pop together to keep things contained.
A travel easel, like this one by Micador, gives kids a firm surface for painting outside along with space to store all of their art supplies.
For older kids and adults, this Meeden easel with carrying handle is perfect for storing art supplies as well as painting in the outdoors.
Instructional Video Recommendations
Add these video below to your Youtube playlist to get you started in exploring Monet’s techniques.