You might remember I did a post a while back about making a coffee table art kit.
Well what if you’re frequently out of the house, on the go, busy busy, but you still want to be able to bust out some art as often as you can because you know how good it feels?
Behold, the ‘on the go art kit’.
Cousin of the coffee table art kit but smaller {although admittedly not always in my case}, more streamlined and just as good for you.
I’ve included two versions here as I’m aware that my full size version is bigger than is practical for some.
And it goes without saying that you’ll put in whatever supplies you are loving most at any given time.
Switching up your contents from time to time stops things becoming predictable; I do suggest taking things you LOVE to work with though, always.
{I have included links to the supplies mentioned for ease, and they are affiliate links, just so you know.}
Oil pastels
My favourites thus far are Mungyo Gallery Oil Pastels
Water Soluble Crayons
I love my Caran D’ache Neocolor II Crayons
- They are crayons and watercolours
- you can layer them up and blend them
- they soften beautifully and become smudgeable like oil pastels in the heat
- the colours are jewel bright and rich
- they last for ages
- and you don’t need a huge tin to be able to create beautiful images. I have the box of 15 and it’s plenty.
Sketchbook{s}
My favourite are always by Seawhite, in particular the square Black Euro Spiral Hardback Sketchbook
I’ve been testing out the smaller, clothbound hardback style and although a bit small for me it is perfect for when I don’t want to take the big one out.
I also like to have a choice between rectangular and square.
Reference Images
Since discovering that working with reference images is sooo much better for me than trying to paint from my imagination, these have been not only a great source of inspiration but also a catalyst to get to me make art, as just looking at them tends to wake up my artist self.
My reference images are like springboards, and allow me to experiment with colour combinations, subject matter, composition and mark making that I may not have discovered on my own.
They are so much more than something to copy.
Pencil
No need to get fancy unless you want to.
I have a range
In a way it makes more sense to use a mechanical pencil since you won’t need to sharpen it. I don’t use my pencil so much as I’m less of a sketcher and more of get-in-there-with-the-colours kind of person, but I do have an enclosed sharpener that I sometimes take with me.
Black Pitt Pens
I was given a pack like this assorted set by Faber Castell
The brush tip ones are great for using over the Neocolors; the finer ones tend to slide on them. Here’s an example.
Eraser
I like the sturdy white ones like this Staedtler Mars Plastic Eraser
Water filled brushes
Or, as I just discovered they are called, Aquabrushes.
I’ve had my set of three
Perfect with the Neocolors.
Baby wipes
A recent discovery and a revelation!
Great for blending and softening your oil pastels or Neocolors, for wiping colour off your Aquabrush bristles and for cleaning your hands after.
Optional extra:
Pencil case
I have so many of these it’s ridiculous, and what’s even more ridiculous is I’m not actually using one at the moment.
When I was having my colouring pencil phase I did; it really depends what you’re taking .
And check it! You could also look this cool with your art supplies slung over your shoulder as you head out into the world.
Imagine.
Tee hee.
What’s in your on the go art kit? If you don’t have one, what do you think you’d include in it? Any revelatory or unexpected additions?
Awesome! I’ve been meaning to write a post on the same topic as well, sharing my own portable sketching kit.
My smaller kit that fits in my purse is:
– A5 sized Canson sketchbook
– Small watercolor kit (I used handmade mini box, now I have a nice one from Van Gogh)
– A pencil case that contains a waterbrush, pencil, brush pen, fineliner, eraser and occasionally other things such as a few watercolor pencils, white gel pen or gouache tube
When I’m traveling for a few days, I take a bigger case with several waterbrushes, a small water container, watercolor pencils, pencil sharpener etc.
I also take an extra sketchbook.
Thanks for sharing this Nela – I love to hear about what others would include. It does so depend on your personal style doesn’t it. I love the idea of a white gel pen but never seem to find one that works without sinking into the colour!
that photo of the seagull makes me laugh! fun!
They are hilarious. 🙂 {Apart from when they all start screeching at once in the middle of the night.}
Such a great idea! I know I’m much more likely to make art when I have the supplies with me! Now to get over feeling shy about drawing in public…
Hi Stephanie, thank you for stopping by! And what a good point – I had not thought about the part where you actually DO the art. 🙂 I’m going to give that some thought! I don’t love to be watched I have to say. Also I have been looking at your lovely website and blog – love your approach, probably because it feels familiar to me. 🙂
Thanks Tara! I’m glad you like it – it does seem like we have a similar perspective 🙂
I love this one! I am about to be living in a different setting and was beginning to plan and prep a coffee table kit to bring with me, but without being entirely sure of what will be too much and what will be not enough for my stay, this seems like a great compromise. Because I like to dabble in an array of mediums, I couldn’t narrow everything down to just an on-the-go kit or even a small CTK. My thought is that I can make a few mini OTGKs with the bare essentials for my current obsessions and put them in a box to create my CTK. That way I will be able to choose a daily kit to carry around.
I notice that you often point out current interests and obsessions – for lack of a better term. This is something that I have been struggling with a lot. I have this idea in my mind that I need to build my skills and techniques in specific medium or find one that I love the most to stick with (I have done hobbies from jewelry making to clay work, drawing, acrylic painting, and watercolor painting). Is it natural to switch from one art form to another on a regular or even daily basis?
Thanks for reading. And even more so, thanks for writing (and creating)! I am thoroughly enjoying your blog.
Loving the idea of different kits for different materials/projects! The question of ‘indulging’ all your interests vs narrowing in and developing skills in a particular style/area is very common! I think it’s a case of both/and, not either/or. Many people start wanting to trying all the things – that’s what I did, and I just followed my curiosity and tried out as much as possible, if just to rule some things out right off the bat. As creative people we’re always going to be curious; that doesn’t go away just because you decide to hone in on something. But there is something to be said for going deep and long with an idea or a style or technique, to gain a richer, more nuanced understanding and as a means to building something recognisable and consistent. I think it depends too on what you want to do with what you make. If it’s simply for pleasure, by all means skip about and try everything! If you’re wanting to develop real skills and perhaps sell your work, then you’ll need to choose a focus. But that doesn’t mean you can’t also play in other areas too!