If you’re painting outdoors, do yourself a favor and get yourself a pochade box: a portable carryall for brushes, paints, and mixing palettes to help you stay organized when you’re out in the field.

Here, the seascape and Annisquam Light in Gloucester provide inspiration to plein air painters during an outdoor class taught by Marilyn Swift. Courtesy photoMacario Pascual, an award-winning painter ...