Mr.AP and I have worked our pretty little behinds off this past year. When the purpose of the trip is for the family to relax and enjoy themselves, and have a long and proper and well deserved we-time, then all thoughts about me drift away. And don’t get me started on the cute dogs! And then the cute little kid with the ice cream. And then everything else: the buzzing flies, the tourists who just keep coming and butting into your view every 2 minutes. The endless rooftops and colorful buildings. First you’ll see the beauty of the open landscape. If you are one that is easily distracted, and need your peace and quiet to thrive, then I’m afraid the great outdoors is just not for you. You might be saying, Adri, don’t be such a wimp! However, think about the legwork you have to put in to get to the spot (and back…) with the before mentioned weight on your back. And I have not even considered possible lightweight (cough) chairs if you are not one to stand motionless on your two feet for an hour or so. So we are nearing ten-fifteen times as much as the previous season. In scorching summer weather you’re taking (minimum) 2 liters of water, an extra tube of sunscreen, your SPF lippy besides your pack.
When you go outside on a cool spring morning all you’re taking with you is your kit, right? 200 – 300gs tops. However, let’s put the pouring rain factor aside for a moment.
What if the lead breaks? What if the shade of yellow ocher brush pen I’m taking with me is not the right shade? What if my pen runs out of ink? See where I’m going? So when 5 is perfect for some, 20 might not be enough for me. I realized I NEED more than one pencil with me. Just as minimalist interior design and wardrobe will work for some, it will not work for others. Minimalism is in the eye of the beholder. I put together my little minimalist plein air kit and… well, let me tell you about my experience. On our recent trip to Porto I decided to put this very idea to the test. Easy to put together and easy to carry, right? I realized I don’t have to carry my entire collection but might as well put together a little curated collection of items that would serve my purpose on that specific trip. Then I read a post on Will Kemp’s webpage about his minimalist approach to this same subject and suddenly I had an aha moment. What has always puzzled me is how these artists take all their things with them on that plein air excursion.
Not so much the technique, but rather the logistics of it all. I have seen (and envied) painters who just go out and face the elements, take in the real experience and put that immediate impression on canvas. The idea of plein air painting and drawing… all right, plein air anything has fascinated me for a long time.
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