Art and Hiking: Do Them At the Same Time

Doing art doesn't have to be boring or impersonal. A lot of people consider art to be a sedentary mindless activity. Depending on the kind of art you're doing or your motivation for doing it, art can be a very involved and intense activity. Whenever I paint or draw I'm always thinking of battle tactics. How can I avoid muddying colors? How can I make sure shading doesn't ruin the form of my subject? Beyond this there is an inherent chaos to art. You might color an area too darkly, your paint might drip all over the place, your hand might shake and cover something on accident. Making art in a controlled environment is (to me) already full of surprises and horrors. But what about those of you who don't like sitting still?

This past year I have been mixing two of my favorite activities: painting and hiking. I love being outside. I love hearing birds argue and sing. I love being active and having an adventure. Making art of a place I've hiked is a cherry on top. I get physical satisfaction from working out. Through painting I get an excuse to sit back and truly observe the place I've hiked. My legs and body solve problems like rocks to avoid on the trail while my mind can solve problems like how I can alter my page to represent what's in front of me. This combination of activities is the only way I know to work the body and mind at the same time.

Painting also allows me to document places I've gone. Over time I've made a diary full of art from my adventures.

I know you're probably wondering the logistics of this: I don't wanna carry 50lbs of art supplies up a mountain and I don't wanna spend hours painting in the middle of nowhere. For me, both of these things are not problems. I have a small tin containing all of my gouache paints. I also carry four short, medium to small sized brushes. I bring a rag and an extra small plastic water bottle to clean my brushes. In total my extra painting gear is less than a pound in weight. Everything except the water bottle fits in a pencil case. As for spending hours on a painting, it's really up to you. I like to add lots of nice detail and embellishments on my paintings so I typically end up finishing them at home. If you consciously try to be quicker and embrace a more hasty style your painting shouldn't take too long.

I like using painting as a halfway point in the hike to take a break and rest. I try to find a nice place that is comfy and has a great view. Don't feel overwhelmed like you can only paint mountains. You can paint smaller and easier subjects like single leaves or flower petals.

If you want to read about how I paint and travel check out this article!