Have you always wanted to draw while out in nature or sketch while you’re traveling? Watch my video that demonstrates seven of my favorite techniques, then see my list of the tools I use in the links below the video.
Christine’s Field Sketching Kit List Handout
Click HERE to download the complete list of what I bring on a field sketching expedition. I keep a laminated copy of this list in my kit so I can double-check that I have all my supplies before each trip.
Techniques Showcase for Field Sketching Handout
Download the following guide to the techniques I use in the above video.
My Favorite Art Supplies
Here’s my list of the art tools I carry that are equally handy whether I’m out on a hike or traveling the world! Best of all, they all fit into my waterproof travel bag!
Mechanical pencil – Staedtler Mars 780 Technical Mechanical Pencil, 2mm.
Soft sketching pencil – Prismacolor Turquoise Drawing Pencil, 2B
Thick core soft sketching pencil – Prismacolor Premier Ebony Graphite Sketching Pencil
Fine-tipped Eraser – Tombow mono zero eraser
Water-soluble pen – Pilot Razor Point II Marker
Water-proof pen – Faber-Castell Pitt Artists’ Pens
White gel pen – Uni-Ball Signo Broad Point Gel Impact Pen White Ink
Water soluble-pencils – Derwent Watersoluble Sketching Pencils
Colored pencil set – Prismacolor Verithin Colored Pencils
Water-soluble colored pencils – I enjoy these even more than normal colored pencils because you can use them wet or dry and their large diameter lead allows you to put color on fast! I use Derwent Inktense brand.
Faber-Castel 24 Piece Polychromous Colored Pencil Set In Metal Tin – These pencils are my newest obsession. They are so smooth and durable, and most importantly – resist breaking when sharpening or being dropped on the ground!
Pencil sharpener – Prismacolor pencil sharpener
Blending stump – Caran d’Ache Blending Stump – Blending Stump
Kneadable eraser – Faber-Castell-Kneadable Art Eraser
Watercolor travel set – Winsor & Newton Professional Watercolor Compact Set
Small watercolor set (as backup) Windsor & Newton Cotman Half Pan with 12 Color Water Brush
Water brush -Pentel Japan Aquash Waterbrush Water Brush Pen, Medium and Large
Sketchbook – The Laws Sketchbook for Nature Journaling
Travel bag – I love the Blue Q brand pictured below, they are recycled, waterproof and come in a bunch of different sizes. These even have a shopping bag size with handles that I use as my carry-on bag while traveling!
Some additional suggested supplies
If you are going out in the field to sketch (as opposed to using them at home) you’ll also want to bring:
- small water container and a rag or paper towel
- day pack
- snacks
- water bottle
- sunscreen
- sunglasses
- hat
- sturdy shoes
- camera
- binoculars
- hand lens
- whatever else you bring on a day out hiking in nature!
Learn more about nature sketching!
Take one of my online Nature Sketching courses. LEARN MORE HERE.