Art Supplies For On The Trail
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)! I hope this video and the list of my go-to favorite art supplies helps take the guess work out of what to bring on your next adventure.
Updated: October 2024
A small sketchbook and/or more recently my new Trailbound Sketches Trail Tiles (pictured above)!
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 when it comes to sketchbooks/watercolor paper products. I have been really impressed with my present kit; it has survived to freeze at -40f, being bounced down mountains, being plunged (with me) into rivers, getting lost in the snow, buried by scree avalanches, being carried in my mouth, and lightly being burnt.
NOTE: I primarily paint on Hahnemuhle 100% cotton cold press paper and sketchbooks of varying degrees of weight (thickness). Please, however, don’t allow accessibility to the exact brand of paper or sketchbook prevent you from playing with watercolor! My late grandmother Lu did virtually all of her watercolor sketching on Strathmore sketchbooks, which are readily found at most craft/art supply stores (including the craft section of Walmart in some locations). With that all said, you can buy Trailbound Sketches Trail Tiles from my friends at Art ToolKit!
Travel 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 out without one. It is something so simple, but having color at your fingertips is pure magic. My go-to travel palettes are produced by Art ToolKit.
Watercolor Paints/Pigments: burnt sienna, burnt umber, cerulean blue, indigo, red, yellow, sap green, a nice medium purple.
NOTE: Please don’t allow the brand of paint to prevent you from painting alongside me in any one of my online or live tutorials. For a limited time, we are offering what has fondly been dubbed the Unicorn Watercolor Kit for beginners. It’s everything you need to get started.
Paint brushes.
When I have time and space I love my NEW 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 my water brush (medium). I can use it on its own if I am going super light, or if I have time and space for a water jar I can use it just like you would at home.
NOTE: Another kind reminder to embrace whatever paint brushes you have access to.
A simple pen.
A fine point Sharpie or something waterproof works fine. I am not too picky.
A pencil.
Right now I am having a lot of fun with this natural feeling retractable pencil from a company that had a clever name — with. I personally use their 36 set of colorful and interchangeable leads. It’s the most compact set of colored pencils I have ever used!
Music.
It might seem like a strange tool, but I often get petrified when trying to make the first stroke on a bright white piece of paper. Some pump up music in my ears is usually all I need to work up the bravery to start.
Originally shared by Maria Coryell-Martin, Founder of Art Toolkit, whom Max is an artist ambassador.
