I always try to take this mini sketching kit with me whenever I head outside, so that I always have the opportunity to sketch something when I have nothing to do or see something interesting. In this kit I just have very basic tools – pencil, sketchbook, and a bit of ink and color. I hold my sketchbook in my hands, or rest it in my lap. Holding the small palette in the same hand as the sketchbook takes a bit of pratice, and I’ve often had water spills when I didn’t pay attention. That’s part of the outdoor sketching challenge!
Here’s a video version of this post:
My mini sketching kit for outdoor painting
I use a small container with a cap for holding the water, and I’ve glued a magnet to it. There are small metal clip-on containers for oil painting that look similar – I just can’t seem to find mine, so I have macgyvered this solution. The reason I bring a water container with a cap is that I take my dirty water back home with me. I don’t want it to end up in the environment, no matter how little it seems. If you’re doing urban sketching and know that the sewage water will be treated, then you can probably make an exception.
One thing I really like is the pencil with the integrated sharpener in the cap. I bring this one instead of a mechanical pencil. For drawing, I also have a colored pencil and a pen.
I keep two water tank brushes around, one filled with water for loose washes, and an empty one for more controlled water appliance. I find these brushes release too much water sometimes, but I still like the nice tip and the protective cap. I also keep a small travel brush around. Then I have a black brush pen for making quick value studies.
This small fanny pack is quite spacious and really practical, although I’ve been looking for one that’s a bit bigger to fit my large sketchbook and a bigger palette. Still, I’m more likely to bring this little kit everywhere than my bigger bag with all the nice tools, or even a tripod and an easel. I’m all about keeping things practical and quick these days. Sometimes I even leave the watercolors at home and just focus on getting some pencil & ink miles in. The less tools you have around, the more creative you have to be.
Here are the contents of my mini sketching kit:
- Pencil with sharpener cap (Faber-Castell perfect pencil II)
- Colored pencil for underdrawings
- Staedtler Liner pen 0.3
- no-name travel brush
- two water tank brushes, small & medium, one filled with water
- black Pentel brush pen
- a small water bottle
- thin washi tape
- water container with magnet
- small watercolor palette (here is one of my current palette setups – I have to give you an update soon!)
- painting rag/paper towel
- small selfmade sketchbook
The whole sketching kit weighs 550 grams, and yes I wear it around my waist.
You just have to forget about looking cool when you’re sketching outside. I often bring my worn-out rain jacket and my dirty gardening pants to the party – when you look weird enough, people won’t ask you what you’re doing and you can sketch in peace without someone peeking over your shoulder. 😉
I’ve experimented with different setups throughout the summer, and what I’ve learnt about myself and my sketching/painting process is:
- I tend to bring my supplies more often when they’re easy to grab, lightweight and don’t need a lot of setup, so I’m in favor of these small kits.
- While I like reduced kits, I tend to use the watercolors more when I have a complete palette, that’s why I bring this palette with quite a few colors. I experimented with very basic palettes (just 4-6 colors), but I didn’t like this a lot – too much mixing, to little painting action.
- While I appreciate the stability of an easel as a painting surface, I don’t like setting it up and drawing a lot of attention, and it’s heavier to carry. With an easel in place, more people automatically come up to you, animals get more suspicious, etc. I like being as unobtrusive as possible. A small plastic board that I can hold is a better solution, but this makes the sketching kit slightly bigger.
I’d love to hear from your: What does your sketching kit look like? Do you have tips and tricks?
This is very helpful, I especially like the idea of making my own sketchbook. Sometimes I get too precious about using my sketchbook and then don’t use it at all. And I also tend to bring way too much stuff when I go outside to sketch. This gives me a plan to follow.
I know that feeling, and using my own sketchbooks helped so much with it. Remember that sketchbooks are for learning, so experiments and “failed” drawings are welcome. It took me years to warm up to this thought, but at the end it’s really just paper and you can always start over. 🙂
Hi Julia! Thanks for sharing this. I like your ploy for keeping people away by dressing oddly. I have been a bit put off painting outdoors lately by people coming to look. Also good to read that you like to have a few colours available. It is not so easy mixing colours outdoors. They tend to dry out more quickly and unless it is a very warm day I tend to want to work quickly. Enjoying your mailshots, thank you!
Thanks Kathryn! It’s more like an unintended side-effect, although I appreciate the effect in times of social distancing. 😉
I have tried a lot of minimal palette setups, and have always gone back to having more colors – it’s just easier and more time-efficient as you say. Happy to hear you enjoy my mails!!
Like you I tried to be as unobtrusive as possible doing quick oil painting bases on county roads. Using an easel or pallet with a thumb hole just seemed too la de da… Look at me. I’m an ARTIST!!!
That was until a rancher drove up wanting to know if he could help me… In a tone that really said … I think you are up to no good scoping out my property. Get your car in gear and leave! I waved my painting and brush so he could see …and left.
Now I use an easel, hold a palette, and wear a big pink hat… And have always been met with smiles and waves. Just a harmless ditzy old woman.
I don’t think it would work in an urban setting.