Art Along the Pacific Crest Trail
Since I learned about the Pacific Crest Trail, the idea to hike it was mysterious and alluring. I always found myself daydreaming of walking from Mexico to Canada. In 2019 I decided to make that dream a reality. A year before doing the thru hike I had taken up watercolor. This hike seemed like the perfect chance to marry hiking and watercolor.
I spent 169 days on trail. My goal was to paint a moment from each day, and I went through four micron pens and four watercolor notebooks doing it. Each painting was an opportunity to paint a different element of the hike. The watercolor paintings’ content varied, including: a common daily theme, a transformational daily moment, a moment that made me go “huh”, or other situations that are common for thru hikers.
My process for recording my drawings and notes changed from the start of the hike to the end. At first I would paint at different moments throughout the day. As the miles and need for speed started to take over I changed my process. After I set up on tent and had dinner I would write out my notes for the day and sometimes do a quick drawing. Then when I got to town and had a zero day I would paint in the drawing.
Journal Setup*
With walking 2,650 miles my art setup had to be small and compact. I decided upon using a soft covered journal that had enough pages to keep me occupied for awhile and when it was filled up I could send it home. In turn I would receive a new journal and pens in my resupply box (prepackaged box you send to yourself on the trail and usually pick up at the post office). Here is what I used:
Watercolor Palette / Winsor & Newton Cotman Watercolor Field Pocket Set. The set contains two mixing palettes,12 essential watercolors, a water bottle and clip on water dish, sponge, and a mini paintbrush. I never used the sponge or mini paint brush but continued to carry for the whole trail. The thing I really loved about this palette was the two areas for mixing paint. I also really enjoyed how all the pieces fit and folded together.
Notebook / Strathmore Watercolor Art Journal. This softcover journal contains 48 pages of 140lb. coldpress paper and is 8 x 5.5 inches. I loved the size as each page was just enough space to have a painting and notes for a day.
Pen / Sakura Pigma Micron PN Pen. In my normal art practice I make light pencil lines, go over the pencil marks with pen, and then erase the pencil marks. I eliminated the pencil in this setup, therefore, I had to just start with pen. I loved how this allowed me to just attack the page and embrace mistakes. I also loved using this pen as it is multipurpose and has archival and waterproof ink.
Paintbrush / Da Vinci Maestro Kolinsky Brush, size 3. I did not bring a travel paintbrush. I look back and think how silly. At the time I really loved using this brush in my studio and decided to bring it with a handmade cap to protect the bristles. The cap often came off and the bristles became bent. I would consistently wet and reshape the bristles.
Towel / Blue Shop Towel. These are ultra absorbent and strong. I used the same one for 5.5 months and kept using long after.
Bag / Old umbrella sewn into dry sack. I kept all my art supplies and personal items (ID, money, ect) in this bag.
*Since 2019 I have updated my setup to better fit my needs and artistic process.
