The Goodie Bag

A goodie bag is a small art kit with the supplies you use most so you can do art anywhere. It does not have to be a literal bag either. It can be a notebook and pen in a pocket or a small kit you keep nearby.

What is a goodie bag?

  • A small art kit with items you can use regularly wherever you are.
  • Make your own with supplies you already have instead of buying more things to organize and clean up.
  • Keep only what you use often in the kit and leave the rest in your art space.

The Get Sketchy Goodie Bag

This is an art set organizer made to kick off the Get Sketchy project and encourage feedback on the sketchercises.

Core Supplies

The bag

  • A purse organizer works well because it has pockets.
  • Choose one with a handle.

Pencil set

  • Use regular or mechanical pencils with at least two hardnesses.
  • Include an eraser and a kneaded eraser with a wrap or container.
  • Pack a sharpener and, if needed, something to hold the shavings.

Choose from charcoal or ink

Charcoal set (optional)

  • Messy, but forgiving and beginner friendly.
  • Include black charcoal, white chalk, a blending tool, an eraser, and cleanup supplies.
  • Use charcoal on the back of tracing paper to create copies of a sketch for trying different techniques or colors.

Pen set (optional)

  • Waterproof fine liners and brush pens work well with water media.
  • One black pen is enough to start.
  • A white pen is useful for highlights and value studies.

Sketchbook

  • Use cheap paper that is good for sketch drills and pages you do not mind removing.
  • Use it for sketches, notes, and lists. Just do not put passwords in it.

Drawing paper or sketchbook

  • Choose a higher quality sketchbook or loose paper that fits your preferred medium.
  • White, mid-tone, and black paper are useful for different exercises.
  • If needed, tone the paper yourself. Darken a surface ahead of time with charcoal or paint.

Color medium

  • Use a medium you like: colored pencil leads, pastel pencils, watercolor pencils, markers, crayons, watercolor, gouache, or standard colored pencils.
  • Avoid keeping meltable supplies in the bag if it may be left outside or in a vehicle.
  • Choose something easy to carry and not too messy to use away from home.
  • Keep water media simple with a water brush and a dry towel unless it is your main medium.
  • Limit yourself to one or two color mediums and only a few colors.
  • Three to six colors is often enough for blendable media.
  • Six to twelve colors may work better for less blendable media.
  • For non-blendable media, keep it to a maximum of twenty-four colors.
  • Make a swatch card and a color mixing card.

Binder clips or masking tape

  • Use them to keep papers from flying away in the wind.
  • Masking or washi tape is also useful for clean edges.
  • Attach transparencies or filters to a clear acrylic board for viewing aids.

The Just Add Water Goodie Bag

Value medium

  • Water-soluble graphite pencil set
  • Tube of white gouache (optional)
  • Waterproof black pen
  • White colored pencil or pen if it is not included with the watercolor pencil set

Color medium: choose one

  • Watercolor pencil set
  • Watercolor paint set
  • Dried gouache set

Water management

  • Use a water brush or a brush with a cup of water.
  • Pack a water mister or spray bottle.
  • Bring a Swedish dishcloth.

Standard items

  • Watercolor sketchbook or paper
  • Masking tape or washi tape
  • Sketch pencils
  • Tracing paper and charcoal for transferring sketches to watercolor paper
  • Sharpener
  • Erasers
  • Bag organizer
  • Cheap sketchbook for initial sketches and thumbnails
  • Binder clips

Beginner's Friend

The 5x7s

Tools sized for 5" x 7" art papers, reference photos, or A5 sketchbooks. Great for beginners.

  • Acrylic or plexiglass board for a clipboard and viewing aid
  • Red filter for value scale help
  • 5x7 cheap reference photo album
  • Vellum tracing paper or milky plastic sheet for a blur filter and shape comparison
  • Reminder cards
  • Value scale, mixing chart, and color wheel templates
  • 5x7 transparencies with grids, halves, and thirds
    • Pdf Template
    • Transparency Film
  • 5x7 cardstock, drawing paper, watercolor paper, or another preferred drawing surface
  • A dry-erase marker to use with acrylic board, transparencies, or photo album

Useful things to add

  • A cheap pen
    • Useful for anyone who asks to borrow one.
    • Also handy for notes and signing documents.
  • Folding ruler
    • Useful for straight edges, measurement, and checking angles.
  • 3x3 sticky notes
    • Helpful for covering mistakes, quick sketches, and notes.
  • Sticky note of 3
    • Write down the three things you usually forget to put back in your bag.
    • Put the note on the front of your sketchbook.
    • Check it before leaving home or drawing location.
  • The reminder clip
    • Use a binder clip, pin, button, or another visible symbol on the outside of the bag when you need to remember something later.
    • Examples include refilling paper, replacing an item, changing water, or scanning artwork.
    • Keep it inside the bag when there is nothing to remember.
  • Small amount of cash
    • Useful at art festivals or similar outings for a drink or snack.