Do I Have to Stand When I Sketch On-Location?
John A. Hancock sitting on sidewalk at his Richmond, VA Urban Sketching workshop.
Many on-location sketchers stand to do their drawings and paintings. I’m not one of them! I prefer to sit and I have no problem sitting on the ground (if it’s dry) or the sidewalk. Ledges by buildings or on walls work nicely, too, but you don’t always find one where you need it. The best solution, of course, is to bring your own seat. There are, literally, thousands of choices. Look at camping supply vendors and you will see quite a range. I’ve seen folks bring regular folding chairs that may or may not have a strap so you can carry the chair on your shoulder. Some bring those fairly large chairs that collapse and can be stored and carried in a long bag. I’ve even seen folks bring those stools you can get to sit on or kneel on when working in the garden. The variety is astounding!
The chair I use. (Manufacturer’s image)
Personally, I want a chair that’s as lightweight as possible that I can fold up and carry hands free, so with a strap or storage bag. However, I find having to unbag and rebag my chair as I move from place to place becomes a pain in the neck, so, no bag for me. At my age sitting on a chair is easier than sitting on the ground and I’ve found that the best chairs for me have a back and the seat is no lower than 17” (43cm) off the ground. Camp stools don’t work well for me but may be a good, inexpensive option for you. It’s nice if the chair as an attached storage sleeve into which you can put, say, a spare sketchbook, rag or extra paper towels. I initially purchased one that actually had a compartment with a liner so it could be used as a cooler for drinks, but I ended up not liking it much as it was a bit bulky. Instead I ordered a three-legged chair that has a seat height of 18 1/4” (46.4cm), weighs only 4.2 pounds and, when collapsed, can be carried with a strap over my shoulder. Plus it has a side piece with a slip pocket as well as a bottle holder. These little chairs aren’t cheap but if you plan to do a lot of on-location sketching and you want to be comfortable, it’s worth it. The one I got from Lightspeed Outdoors through Amazon cost $35.
My chair has sleeve for water bottle and a sketchbook.
This is a very personal area and certainly not an accessory everyone needs or wants. You certainly shouldn’t rush out and buy an expensive folding chair if you’re just seeing whether you enjoy sitting outside someplace and sketching what you see.
