Hi there!
I hope that life is getting better for you with the nice weather moving in. Along with the warmer weather, and being out and about. Sometimes you just need to have a way to draw something that you see that inspires you!
I wanted to tell you how I build my mini-sketch kits to take along with me, making it easier to sketch something quickly when I feel the need to.
Sometimes I do little sketches when I am away from home. So, I like to travel with some sort of mini-drawing-kit, and I have certain ones that I take along with me when I’m on the bus going to work, or slip into my luggage for a weekend away. (I recently retired from my full-time position, but the memories of riding the bus are still quite clear. LOL)
Here’s what I usually have in my tote-bag during the week:
- a small sketch pad with a stretch-band to hold pages together.
- a BIC disposable-mechanical pencil with a white eraser
- 3 Blick Studio Markers or Copic Markers in some form of yellow, red, & blue*
- an ink pen (my favorite is a fine line blue Pentel RSVP)
- and its all in a zippered bag
It’s certainly nothing fancy, but, I use it all the time.
I like this set because it is easy. The markers are simple to open and close, and everything is small enough that it doesn’t weigh down my already heavy tote-bag.
It’s clean and neat and here are a few of my sketches in that little pad that you see there:
And here’s another cool set that I use, but not on the bus…because it’s a little messier. This one I can use as a small kit for a weekend away or at my desk at lunchtime.
Now just to let you know, I usually buy from BLICK, and if I have a link here…that’s where you’ll be sent to. If you purchase from them, I may get a commission from them. Right down the street from where I worked, was a Blick Store and they have quality stuff.
But, you can get most of these items at any art supply store, Walmart or maybe even lying around the house.
Okay, let’s get started, I’ll show you exactly what is in here and then how we will use it:
1. – – First, we need a nice easy small zippered bag. I use the BLICK 5” x 10”
It fits nicely in my purse or tote bag. This bag is $3.19 at Blick, but I am sure you can also get one just about anywhere.
For instance a make-up or pencil bag, or even a quart sized freezer bag.
2. – -Then add a small sketch pad.
Here’s a link to the one I used, but as long as you get one small enough to fit easily in the bag…you’re good to go.
Some 3×5 cards could work, or a small paper-tablet.
Make sure that the paper is as thick as you can get, so it doesn’t curl when you paint with the water.
3. – -Here’s a 2B drawing pencil.
This one is BLICK’s own brand and is quite nice, but you can use any brand of a nice soft 2B pencil.
4. – -Everyone needs a way to sharpen their pencils and I found this sharpener to be easy to use and keep clean. This one happens to be a BLICK store-brand, but a number of other companies make them. I suggest one that contains the pencils shavings cleanly and is easy to use and empty.
You will also use a sharpener for your watercolor pencils.
5. – -The watercolor pencils that I have here are made by Derwent….and they’re vivid colors!
I carry a red, blue and yellow pencil to make all of my other colors, see sketches below.
it’s fun and takes up much less room.
But, you could get a whole set and also there are many different brands.
6. – -So, now we’re down to an eraser. My favorites are white erasers. BUT, I think kids enjoy kneaded erasers a little more. So, that’s what I put in this kit.
Don’t use a pink eraser…they’re too rough on the paper.
7. – -Fun! fun! fun!…here’s a really cool watercolor brush that keeps the water right inside the barrel!
Obviously, when you get home, you’ll need to clean the bristles, but while you’re out sketching, you can paint without a water-cup, for the most part.
But, again, you can use pretty much any old paint brush…it’ll still be fun!
– -Add in a couple napkins or paper towels and a stretch-band to wrap around the little sketchpad, and keep it from getting messy…and you have the entire mini-sketch-kit!
Now here are a couple of small samples of what you can do, and what we WILL do in the coming weeks.
The first is a color wheel:
As you can see It gives you an idea of what your colors will look like when you paint them.
So, trying these out and experimenting with them is very helpful.
See if you can get a small kit together and maybe try some with me.
The first week of June we’re going to start having a regular EXCURSION DAY!
I started to video a weekly Draw Page but outdoors! and we’ll use our mini-sketch-kits! Hopefully you’ll be able to join in!
Excursion Day – We’ll walk out back or drive to a park, field or playground and sketch and paint a few fun simple objects. There’s always something fun to draw: a flower, a tree, a bug or a bird…or maybe someone that we meet.
I am so excited about this new project!
We’ll talk more about it next time.
Don’t forget to start to assemble your supplies!
-Rose
