A couple years ago I met Ruth, a healthcare specialist who loves art. We both signed up to attend a plein air weekend at Findhorn which ended up being very stormy, but fun nonetheless! We hatched the idea for a monthly meet-up focused on the Moray Coast - a somewhat neglected region for meetings since it’s less populated.

Since it’s our two year anniversary, I wanted to share some highlights and words of wisdom. I asked some group members if they have any advice or encouraging words to share with people who might be interested (or intimidated) to join a local art group.

“Plein air sketching is so challenging, people will mainly be concentrating on their own work. When we look at each other’s work it’s always with curiosity and wonder at other’s viewpoints, techniques and materials. Such a great learning experience but that’s beside the point. I’ve made a great bunch of friends and it’s never about the end result, just the lovely experience. Rain, cold, wind or sun - time flies and you just completely get immersed in the experience of sketching on location.”

— Ruth Neary

Sketching in Forres — Left: Ruth and Diane being surprised by my camera. Right: some of my sketches from a meet-up in Forres.

How do we organize? At first it was just Ruth and I choosing a date and location, then scheduling the event on Facebook Groups.

Now, our most dedicated members share a What’s App group chat so we can decide dates/locations, then we schedule it on Facebook which is how new people find us. We are still very small, and after two years there are regularly 3-7 in attendance each month. But the group hasn’t missed a month since it’s conception! We are pretty proud of that.

It’s been such a great way to meet other artists and to get outside, even in the cold gloomy months. You kinda need that in Scotland.

What to bring? Ahhh..the eternal question.

One of my favorites parts is seeing what others like to use, which has led to many new discoveries. It’s also interesting to see how different we all are and what we each consider our “essentials.”

I usually bring the bare minimum (left), focusing on one particular medium. Sometimes it all fits in a pocket. But I like a very small bag. Then we have the medium-sized kits, demonstrated by Ruth’s backpack here (middle). Finally, we have Phil (right) with the big stack of goodies.

To each their own!

These meet-ups are a great way to test new kit. If you like to travel but never know what to bring, you can try things out or see what others are using, get a feel for it, and be more confident for longer trips.

Brand new to plein air? I shared a video with all of my favorite gear and plenty of advice:

Scotland is often very windy, cold, or raining when we meet. We’ve gained a thick skin by persevering through all weather. Over the last two years I’ve seen some good ideas for keeping comfortable in challenging conditions.

Cold weather - Thermos with hot coffee, tea or chocolate. A small stool/folding chair to keep you off the cold ground/benches. A foam camping seat to insulate your bum. Rechargeable hand warmers were a great find by Ruth. Bundle up with extra layers - thermals, wool, and water/windproof jackets, thick hats to cover ears, and gloves. Fingerless gloves offer a little more dexterity.
Warm boots are another great option, especially with thick soles to insulate from the cold ground.
Wet - waterproofs are great but not very breathable. A poncho is a quick solution that is easily removable between showers. It also withstands wind, unlike umbrellas. It can even fit over your entire body + backpack.

Worst case scenario - head to a coffee shop!

“It’s a safe way to get to see new local areas, or the same places with fresh perspectives. Occassionally you get free food [we bring snacks] and it can be as sociable or unsociable as you want, without judgement. great to see other people’s techniques, homespun storage and travel kit ideas and swap paint ideas.”

— Faye-Marie Adams

Even on a cold day, I never regret spending time with artists doing something we love!

I always enjoy seeing the variety of skills and styles

I’ve been inspired by watching how others work, even if we have totally different styles and materials. It sometimes sparks an idea in my own work. One time I was watching Marion paint in an accordion sketchbook, and her piece spanned many pages. It made me realize how often I am stuck in a small box.

Admittedly, I was a little nervous when we first started. Would people be friendly? Would we get along? What if I feel super awkward? All my fears melted away after that first meet-up. I quickly realised that no one is there to judge. We are all just on a mission to get better at art and enjoy the beautiful scenery along the Moray coast. We have such a wide variety of skill levels and walks of life in our group.

“I didn’t think I’d ever paint in front of other artists, but wanted to see how other people tackled plein air painting. Everyone is always so encouraging, no matter what your level of ability/confidence. It’s great to share ideas and pick up tips without feeling intimidated. You can do as little or as much as you want without anyone judging you, and the company of like-minded people is so inspiring. I’ve tried things I never would have considered if I hadn’t joined this group.”

— Diane

Sometimes we can’t coordinate a date or time that suits everyone, so we do two meet-ups in a month. This also helps spread out locations since people come from far and wide.

Each meet-up is around 2-4 hours which is perfect to get one or two sketches in - or in some cases several very quick loose sketches.

Ruth pre-painted the pages of a sketchbook with different colors, and each meet-up she uses mixed media to draw and paint on whatever color inspires her in the moment. I love that idea!

Phil often paints one larger piece during a meet-up, and is never shy to tackle a difficult subject. So inspiring!

“I enjoy the company, conversation, and joys of a shared interest in painting. My particular favourite: Seeing a location through the eyes of other people — what they’ve chosen to paint— gives fresh perspectives, inspiration, ideas. Also how they handle their mediums and what they choose to use. Being outdoors, in the fresh air, is safer than being indoors. This isn’t a consideration for most people, but for me the consequences of catching airborne viruses are high. I can mask for indoor meetups but it’s tedious being treated like a weirdo for doing so.”

— Marion Boddy-Evans

Marion is a fabulous artist with an excellent blog - go check it out for more inspiration!

I’ve been to places I normally wouldn’t go, and now return to often. Forres was a hidden gem.

We go to the coastal towns, with a special affinity for harbours, as well as inland to some of the iconic places like Brodie Castle.

“Outdoor painting in many ways is the only way to improve, full stop. Can’t get enough of it, if I hadn’t joined the group I would be still vegetating in my man cave - the group’s a lifesaver!””

— Phil Watson

If you are ever planning on stopping in Moray, anywhere between Inverness and Aberdeen, feel free to jump into our Facebook group to see when our next meet-up is! We’d love to meet you. And feel free to drop a comment below and tell us about your local art group!

191. Moray Firth Sketchers - A fun plein air group in Northeast Scotland (and advice)