10 Tips to Stay Safe while Painting Outside

Photo by Chase Baker on Unsplash

 Since 2020, Plein air painting and Urban Sketching seem to have had a boom in popularity. The popularity of Plein air and urban sketching videos on YouTube have caused many people to try it for themselves. And while this is great for the art community and individuals alike, I feel like a lot of us fail to recognize the etiquette and safety concerns that need to be addressed. In this Article I am going to cover some Plein air and Urban sketching etiquette that should be maintained, as well as tips that will keep you safe while making art outside.

1. Mind People's Privacy

I know we have all see videos on YouTube of sketching people from life or sketching someone's house from life, but, many people aren't going to like that if they catch on to what you are doing. While you may have wholesome intentions of improving your art skill, not everyone knows that. And in a world where many people are isolated from their neighbors and hold their privacy with the upmost importance, 'spying' on people or their property is probably not the best idea. Now, in public places you have a bit more of a case to sketch people, but you should still be careful

2. Beware of Government Buildings

Another thing that you might not want to paint around are government buildings. A lot of these buildings have increased security and thus are not keen on having people sit outside and stare at them for upwards of an hour. Just try to be mindful and realize that not everyone knows what you  are doing. 

3. Don't Look Too Threatening

This one typical applies to men and masculine presenting people, but I guess it can apply to anyone with a good mean mug. If you happen to be even a slightly imposing figure (whether that be a fair judgment or not) and you want your sketch to go smoothly, you should recognize that the way you act, look and carry yourself can sometimes make people uncomfortable. If you are a 6'3" guy, wearing all black with a hoodie and a backpack standing in one place looking intensely at everyone that passes by you should recognize that people aren't going to be very receptive to you. You could try to establish yourself as a friendly presence by talking to people, wearing bright clothing, or even just by staying to yourself and disappearing into the crowd. I'm not trying to dissuade anyone from painting or drawing outside, all that I am trying to say is, if you want to make things easier on yourself and everyone around you, recognize what kind of impact your presence has on others. (In a perfectly moral world, no one should have to change their "vibe" to enjoy public spaces, but for your own safety, try to come off as friendly as possible).

4. Don't Look like and Easy Target

On the other hand, this tip is for the women or feminine presenting people, but of course it could apply to young people and other people who may seem like easier targets for people who want to harm others. Maybe give a bit of a mean mug from time to time. And if your state or country allows, carry something that could help you stay safe, whether that be pepper spray or something more extreme. Of course brush up on what you are legally allowed to conceal. If you have a dog, this is a great time to let them exhibit their protective skills.

Photo by Valentin Salja on Unsplash

5. Beware your Surroundings

When painting outside, it can be so easy to get sucked into your painting and lose track of hours at a time. But, it is absolutely in your best interest to keep an eye on what is going on around you. If everyone that was around you starts to leave, that's probably a bad sign. If an odd looking guy keeps popping up in your field of vision, he may want more than just your phone number. If you hear people fighting, you might find yourself involved if you stick around too long. I'm not trying to insult your intelligence but I just had to mention the importance of being aware of your surroundings. 

6. Work in groups

This is a tip that I wish I had the ability to follow for myself. As with anything in life, there is power in numbers. It is undeniable that going out to paint with other like minded people makes you safer than going out alone. If you can find a sketching group of people that have your best interest at heart, you will be so much safer. If you go to the Urban Sketchers website, they have a tab that allows you to search for sketching groups nearby. Or if you can't find a group there, you can try making your own. 

8. Choose safe places

If I have a choice between a safe place to paint and a pretty place to paint, I will almost always choose the safer spot. If you are a creative enough artist, you will be able to find a cool subject or composition no matter where you are. If you have to go in a dark alley behind a needle infested dumpster to get an interesting painting, it's probably just not worth it. 

Photo by Gaining Visuals on Unsplash

9. Bring what you Need 

We all can remember to bring paint, brushes and water to paint, but what about the other things you need. Like the thing that you need to live. Bringing things like drinking water, snacks, sunscreen and bug-spray, are going to make your life a whole lot more comfortable and a whole lot safer. Especially being that the whole world seems to be over 80 degrees Fahrenheit, water, sunscreen, and a good hat seem more necessary than ever. 

10. Let someone know where you're going

If you can't find a group to go painting with, at least let somebody know where you're going. It's easy to just head out and figure that you'll be back soon. But if your painting takes longer than usual, or if your phone dies, or if you need some help, or God forbid something happens to you, someone should know where you're at. Even if everything goes smoothly, it can't hurt to have someone know where you're headed. And this goes beyond painting, in life in general, it's not a bad idea to let someone you care about know where you've gone.