Take Your Art Outside: A Beginner's Guide to Making Art in Summer

There is something that happens when you take your sketchbook outside and sit with it in the sunshine. Something changes, the noise in your head goes a bit quieter, your shoulders drop about three inches. You notice a bee on a flower, or the way the light catches the edge of a leaf, and suddenly you're not thinking about your inbox anymore.

Summer is, I think, the most generous season for artists. The light stays longer, colours are bolder, nature is basically doing all the hard work of inspiring you, and all you have to do is show up with something to make marks with.

But I also know that 'take your art outside' can feel a bit vague. What do you actually bring? Where do you sit? What if people stare? (They might. But honestly, they're usually just curious.)

So here's a gentle, practical guide to making outdoor art this summer, whether you've never picked up a paintbrush or you're looking for a fresh way to reconnect with your creative practice.

Why making art outside is good for you

When we create outdoors, we're combining two things that are genuinely wonderful for our mental health: being in nature and making art. Research consistently shows that spending time in green spaces reduces cortisol (that's your stress hormone), and making art activates the same kind of mindful, present-moment awareness as meditation.

Put the two together and you have something rather lovely. You're pressing pause in the best possible way.

What to bring (and what not to overthink)

You definitely don’t need a specially curated outdoor art kit, and you don’t even need to spend anything. Here is what genuinely works:

• A sketchbook or even some loose paper.
• Pencils, pens, or watercolours (they're lightweight and forgiving outdoors).
• Something to sit on, if the ground isn't that comfy for you.
• A drink, because hydration is non-negotiable in the sun.

That's it! The simpler your kit, the more likely you are to actually use it. Fancy supplies can sometimes make creativity feel higher stakes than it needs to be.

Where to start when you get outside

If you sit down outside with a blank page and promptly go blank yourself, here are a few gentle starting points:

• Draw the view in front of you, but only the bits that interest you. You are not making a photograph. You are making your interpretation of a moment.
• Focus on one small thing: a single flower, your hand on the grass, the pattern of shadows on a path. Small subjects are less overwhelming and often more interesting.
• Do a colour study. Just try to mix or identify the colours you can see. Summer is full of colours that don't have names.
• Make marks that reflect how the place feels, not just how it looks. Is it breezy? Make loose, flowing lines. Is it still and warm? Perhaps something slower and more deliberate.

What to do when it doesn't go the way you imagined

Outdoor art rarely goes exactly as planned. The light changes, a pigeon walks across your paper, your watercolour dries before you're done because it's 24 degrees and you didn't account for that.

This is not failure! This is collaboration with the world around you. Some of the most interesting marks I've ever made came from happy accidents in the middle of a park.

The goal of making art outside isn't a finished masterpiece. It's the experience of being fully, properly present in a moment. That's what mindful art is: using creativity as a route into the here and now.

Bring summer inside, too

If getting outside to make art sounds appealing but the logistics aren't quite working out (the weather has its own opinions, after all), you can always bring summer inside to you.

A bunch of flowers from the garden or a market, a handful of interesting pebbles, the light through a window at a certain time of day. Summer is generous, and it will find its way in if you let it.

And if you'd love a bit of company while you create, my Friday morning Relax & Create sessions are a gorgeous way to spend an hour being gently creative in a really supportive space. No experience needed. Just bring yourself and a willingness to play.

Ready to make something?

Whether you head outside with a sketchbook, order yourself an art print to brighten your space, or treat yourself to a pair of earrings that feel like they were made for that summer garden party, I hope June feels full of colour for you.

I'd absolutely love to see what you make if you do head outside. Find me on Instagram @eden_fay and show me where you've been creating.

 

If you'd like some company for your crafting, I have two wonderful options for you...

Relax and Create - Every Friday, just you, me and a small group of other crafters enjoying some peace and joy. Held on Zoom. Get your ticket here: Eden Fay

Craft and Unwind - A special session to take a little more time together, held on 18th June at 7pm on Zoom. Bring along your own activity or order one of my cute craft kits. Get your ticket here: Eden Fay and see the selection of kits here: Mindful Craft Kits for Creative Time at Home | Eden Fay