The umbrella I use the most is the Easy L. Plein Air Umbrella Kit.
The
umbrella I like and use the most is my new EasyL plein air umbrella kit. It’s
the only umbrella kit I’ve owned that I take to every plein air painting
session and haven’t wanted to drop kick off a cliff overlooking a scenic
painting view.
I
discovered my favorite plein air painting umbrella at the Plein Air Painting
Convention and Expo 2015. I was checking out the many art supply manufacturers displays at the
convention expo and had the opportunity to talk extensively with Eric
Chang at the EasyL display station. Eric is the master designer of all EasyL
Pochade boxes, as well as, new EasyL umbrella kit. Eric demonstrated the umbrella
kit’s easy mounting and adjusting to any position. I
was shown how the unique rubber clamp would tightly fit on any size and shape
easel leg. Being mechanically challenged, I insisted mounting it myself. When I
saw I could quickly figure out how to use it without directions, I was sold. I
want to mention it is important read the directions and to tie the bungee cord
to the umbrella spokes and then to the telescoping staff. I almost lost my
umbrella because didn’t read directions and tied the bungee to the umbrella
shaft and then to the telescoping staff. One time when the umbrella lifted out
of its mount, as it is supposed to, the umbrella flew off and separated from
the bungee. The EasyL kit purposely has the umbrella sits loose in the graphite
telescoping staff. A long slim bungee is tied to umbrella and then to the
telescoping staff. Because it is loose to fly off in a gust of wind, umbrella
doesn’t act as a sail to pull over your plein air painting set up.
EasyL
is a very customer friendly company and are very helpful when you have any
questions or need to order reorder a part. I decided to order umbrella
replacement. EasyL replacement umbrellas were first manufactured for their
original kit but fit the new kit’s telescoping staff. The replacement umbrella
is not as wide as the umbrella that comes with their new umbrella kit. I’m the
type who likes to have a few extra things handy in my van when I’m out plein
air painting. Things like extra paint, an extra older and used tripod, some
tools, duct tape and bungees. You never know when some part of your plein air
painting set up will fail. I figured I have had so replace so many regular rain
umbrellas because of spoke failure that it would be good to have a spare
umbrella that fits my new kit incase I’m participating in a plein competition
and the unforeseen happens.
The
EasyL umbrella Kit is by far the by far the best umbrella I have in my plein
air painting arsenal. I always have it with me because it is very easy to set
up and adjust. It’s light and portable and works the way it is intended. I know
I can count on it to keep sun off my painting and pallet. I was very glad to
have it at the highest profile plein air competition I’ve been juried into, the
Pacific NW Plein Air. The first day of that event went from sun to rain and
from rain to sun multiple times. A typical Oregon day. An umbrella was helpful
for different reasons the whole day. For those painters who are new to
plein air painting, it is as important to keep sun off your pallet and painting
as it is to keep rain off of it. Shading your pallet and painting from the sun
keep you from painting your piece too dark. When you are looking at your
painting surface in bright sunlight, what you put down never seems dark enough.
But when you take your painting out of the sunlight and into indoor lighting,
you would think you had painted a nocturnal.
I
make a regular habit of at least mounting the EasyL staff and clamp on the side
of the tripod where the sun is or most likely to move to. The kit is so easy to
reposition because of a ball head joint that works like the ball head on you
camera tripod. It takes little time and effort to adjust the umbrella position
or switch the kit to another leg as sun moves.
The
obvious selling point of the EasyL umbrella Kit is that it doesn’t pull down
your painting easel. However, in extremely high wind conditions, I do have to
admit that my EasyL umbrella is off the telescoping mount more than on it. If
the umbrella is not shading your painting and pallet, it can’t do its job. I
had to come up with a special solution because any umbrella attached to the
easel would give you a problem is such difficult painting conditions. You
either have to sacrifice by not painting a view you really want to paint and
picking a view where sun is not hitting you canvas panel, or you must set up
your easel facing away from the view and paint standing sideways, and look
behind you at your painting subject. I’m just not very good at that
The
solution I came up with for extreme high wind conditions is a Coolbar UV
mini umbrella with a tented wind vent and very flexible spokes. I literally
bungee cord the umbrella staff around my torso. I’ve also used my back brace
for lifting to attach the umbrella staff to my torso because it is more
comfortable. If it is particularly hot, I opt for bungee cord because it is
cooler than the lifting belt, though the bungee is uncomfortable to ware. When
the umbrella blows inside out, I pull it back down. If you had been with me
painting in 20 mile and hour constant wind gusts at Ruthon Park in the Columbia
River Gorge, I was quite entertaining to watch. It was slapstick comedy. I was
able use this unusual umbrella set up to keep sun off my canvas and paint
facing the view I wanted; the a fabulous morning view of the Gorge bathed in
the lemon yellow morning sun. I guess I just preferred fighting with my
umbrella body armor than trying than to attempt painting with my panel facing
away from the subject which talented and experienced plein air artists such as
Mitch Baird and Michael Orwick do so well.
To
shade me when I paint in triple digit hot and sunny weather, I use 2 umbrellas;
the EasyL for the painting and pallet and the Shade Buddy for me. Watch this video on the Shade Buddy Umbrella System.
The
shade buddy can only be set up in soft terrane such as dirt, grass or sand. For
a shade umbrella on pavement, I rigged up a homemade umbrella stand with a
unipod for a camera with a golf umbrella holder attached to it. I then bungee
cord that homemade plein air umbrella setup to my Wike bicycle grocery cart
that I use for a plein air painting cart. I move the cart and adjust the golf
umbrella holder as the sun moves
In
very hot and sunny weather, I make a point of being under an umbrella because
you do stay cooler, but, I always lather up with sunscreen and wear a brimmed
hat whether or not the temperature dictates the need for manmade shade
In
high wind and sideways rain situations, I can only use my huge, oversized golf
umbrella bungeed or belted to my torso. I found one that has neutral black and
grey colors with a tented wind hole. It is a huge and sturdy beast of a golf
umbrella that as yet to turn inside out no matter how strong the wind has
gotten. It’s my umbrella of last resort. I’m more stationary than any stand.
When it is bungeed or belted to me, I can get close in with umbrella coverage
that protects the pallet and painting from water. When your only priority
becomes keeping your painting and pallet dry, stepping back from your painting
goes out the window. I keep a small plastic reduction glass in my plein air
supplies. This helps me look at my painting as if I were standing several feet
from it. That’s if I remember to use it when driving rain suddenly interrupts a
plein air painting session. I’m usually al little stressed during rain and high
wind situations and many good painting habits go out the window because you’re
hoping that with your tripod will have enough weight holding your tripod set up
down to keep it from being blown over with or without an umbrella. Just
finishing the work feels like a battle won.
I’ve
noticed lately many plein air painting friends make a habit setting their
tripod legs extra wide and low. That way they are not caught by surprise in a
sudden change of weather conditions. I don’t always think to do that unless I
start out with a high wind situation. I need to start adopting that smart
practice. When the wind takes down my set up down and trashes a painting that
was going fabulously. I know I will be kicking myself that I should have known
better.
I’ve
found it just takes time and practice in many situations with different plein
air painting gear to achieve what you are trying to accomplish when the weather
doesn’t want to cooperate.
Some
experienced plein air painting friends are sometimes a little critical of the
amount of equipment I bring in my plein air cart or keep on hand in my van. I
guess I have to agree with them. I feel at least I’m out there trying to paint
as much as I can and using equipment that gets me through the session. I do
find my equipment limits where I can paint because I use a cart to haul
supplies. I know I have to start working on a significantly scaled down my
plein air painting set up so it can be hiked into certain areas. Because I
often do large panels and paint in many different weather situations, I’m using
what I can, to get the job done. Like anything else done outside in Oregon, if
you are not prepared for wind and rain, you get don’t get much plein air
painting done if you are only waiting for optimum weather. I also keep a rain
slicker and boots in my van. Like camping, the dryer you stay, the more
comfortable you are and will be able to take your painting to completion.
 |
| Anna Lancaster painting Plein Air with an umbrella |
I
try to paint as often as I can, rain or shine. Many times just in very safe
local neighborhood areas. I may not have the most exciting paintings, but by
God’s grace, I can paint enough to improve and live to paint another day.
I
do want to mention in Oregon, there may be high wind and rain, but lightning
storms are very rare. However, growing up in NJ, I understanding the danger of
lightning storms. If a lightning storm comes up unexpectedly, the painting set
up comes down as fast as I can and I’m out of there. Internet weather tracking
is important to any outdoor activity. If a lighting storm possibility is in the
forecast, I don’t go out and enjoy the safety of indoor painting. No umbrella
is safe in unsafe conditions.
No comments:
Post a Comment