It holds a particular beauty to photographing a scene precisely as it appears: a hedge glistening from early morning showers, a plaza vibrant with bustling marketplace stands, the quietude of a shore beneath shifting heavens.
For artists who work
en plein air,
Portability is crucial. Paints shouldn’t just excel in their performance—they should also be easy to transport, durable enough to handle some wear and tear, and provide a color range extensive enough to capture all the moments happening around you.
However, not all small-scale paint kits are alike. Some prioritize ease of use over superior quality, while others trade vividness for compactness.
Selecting the appropriate kit can make all the difference between having an exasperating afternoon and experiencing a smooth creative flow as your artwork comes alive on the canvas. Regardless of whether you're embarking with a well-worn satchel or tucking some supplies into a backpack, choosing paints that complement your style is crucial.
Selecting the most suitable medium for you
-
Watercolour
:
Luminous, lightweight, and easy to carry around, watercolor painting is ideal for traveling artists. It suits those who enjoy working swiftly and accepting surprises along the way; however, it’s not as accommodating for artists who prefer a gradual building process.
-
Oil
:
Lush, richly hued, and intensely colored, oil paints add remarkable depth to outdoor sketches. New quick-drying versions have made oils much easier to transport compared to before; however, they still tend to be bulkier and require more upkeep than other types of paint mediums.
-
Acrylic:
Fast-setting and adaptable, acrylic paints can imitate the appearance of both oil and watercolor mediums. Travel sets frequently include slow-drying agents to maintain paint usability when working outside; however, certain artists believe this quick-dry characteristic may restrict delicate mixing.
-
Gouache:
A beloved choice for illustrators and
plein air
Artists across the board find that gouache combines the opacity of acrylic with the smooth blending properties of watercolor. Once dried, it has a soft luster and layers well, although it becomes susceptible to moisture again after drying and may not withstand handling as effectively. For optimal use, it’s recommended to work directly from the tubes; thus, consider transferring your preferred colors into separate containers for easier access.
portable case.
What other items should you include in your travel paint set?
A thoughtfully assembled kit can make all the difference between an enjoyable evening of painting and frantically trying to MacGyver something using damaged materials.
brush
Or lacking an article of clothing. In addition to your paint set, think about including the following:
-
A compact
sketchbook
or pad:
Including thick paper appropriate for your needs.
-
A small but sturdy
brush set
:
Seek out travel brushes that fold into themselves or come with protective cases. Synthetic fibers have significantly enhanced in quality and perform admirably under the demands of outdoor activities.
-
A foldable water vessel or liquid container:
Silicone variants collapse flat and have nearly negligible weight. Certain travel sets include integrated features, or brush pens equipped with water tanks.
-
A lightweight palette:
If your kit doesn’t include one, a compact folding palette can be very handy for blending colors when you're traveling. Some portable sets actually come with these as well.
-
Cleaning cloths, sponges, or paper towels
: For wiping and dabbing brushes, hands and accidental spills.
-
A compact easel or clipboard:
If you prefer not to balance your work on your lap, invest in a portable easel designed for outdoor painting. Some travel kits come with bulldog clips for securing small pieces of paper and canvas to the back of your palette.
Whether you find yourself working quickly under fleeting clouds or lingering on the same quiet street for hours, choosing materials that suit your medium and your temperament will serve you better than any number of gadgets.
Selecting an appropriate set of tools, streamlined to include just the basics, doesn’t merely reduce your burden—it hones your intuition, enabling you to react more effectively to your surroundings. Ultimately, the finest outdoor artworks thrive on atmosphere rather than exactitude.
Shop now
Charvin Traveller's Thumb Box, Watercolour Half Pans
A quick look into this artist’s thumb box brimming with high-quality watercolor half pans instantly evokes an image of Paris’s Montmartre neighborhood, a place where painters have been gathering for generations to create their masterpieces outdoors.
With its stunning collection of 24 half pans, plus various accessories and a comfortable shoulder strap designed for plein air painting, this set is the epitome of luxury for devoted outdoor artists.
If you're not looking for a complete set? Charvin is also renowned for its charming portable options.
watercolour tins
, which you can fill with water and carry around.
Buy now
£200.00, National Gallery
Winsor & Newton Professional Watercolor Field Box
This ingeniously designed set includes a range of half-pan paints, accompanied by a small water container, a compact mixing palette, and a portable travel brush. Everything fits neatly within the space comparable to that of a typical paperback book.
The colors are vivid and intensely pigmented, offering excellent performance under changing outdoor lighting conditions. For artists who value both portability and excellence, this product continues to be the benchmark.
Buy now
£44.50, Cass Art
Canipha 15 Grid Miniature Painting Set
An affordable and magnetized choice favoured by artists at every skill level, this attachable compact palette has gained significant attention online. The palette includes 15 compartments for holding your selected paints and is supplied with three portable water wells along with brushes. Additionally, it contains an 8x8 cm sketchbook consisting of 58 pages.
The right side of the palette features an easy-to-clean ceramic mixing plate. If you prefer using your own detail brushes over these that come with built-in water wells, invest in a handy and value-for-money
clip-on water well
instead.
Buy now
£10.99, Amazon
Schmincke Horadam Watercolour Paint Set, 8 Half Pans
Featuring eight premium Schmincke Horadam half pans, a built-in water flask, a detachable water cup, and a built-in folding palette which can be extended to make colour mixing a breeze, this little kit nevertheless fits in a jacket pocket. A little goes a long way with these highly pigmented paints, so they’re set to last you a long while when used economically.
Buy now
£65.59, Jackson's
Sennelier Watercolour Paint: La Petite Aquarelle, Half Pan Set of 16
This deluxe Sennelier watercolor kit includes 16 half-pan colors, along with a ceramic mixing tray. It has space for extra compatible half pans and also includes a brush.
The
pièce de la résistance
This easily transportable wooden accessory for an easel attaches behind the lid, transforming into a temporary pochade box or serving merely as a surface to hold your paintings.
Oh, and it has a postcard-size pad inside that you can use as a guide to trim additional sheets to fit inside in the future.
Buy now
£42.00, Jackson’s
Sennelier Plein Air Oil Kit
For those steadfast oil painters who refuse to make compromises, Sennelier presents a portable set featuring rich, creamy paints housed in a travel-friendly package. This collection predominantly includes classic shades often used for landscapes—such as earth tones, vivid greens, and dramatic blues—and comes with useful extras like a cloth, a palette knife, various brushes, a dipper, varnish, and even some turpentine.
Although small, this set isn't quite travel-friendly. We suggest choosing a few tubes and bringing along the portable palette with a little clipboard handy. It pairs well with a
pochade box
or similar sturdy support.
Buy now
£153.85, Amazon
Golden Open Acrylic Landscape Collection
If you desire the versatility of oils but prefer not using solvents, Golden’s Open Acrylics makes for an excellent selection.
These stay damp much longer compared to regular acrylics, making them ideal for precise blending and layering, even when temperatures rise. The kit comes equipped with fundamental landscape shades packed in compact, travel-friendly tubes—ideal for slipping into your pack; however, we believe they complement each other exceptionally well, particularly alongside something unused or unopened.
portable palette
into which you can pour your favorite paints.
Buy now
£46.99, Amazon
Kuretake Gansai Tambi Portable Watercolor Set, 14 Pieces
Although classified as watercolors, Kuretake Gansai paints act more akin to gouache, which makes them ideal for individuals who favor this alternative medium yet still appreciate the convenience of on-the-go painting. The compact set includes an integrated palette along with room for your preferred brush and pen.
Buy now
£36.00, Cult Pens
Sakura Koi Watercolor Pocket Field Sketch Box, 18 Piece Set
Stylish and refined, this kit includes two foam pads designed for blotting paint. One standout feature is the removable peg palette that you can attach to whichever side suits you best—left or right—while still allowing room atop the flip-top cover to anchor a sheet of postcard-size watercolor paper.
This product includes a 9ml water reservoir tank along with a removable medium-sized brush head. Additionally, it features a pull-down mechanism at the bottom that enables you to firmly and safely grip the palette during painting sessions.
Buy now
£28.00, Jackson's
Travelling Palette Kit Featuring a FoldingBrush Washing Station
Perfect for decanting and organizing your gouache when you're on the go, this excellent portable set features an airtight design and includes a foldable silicone container that holds up to 400 ml.
Buy now
£11.99, Amazon
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