It’s a familiar scenario. You’re out in nature, surrounded by beautiful plants, flowers, seed heads, and more, all of which you’d love to capture spontaneously in your sketchbook.

Unfortunately, you (as always) don’t have your sketchbook or any other materials with you to record your discoveries.

Why does this keep happening?

Because you didn’t plan to find something and then paint it? Because you’ve often thought about taking your art supplies with you but don’t know which ones? It shouldn’t be too much, after all. Or because you remember but the gathering process just takes too long?

I can totally relate! To make sure this never happens again and you can indulge your creative side on the go, today we’re putting together your Sketch Kit.

In this blog post, I’ll show you how.

Pssst: Get the downloadable and printable checklist right here!

What belongs in your Sketch Kit

What do you actually need for such a Sketch Kit?

1. The Bag

A well-organized Sketch Kit starts with the right bag.

It should be spacious enough to store all your materials and have several compartments so everything has its place.

I recommend a bag with:

- Pen holders and ample storage space: Ensure it can also accommodate your sketchbook.

- Durable material: To protect your equipment and ensure the bag doesn’t easily wear out.

A bag with adjustable straps and padded compartments adds extra comfort.

2. Sketchbook

A small, robust sketchbook with good paper quality is the heart of your kit.

It should be small enough to take anywhere but sturdy to draw well on the go.

A small-format hardcover is perfect because it’s stable and fits easily into your bag.

My favorite sketchbook for on the go is the “Clairefontaine Fontaine Watercolor Sketchbook,” but there are other excellent sketchbooks available.

You can find a selection of other brands and models in my article “The Best Watercolor Sketchbooks.”

3. Pencils and Eraser

Pencils aren’t a must in my Sketch Kit.

However, I do enjoy adding details with a pencil, planning the layout of my sketchbook page, or making a quick pre-sketch of my subject if it’s something complex to paint.

You can either take a regular pencil (e.g. grade HB) and an eraser or a mechanical pencil with an integrated eraser.

For pre-sketches, I also always have a kneaded eraser with me to lighten overly dark lines.

But that’s absolutely not a must; start simple!

4. Fineliners / Ink

For details and outlines, fineliners in various thicknesses are excellent.

I like to use Staedtler Pigment Liners, Pigma Micron Fineliners, and Uni Pin Fineliners for this.

Ultimately, it depends on which colors and line sizes you prefer to use.

If you’re using them with watercolor, they should definitely be waterproof.

Extra: Instead of fineliners, you can also take a fountain pen or a nib and ink, depending on how extensive you want your Sketch Kit to be.

5. Watercolors and Brushes

Now we come to the colorful part of your Sketch Kit: watercolors.

In my kit, there is a small travel watercolor set with my basic colors from Schmincke Horadam.

I usually take my watertank brushes with me. This is a perfect combination for on the go.

For more on “brushes for on the go,” you can check out the article on outdoor brushes, where I introduce my go-to variants that you can easily replicate, including the sock trick by John Muir Laws.

Not confident with watercolors yet?

Then just take colored pencils with you.

They can be regular school-grade colored pencils or special artist pencils like Faber-Castell Polychromos.

With these materials, you’re well equipped to get started!

If you’d like to dive even deeper, feel free to download my checklist.

In it, I give you even more material recommendations and some extra ideas that will enrich your Sketch Kit.

Summary

With a Sketch Kit, you’re fully equipped to capture nature in all its facets. Always ready.

I hope this article has helped you put together your own Sketch Kit.

Let me know in the comments which materials are a must in your kit and how you prefer to sketch outdoors!

And as mentioned, if you need more info to put together your personal kit, just grab my handy checklist.

So, pack your kit and let nature inspire you!

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