Outside the box: essentials for creating outdoors
Essentials snapshot.
Last night, I rewatched At Eternity's Gate, starring Willem Dafoe. It's a fictionalized portrayal of the life and mental health struggles of Vincent van Gogh. It's beautifully shot with excellent acting, a compassionate representation of a person struggling with mental health issues, and it has a superb soundtrack (hence the rewatch). However, there is one element that I find particularly irksome: our friend Vincent is painting outside, non-stop, and there are no bugs. I mean the small-minded village people show up and ruin his day at several points in the film, but I'm talking about actual bugs. Mosquitoes, gnats, etc. I find this detail as well as other discrepancies in the portrayal of the open air painting experience to be a disservice to the artistic community. It sets unrealistic expectations about the realities you'll be facing as an artist. But don't worry, I'm here to help. Here's what you need to know about creating outdoors:
You are a walking smorgasbord. And, when you sit down on the grass in the deep woods or at the edge of a lake to create your masterpiece, congratulations, you have now graduated to stationary buffet status. All manner of blood-thirsty, mite-sized creeps will crawl or fly their way to your succulent flesh for a midsummer snack. I have found that OFF! Deep Woods is truly the only thing that helps. I know there's DEET in it, but when I've tried more natural options I find myself covered in bug bites and frantically picking ticks off of myself. Of course, use the repellent formula that you're comfortable with, but bug repellent you will need!
The sun is your friend until it's not. Let me first acknowledge that the sun feels great when you first step out for your artistic outdoor adventure, and it's probably casting gorgeous light somewhere. However, after five minutes of that same sun beating down on your body, you'll realize how quickly it can ruin an otherwise pleasant experience. Fortunately, there are quite a few ways to remedy this. The first, of course, is sunscreen. Even if you're comfortable you still want to protect your skin from harmful UV rays. The second option would be to wear a hat, sun shirt, or both. These are great options if you're sensitive to sunscreen or just don't like the feeling of it on your skin. Also, wearing light-colored hats and sun shirts will help keep you cool by reflecting the sunlight. Third, you could find a good old tree to sit under if available or bring along some type of sun shade. Sunscreen, hats, and sun shirts provide direct coverage, but it's nice to have actual shelter and reprieve from the sun. My MO is usually to cover myself in sunscreen and find a somewhat shaded area to work in. I like feeling the sun on my skin (safely), and I dislike like schlepping anything that I don't have to (i.e., a sun shade).
Water is a necessity. Even with sun protection, if you plan to be creating outdoors for more than thirty minutes, which is likely, you'll want a big bottle of water handy. The last thing you need to contend with while engaging with your creative practice is heat stroke. At the very least, feeling thirsty is very distracting and can interrupt your flow. I know there has been a time or two that I've rushed a painting simply because I was really thirsty and uncomfortable and just wanted to get inside because of it. Had I remembered my water bottle, I would have been more apt to take my time and enjoy the experience.
Beware the wind. Like the sun, the wind is your friend until it's not. A little wind is helpful, because it naturally deters bugs. Too much wind though, and your supplies are tipping all over the place. Sketch paper is flapping in the breeze. Dirt and leaves are contaminating your materials. You are so caught up in trying to keep your creative space from simply floating away that very little creative work is actually accomplished. This may not be what you want to hear, but the best way to remedy the wind is to avoid it. Save the open air experience for another day or find someplace inside with a big window and a nice view to simulate the experience. Sort of.
Level ground can be difficult to find. It's funny, I never really paid attention to the grade of the earth beneath my feet until I started painting outdoors. I've found that even a slight grade can make work more challenging than it needs to be. I usually work on a blanket with my materials spread around me and in my lap, but this is just as important if a chair, easel, and packable table are involved. Not that it's impossible to work on an uneven surface, however, instead of sinking into your space you'll be balancing on it, probably quite precariously. Your water or paints might tip or, even worse, your wet canvas. In lieu of perfectly level ground, bringing a portable chair, easel, or table with adjustable legs is helpful. Or if you are spreading out on a blanket, finding small pockets of level ground to pool your supplies is a good way to work with what you've got. The point is either commit to finding or constructing a level area before you begin creating.
Less is more. I know this sounds kind of contradictory as I've been listing all of the element-related essentials before even mentioning the art supplies you'll need, but that's why this principle it's so crucial. Once you determine the bare essentials for your outdoor comfort, think about what it is you want to create. Only bring those items. For example, I've mostly done watercolor pieces while outdoors. At first, I would bring at minimum three different color palettes to work with. The intention was to give myself options, but the result was me carrying around an obnoxious amount of watercolor pans that I didn't use and bogging down my engagement with the surroundings because I was so focused on the color palettes. I've found a good way to streamline the art supply section of your packing list is to pick the most versatile of your tools if you're open to painting anything that catches your eye. Or, if you have a specific subject in mind, only bring the tools you'll need for that subject. Trust, me you don't want the baggage of carrying your entire art studio into the woods.
Even if you streamline your essentials, you will forget to pack something. That is--unless you make a checklist. To recap you'll want your choice of bug repellent, sun protection, creative surface (e.g., blanket/chair and easel), and hydration, along with your choice of art supplies. My essential art supplies are generally as follows:
1-2 brushes
1 set of paints
1 mixing palette
1 paper pad or canvas (depending on the medium)
washi tape
jar of clean water
2 paper towels
small tray
To make this even easier on myself, I typically set a side a grab and go pack with the comfort essentials and cluster my outdoor art supplies close by, so I can quickly pack them. I've just got to get fresh water and go!
So there you have it. The items covered above are what I would consider the essentials for creating outdoors. Can you still create if you forget the sunscreen? Sure. However, the goal is to be comfortable enough to concentrate. If you're sun-burned and dehydrated, you might not do your best work or ever want to paint outdoors again. To make the most of your artful outdoor adventure, be mindful of your personal comfort and creative process. That extra bit of effort will make the experience worthwhile as you take in and capture a beautiful sunrise, swans floating across a secluded lake, or any other glimpse of divine inspiration nature decides to reveal to you.
Did I miss anything? Leave a comment with one of your outdoor essentials! Or watch the outdoor painting process unfold in this short YouTube vlog: Outdoor Acrylic Painting.
Into the woods. My actual backyard that requires a machete to navigate after mid-June.
Surveying for the most level place to set up shop.
This summer’s first outdoor painting. Fun with acrylics inspired by a cluster of beautiful roses.