Art Supplies For On The Trail

Written By Max Romey

You require a lot less than you might think for a colorful day on the trails (or at home, when being outside is not possible)!

📍 Updated: October 2026

Paper / Sketchbooks:

If I were a dragon, I would not hoard gold; I would hoard paper. I am mostly looking for something little enough to take anywhere and durable enough to survive the trip.

Travel Paint Palettes:

I used to think palettes had to be colossal teardrop wooden shields you carried, but modern palettes are portable enough that I rarely leave the house without one. It is something so simple, but having color at your fingertips is pure magic.

Watercolor Paints/Pigments:

The best watercolor paint is the one you have access to, but if you are in the market, you can’t go wrong with Daniel Smith, Winsor & Newton (what my Grandmother Lu used), Holbein, and M. Graham & Co. I have a little bit of all of these in my studio and on my palettes. I find Daniel Smith to be the best for working in the field because it dries hard in my palette.

  • 🫟 My Colors = burnt sienna, burnt umber, cerulean blue, indigo, red, yellow, sap green, a nice medium purple.

Paint brushes:

When I have time and space I love my set of travel brushes (by Rosemary & Co). I have a small, medium and large; which help like gears on a bike. But most of my painting is done with either a portable water brush (medium). However, my favorite brush you see me use the most is our 🖌️ Trailbound Travel Brush, a very snappy, pointy round, size 8. We include one brush with an order of our Trail Tiles (next shop update is October 16th, 2026).

A simple pen.

  • 🖊️ Currently Loving (and my go-to) = A fine point Sharpie, but something waterproof works fine. I am not too picky.

A pencil.

Confession 🫣…

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Max Romey
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