Packing art supplies and “support supplies” for a sketch weekend

All the supplies I am taking to the National Sketch Weekend in Den Bosch

I will be taking a bus and a train to meet up with my fellow Urban Sketchers in Den Bosch for three days. There is always a lot of excitement during the buildup to these events and one of the big topics is usually what everyone will be packing. Figuring out which art supplies to take is part of the fun for me. On the one hand one usually want to take everything you own. But then you realise that you have to carry it all on your back for the duration and then you start to cut down on the bulk.

So after lots of deliberation, including testing out my supply choices earlier in the week while meeting up with some friends to sketch, I present to you: What I can fit into my backpack!

Let’s start with the actual art supplies…

Here I have the usual suspects - some sketchbooks, two pencil cases filled with sketching goodies and three tins of crayons. One of the new-to-me things that I am also taking this time is a packet of paper to use with collage. (More on that next week… so subscribe if you don’t want to miss that.) And don’t forget the foldable water container.

Firstly I am taking my trusty Etcher pencil case, filled absolutely to the brim. I am yet to find someone who can fit more into this case than me. Yes, the scissors, glue and sharpener also fit in there. And, yes, it can actually close. In it you will find a bunch of coloured pencils, sorted by colour groups. There is a water-brush and my favourite black felt tip marker by Kuretake. I also have a handful of Inktense pencils. Literally a handful. Five. And then I have my favourite markers, all india ink except for one watercolour marker.

This pencil case is filled with all these goodies… Starting with a selection of Posca markers and one inktense pencil for line work when using my Neocolours. Another brush-pen - this one to use with both the Poscas and Neocolours. A small tin of watercolours. I am mostly taking these along to use with collage. Two travel brushes. (Nr 8 & 10) and a tiny water container to use with them. And lastly there is a small spray bottle, some clips and a bit of kitchen towel to clean my brushes with.

Then I have my two sketchbooks. I will probably use the bigger one most of the time. Though sometimes it is nice to have another one on hand while one is waiting for the paint on the first to dry.

And then there are my three tins of Neocolor II water-soluble wax pastels. The middle tin contains all my favourite colours, so If I have to grab just one, this one will be it. The other two contain some warm colours and some cool colours respectively.

Then to get to a much overlooked, but essential part of any sketcher’s kit: the support supplies…

Starting with something to sit one. I have two options here, a small foldable stool and a small foldable mat. Then I have some wipes, because one’s hands tend to get dirty using art supplies. One essential for me is a water bottle, because water, water, water. It is necessary for life. And because this is the Netherlands, I also always have to have a raincoat on standby. Lastly there is the sun gear, which consists of my favourite harmful-sunray-blocking hat, a set of sun gloves, and sunscreen. One of the sunscreens is a stick sunscreen, so that I can easily apply it to the backs of my hands without getting my palms and fingertips all fatty.

I hope you enjoyed this peek into my backpack, and that it would motivate you to get your own kit ready to go out and sketch with others.

My previous art supply posts were in video format. So, for this one I decided to try out the photo plus text format. Let me know what you prefer and why in the comments.

Have a lovely creativity filled weekend everybody!