There are, of course, painters who just can't stand being tied to a studio and who paint outdoors even in the coldest weather. I chuckled when I read this diary entry by Canadian plein air artist Sylvio Gagnon. It records his experiences this winter painting along the Rideau Canal in Ottawa. His comments about suspicious looks and funny reactions made me smile. I think anyone who has ever painted in a public place, particularly in the wintertime, will appreciate his humor.
Painting outdoors can be overwhelming.
Grab your sketchbook and make small sketches, or thumbnails of your surrounding area. Explore the environment before you get down to the actual painting. Starting a painting outdoors puts a whole different light on a sheet of blank paper or canvas. See beyond the subject that you're painting. Instead, think in terms of shape, mass, color, value, size, rhythm, harmony, and repetitive themes.