Sketching outdoors is a delightful and rewarding way to connect with nature, observe the world around you, and unleash your creativity. Whether you're a seasoned artist or just starting, the Manx countryside offers a wealth of inspiration just waiting to be captured on paper. To ensure a successful and enjoyable outdoor sketching experience, it's essential to have the right tools at your disposal. In this blog post, I’ll share my must-have supplies for sketching when out and about.
Sketchbook
A sketchbook is the foundation of your outdoor art adventure. Consider the following when selecting one:
Paper Type: If you’re creating sketches using watercolour or another wet medium then watercolour sketchbooks are an obvious choice. These are available at very different prices depending on the size, binding and quality of the paper. Sketchbooks containing mixed media paper can also be a good choice as they’re so versatile. A simple cartridge paper sketchbook is an affordable option and really, the type of sketchbook you use will come down to personal preference.
Size and Weight: Choose a size that's portable and convenient for your chosen outdoor setting. Larger sketchbooks may offer more space but can be cumbersome.
Texture: Different textures can add depth to your sketches. Experiment with rough, medium, and smooth surfaces to see which one suits your style.
I use a very reasonable Talens ‘Art Creation’ sketchbook as it’s small enough to fit in any of my bags and the paper takes watercolour and ink quite well, even though it’s not specifically a watercolour paper.
I also carry a Seawhite Travel Journal watercolour sketchbook for slightly larger sketches involving watercolour or ink. This has a textured surface as the paper is cold-pressed watercolour paper, and gives a nice contrast to the smooth surface of the Talens sketchbook that I also carry.
Accessories
These accessories can be useful to enhance your outdoor sketching experience:
Drawing Board or Easel: A portable, sturdy surface to work on and prevent your sketchbook from collapsing.
Clips or Tape: Secure your sketchbook pages to prevent them from fluttering in the wind.
Sun Protection: A wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen to protect yourself from harsh sunlight.
Cold and Rain Protection: Very important on the Isle of Man! Sometimes the most beautiful days are cold ones and showers can often surprise us when we're out and about. A packable raincoat is very handy as it won't take up much room in your bag and can also be used for sitting on if the surface is wet. Pocket hand warmers are also a good idea if you're prone to cold hands.
Comfortable Seating: A lightweight portable stool or cushion can make sketching for extended periods more enjoyable.
Hydration: A water bottle or flask of hot drink is a must when out sketching for a few hours.
I always carry a wide-brimmed hat and sunscreen in the summer and a warm hat, scarf and gloves in the winter. I carry a roll of washi tape with me, but I always forget to use it. One thing I never forget to use is my Thermorest Z seat cushion. It makes such a difference, and I can sit and sketch for a long time without worrying about getting wet and cold.
Pencils
Pencils are your primary sketching tools. You may like to have:
Graphite Pencils: A range of graphite pencils with different hardness levels (2H to 8B) for varying line thickness and shading effects. You don’t need the full range, just a couple of different hardnesses is often enough. Mechanical pencils can be very useful as they avoid the need for sharpening but they can be difficult to shade with, depending on your technique.
Coloured Pencils: These can add depth and interest to your outdoor sketches, providing versatility to your creations. They also have the added bonus of being a very convenient way to add colour when out and about.
Erasers and sharpeners: Different erasers can be useful for different purposes. Kneaded erasers or stick erasers like the Tombow Mono Eraser are good for precise corrections and a standard eraser is useful for larger areas. Sharpeners that catch and store their own sharpenings are very handy when sketching away from your home.
I carry a range of pencils from various pencil ranges. My preferred graphite pencils are Faber-Castell 9000 and Caran d’Ache Grafwood. I love Caran d’Ache Luminance coloured pencils as they colour over black ink really well, but they are expensive. Derwent Drawing pencils are lovely and in a gorgeous range of natural colours. I have the whole range but just carry a few of my favourite colours when I go out sketching. I’ve recently fallen in love with Derwent Graphitint pencils as a sketching tool as they’re water soluble and are fantastic for quick sketches in one or two colours and are fun to use with other mediums. I also carry a few Caran d’Ache Museum Aquarelle pencils with me. These are water-soluble as well and, although expensive, their quality and vibrancy are superb. I buy many of my pencils individually, so I can choose the exact colours that I love and know I'll use.
Paint or Ink
A set of paints or ink in a fountain pen can be used to give added dimension and colour to your sketches and needn't take up much room in your bag. Consider taking the following out with you on your next trip:
Watercolour Sets: Compact sets with mixing spaces and sometimes even water-container attachments are available for outdoor painting excursions. A simple small set of watercolours, with a lid that acts as a palette, is often all that’s needed though.
Watercolour Brushes and Water Container: Travel brushes are ideal as they are more compact and the brush is protected during travel. A brush roll or tube can allow you to carry your standard brushes, and water brushes, where water is carried in a reservoir in the handle of the brush, can be a great solution when travelling. Foldable water containers are available if you prefer to use standard brushes with water.
Ink: Fountain pens can be filled with different inks for different types of sketching and are a convenient way to achieve varied line widths using just one pen. You can also draw a wet brush over the nib of a fountain pen to transfer ink to the brush and use this for adding washes or shading to your sketches. Fine-liners and gel pens can be handy when adding definition to your sketches and are very convenient to carry, although most aren't refillable. Brush pens are very useful if you need to cover larger areas with colour but don’t want the fuss of getting paints out.
I carry a range of different pens in addition to a set of watercolours when I go out sketching. This means that I’m able to choose the medium I think will most effectively express what I want to, and that suits my mood at the time.
I often start a sketch with the intention of using one medium, such as watercolour pencil, and then switch to others, like ink and coloured pencil. My most used items when I'm sketching outdoors are probably my waterbrushes, as I dislike messing around with water containers but love using water-soluble pencils and ink. My fountain pens get regular use and I love the Twsbi Eco fountain pens as they draw wonderfully and don't clog easily. I fill mine with the waterproof Platinum Carbon ink and the water-soluable Diamine Earl Grey, which splits into a wonderful array of purples and blue on contact with water.
I often dislike a sketch at some point while I'm drawing, and being able to switch to another medium gives me the versatility to correct anything that's bothering me. Having a range of materials that I love also helps me to feel expressive and that I’m playing rather than drawing. A downside is that I can never go near an art supply shop without buying something for my sketch bag!
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