So you want to make art outdoors? Feeling a little intimidated by the process or don’t know where to start? Don’t worry – I’ve been there.

Preparing to make art outdoors

Where to start:

  • What is the environment like? The reality is that when we get outdoors, we need to bring the right things to feel comfortable. Is it cold outside? you might need fingerless gloves so your hands can keep a grip on your paintbrush. Will there be animals or insects? Wearing a long sleeved shirt can be the difference between getting irritated and distracted by flies or keeping a calm focus.
  • Will I be remote? If you’re heading to a remote location it is important to bring an emergency contact device. Unexpected things happen when we get outdoors. If you’re staying within phone range, is your phone charged up? Do you have a battery pack? Phone batteries will die quickly in cold weather. Make sure to tell a trusted friend what your plans are, and ask them to make sure you’re home safe and if not, to send out a search party. Better safe than sorry. Carrying a first aid kit is advisable for any outdoor expedition.
  • How long will I be outdoors? However long you’re planning on spending outdoors, expect to be there for longer… I find that when I start making art outdoors, I get carried away and time passes by FAST. bring snacks, bring lunch, bring extra water. In Central Australia we have a general rule of 3 litres of water minimum for any outdoor expedition. When walking a long distance is planned, we bring even more water than that.

The logistics of making art in the elements:

  • Is it hot/dry, wet/cold? Different environments suit different kinds of art materials. In Central Australia is it hot and dry so it’s well suited to watercolours. I will share exactly what I like to use out here in my next blog post.
  • Surface – generally we’ll need a surface to make art on. I recommend bringing art paper that is attached to an MDF board, a clipboard, or a sketchbook. Some artists like to set up an easel with canvass – if this is you, it can be a good idea to test your set up in your garden or on your street on a windy day.
  • Preparing for wind – pretty much every environment is exposed to some wind. Wind and paper aren’t friends, so make sure you secure your paper well, if you are planning on making art on paper. Masking tape/a clip board are useful. Every sheet of paper you put down needs to have weight on top of it – in some spots there are rocks, but consider how moving a rock in the environment you’re in will impact the micro environment.
  • Storage – is it likely to rain? Is there humidity? If so, consider bringing a waterproof folder with you. A plastic document holder is good, a dry bag is better.
  • Minimising your environmental impact – remember that everything we bring into an environment has an impact. When I paint outdoors I make sure to bring a used watercolour paint jar to collect dirty paint water. I also bring paper towel to mop up any watercolour that looks like it might dribble out of my pallet. A sheet for the ground is a good thing to bring – natural fibre sheets are better, as many ground sheets contain micro plastics and we don’t want to contribute to the build up of those!