I usually try to put it on before I leave. If you are going to be outdoors for a while it's a good idea to bring sunscreen. Consider Sunscreen, Bug Repellent and an Umbrella Military surplus stores can be great places to find quality backpacks at a reasonable price. For my plein air oil painting items (which is way more extensive), I use a large mountain hiking backpack. You can also use a tote bag or anything else that will help you keep your sketching stuff together and get it to where you need to go.įor my pencil and watercolor sketching materials, I use a simple backpack. A Backpack for Carrying Your ItemsĪ backpack is very handy, not just for hiking somewhere, but also for keeping all your items together for a convenient grab and go approach. Experiment and see which type you like best. I tend to prefer a kneaded eraser because of its gentleness, longevity, and ability to move into different shapes (see Resources Page). Yet it's nice to have the option to erase big blunders or get rid of a couple of lines on a page because the subject ran away right after you started drawing. The purpose of field sketching is to capture a moment and make a visual note, not create and award-winning drawing. It's always a good idea when sketching to not rely too much on an eraser. Some kneaded erasers can get a little sticky and dropping it into some sand could ruin it. Besides dropping an eraser in a spot you cannot reach, you may drop it in some mud which could make it unusable. Have Several Good Erasers For Outdoor Sketchingįor the same reason as mentioned above, you will want at least several erasers for outdoor sketching. Another option is a small retractable razor and a small piece of sandpaper. Bring a couple along in case you lose one. You can use a typical hand-held sharpener which is easy to carry. It may seem obvious that you should bring your pencil sharpener with you when sketching outdoors, but there have been a number of times when I have forgotten mine. This used to be the most cost-effective box I could find, but Artbin now offers a pencil box for around the same price (see bottom of the Resources Page) and theirs has a convenient foam insert at the end to prevent your sharpened pencils from getting damaged. It has adjustable dividers that come in handy. My pencil case is actually a small fishing tackle box that I picked up at Bass Pro Shop. Many art supply stores sell pencils cases. Keeping them in a case not only helps you keep track of them, but it can also protect them from damage. Pencils are not very big and can easily get lost (believe me, I've lost many). While you can sketch outdoors without one, having some type of case to store and transport your pencils is very handy. John Neal Books is my favorite resource for these items. Do this by removing the nib from the pen if possible. Also, ensure the pen is safely transported so as to not damage the fragile nib. Make sure the ink is stored in a thick, glass, or plastic inkwell with a tight cover to avoid breaking and causing a mess. Traditional pen and ink can be a fun way to sketch outdoors and was the method used by many artists from the 19th century on back. See the Resources Page for recommended pencils. In that situation, having only one pencil will end your sketching and even your sketching day very abruptly. There have been many times when I dropped a pencil in between rocks or some other unreachable place. If you are doing any amount of traveling for the purpose of sketching, make sure you bring along at least several pencils or pens. You never know when an opportunity will present itself. If it makes a mark it's game.įor the serious artist, it's always a good idea to have a small sketchbook and pencil on hand in case you ever want to sketch something spontaneously. Other options are charcoal (they will smudge), marker, watercolor, pastel, colored pencil, oil and so on. Ballpoint pens are nice because they dry fast and don't smudge. I spent a year sketching with just a ballpoint pen to break my over-dependence on erasers. Pencils are the primary instrument for sketching. The next thing you will need is something to draw with.
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