I live in Michigan, land of snow and ice in the winter. So when spring hits, the birds are singing, and it’s 50 degrees, it’s shorts time. Okay, maybe not quite yet, but the first thing I am itching to do is spend as much time outside as possible. But painting outside with kids can be tricky and messy. So although a part of me itches to be Monet, it never seems to work quite as I planned.
The other day, I took off to Lake Michigan (which really looks as big as an ocean) with some art supplies. My goal? To make painting outdoors with my kids as easy as possible. And I’m here to share these 5 tips for painting outside with kids. I’m hoping to save you a post-Impressionist sized headache.
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1. Choosing the canvas (hint: don’t choose a canvas)
Ah, to think of painting outdoors with a canvas, an easel, and chirping birds in the background. The reality is quite different.
Bringing a canvas out on the go with kids is not the best option. First, it’s bulky. Can you imagine trying to carry a wet canvas over the sand with tired, wet kids? That isn’t a walk in the park, pun intended.
Not to mention when your child cries because the paint ruined their canvas and they start an epic-artist meltdown and you’re suddenly yelling back “This was supposed to be fun!”
When starting out, there are two really easy surfaces that transport well, are inexpensive, and if one gets ruined – you have more at your disposal.
The first is a clipboard with sulphite or watercolor paper on it. This is a great idea for a larger surface, you can attach multiple sheets of paper to it, and just rotate the paper through. It’s also big enough to put on the lap, or to set on the ground, no matter if you’re on the beach, or on the grass.
The second is a little sketchbook with watercolor paper. This one by Arteza is the perfect size to throw in a bag or backpack, and it’s sturdy enough that it can take a beating from little kids dropping it into unexpected places.
2. Easy-to-Use Paint
Painting used to be hard work, especially when paints were stored in things like pig’s bladders (yuck). One of the first things that we like to reach for are those little tubes of paint. They come in beautiful colors and in oil, acrylic, watercolor, and gouache.
Leave those things at home. No one wants to spend 30 minutes hunting for the cap that went flying off, or try to unscrew the cap with water or dirt or paint hands where there isn’t a sink.
Try using a watercolor travel set instead. These come in an array of shapes and sizes and brands. This off-brand one I’m not a huge fan of, but there are many others I’ve tried and love. Koi is a wonderful brand we love this one. The pods are even labeled with a number so they can be replaced.
There’s also a mysterious sponge in these kits – these are for cleaning your brush as well as sponging mistakes. If you think cleaning your brush on a sponge won’t work, I think you’ll be surprised at the results. I know I was!
3. Watercolors in a Pan
If you don’t have a travel set, bring a set like this one from Faber-Castell. The colors are vibrant and don’t take as much water to activate (some of the off-brand pan sets can take quite a lot of water and aren’t very useful when out on the go.) This set also has a lid that’s perfect for mixing colors.
4. Water-holding Paintbrushes
You could try to bring a cup of water and be rinsing and swirling – or you could bring a paintbrush that is designed to make watercolor painting on the go easier.
These little brushes have an empty bottom that can be filled up with the perfect amount of water. I painted several paintings and had just enough water. A set like this one comes with different tips and you could bring all of them to have an extra supply!
5. Sparkle it Up
If you don’t want to take paint on the go, one fun way to elevate your artsy experience outdoors is by bringing some sparkle supplies.
Sparkle crayons and sparkle markers like these from Giotto are even more beautiful outside. Giotto is hard to find in the USA (I brought back a set for myself and a friend when I was in England), but this set from Crayola works just as well.
Another sparkly art supply that’s low mess and perfect for outdoors are shinmery gel crayons. Ooly has their rainbow sparkle set offers beautiful colors and can even turn into watercolor paint with a little water – if you change your mind.
Take these ideas on the road!
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Good tips. Thank you!