Plein air painting in winter > Four tried-and-true tips to help you get out there and give it a go. The following is part of a series that features the best artists who are teaching others how to paint through online workshops at PaintTube.tv.
by Aaron Schuerr
aaronschuerr.com
I know, it’s cold. I get it. Painting outside in winter seems a bit mental. When I post an image of a winter session on social media, I get words like “extreme” and “committed” in the comments. I’m not after an extreme experience; I’m after an authentic experience.
Truth be told, I have terrible circulation. Put me on a Himalayan expedition, and I’d be the first to lose my toes. And yet, I get out in the dead of winter, and come home with fingers and toes intact and a smile on my face. Here are a few tried-and-true tips to help you get out there and give it a go.
Layer up. A warm core equals warm extremities. Don’t wait until you’re cold to add a layer, by then it’s too late. Standing still, I’m not generating any heat, so I need extra layers to stay warm. I start with either thermals or fleece-lined pants and layer up according to the temperature. A hooded down coat is hands-down the best insulator. For a hat, I purchased an insulated brimmed hat that buttons under my chin. For extreme cold, I break out a balaclava and expedition weight down bibs. Insulated pack boots are a must.
Mind your extremities. It’s a challenge to find gloves that are warm enough for the job, but not so bulky as to make picking up a brush overly difficult. Disposable hand warming packets are a good solution. They add enough heat to a mid-weight fleece glove to make most winter painting sessions bearable. You can also purchase disposable toe warmers and body warming packets. I keep a bulk pack in my truck all winter long. If they are not available locally, you can order them online.
Know before you go. I always check the weather forecast before I head out. It’s important to check temperature and wind speed. Aim for windspeeds of under 10 miles per hour. Once I arrive, I trample out a flat spot to stand on, and then I throw down a welcome mat (a sleeping pad or yoga mat also works). This provides a barrier between the snow and my feet. It also keeps me from slipping around on packed snow.
Be prepared. I squeeze paint onto my palette in the heated comfort of the studio before I leave. It’s just one less task to do in the cold. Cold temperatures increase the viscosity of the paint, so be prepared to mix a little more medium into the paint to keep it flowing. I make sure to set aside a few brushes for the snow colors, usually one or two for the shadow colors, and one or two for the sunlit planes of snow. There’s nothing worse than having darker colors seep from a brush into carefully mixed lights.
Pastel artist extraordinaire Aaron Schuerr welcomes you to a magical journey into a winter wonderland in his new art video workshop, “Winter Sunset in Pastel” (learn more here!).
And browse more free articles here at OutdoorPainter.com
Hey Aaron, nice article.
Google the ‘Aldro Hibbard Mitt’ or watch this old video I shot years ago on this subject. I too have poor circulation in my hand because I almost gave myself frostbite when I was 19 climbing glaciers. And even 40°F cold has troubled me since.
So this is what I do when I am painting outside at below freezing temps. All it takes is a thick wool sock.
And if it is really cold I’ll wear two socks over my painting hand. Works like a charm. And I can still feel the brush handle.
https://youtu.be/A-kZgKy4vhw?si=gd5n062WczDAL2Q2