7 Best Sketchpad Clips For Outdoor Painting To Use
Keep your paper secure while plein air painting. Discover our top 7 best sketchpad clips for outdoor painting and upgrade your art kit by reading our guide now.
Painting outdoors requires stability, much like managing a complex lace project where a single dropped stitch can unravel hours of work. Just as the right needle material dictates the flow of your yarn, the right clip ensures your canvas remains secure against the unpredictable elements. A sturdy grip keeps your focus on color mixing rather than fighting the wind. These seven options provide the necessary tension to keep your creative flow uninterrupted during plein air sessions.
SoHo Urban Artist Clips: Best for Wet Panels
These specialized clips provide an essential gap that prevents the clip from touching the wet paint surface. Much like using a stitch holder to protect a delicate cable crossing, these ensure the integrity of your work.
They are designed specifically for artists using prepared panels or boards of varying thicknesses. The deep reach allows them to anchor firmly without slipping, which is vital when working on a breezy hillside.
When selecting these, consider the thickness of your board. If you are working on thin watercolor blocks, the tension might feel excessive, leading to board warping. Always match the clip depth to your substrate to avoid damage.
Guerrilla Painter Clips: Top Plein Air Pick
These are the gold standard for outdoor painters, functioning with the reliability of a well-calibrated set of interchangeable circular needles. They are engineered to be low-profile, meaning they won’t interfere with your brush strokes as you reach toward the edge of the canvas.
The spring tension is calibrated to be strong enough to withstand gusts without being so stiff that they become difficult to operate with cold or tired hands. Durability is a hallmark here, as they are built to endure the same harsh environments as a rugged wool sweater meant for long-term wear.
Avoid using these on extremely thick supports, as the jaw capacity is limited by design. They excel on standard canvas panels and thin Gatorfoam boards. Their greatest strength is their unobtrusive footprint during the painting process.
Jumbo Binder Clips: The Ultimate Budget Hack
Often overlooked, the humble jumbo binder clip is the “spare notions” of the painting world—inexpensive, functional, and surprisingly effective. They are essentially the safety pins of plein air gear, offering a quick fix when specialized tools aren’t at hand.
The primary advantage is the sheer variety of sizes available, allowing for a custom fit on almost any easel setup. They are excellent for securing reference photos or palettes to the side of a sketchpad, keeping your workspace organized.
The trade-off is the exposed metal handle, which can snag clothing or get in the way if the easel is narrow. Remove the handles after clipping to minimize profile and prevent accidental bumps that might dislodge the board.
US Art Supply Bulldog Clips: Most Versatile
Bulldog clips provide a classic, powerful pinch that mimics the tension of a sturdy tapestry needle holding heavy fabric in place. Their all-metal construction is highly resistant to the wear and tear of outdoor storage.
These are best for artists who alternate between heavy watercolor paper and thin boards. The wide mouth allows for significant capacity, accommodating multiple layers if you need to secure a backing board to your easel.
Beware of the finish on cheaper models, as rust can form if exposed to heavy humidity or rain. A quick wipe-down with a light lubricant keeps the spring mechanism functioning smoothly for years.
Mofajang Spring Clamps: For Heavy-Duty Grip
When working with heavy canvases or large wooden boards, standard clips may lack the necessary force to stay put. These spring clamps offer a heavy-duty solution, providing a grip intensity similar to a heavy-duty blocking frame for wet wool.
The pivoting pads at the tips of the clamps allow them to sit flush against the board even at an angle. This flexibility is a game-changer when your easel setup doesn’t offer a perfectly flat surface for the clip to grab.
Because they are stronger, they can leave impressions on softer substrates like foam core. Use a small piece of scrap cardboard between the clamp and your support to distribute the pressure and prevent marring.
Pro Art Canvas Caddie: For Carrying & Painting
The Caddie is a dual-purpose tool that functions both as a carrying handle and a mounting system. It is the equivalent of a notions bag that doubles as a needle case, streamlining your workflow by reducing the number of individual items to pack.
These are particularly useful for wet paintings, as they lift the canvas away from the easel’s support, promoting airflow. This assists with even drying, much like how proper air circulation is essential when blocking a delicate mohair project to shape.
These are less adjustable than independent clips. They are best suited for artists who use a consistent canvas size and want a “grab-and-go” solution for outdoor excursions.
Liffy Home Magnetic Clips: For Metal Easels
For those utilizing portable metal easels, magnetic clips offer a unique attachment method that bypasses the need for traditional jaw clamping. These act like a magnetic pin bowl, holding firm to any ferrous surface.
They are incredibly convenient for adjusting the placement of your canvas on the fly. You can slide them along the easel legs or crossbars without having to fully release the spring mechanism, saving precious time.
The limitation, of course, is the easel itself; they are useless on wooden or plastic frames. Ensure the magnet strength is sufficient for the weight of your board, especially if painting in high-wind conditions.
How to Pick the Right Clip for Your Art Board
Choosing the right clip requires assessing both your support material and the conditions of your painting environment. Similar to how one chooses between bamboo and metal needles based on fiber slipperiness, the choice here depends on the surface texture of your support.
- For thin paper: Use binder clips with extra padding to prevent edge tearing.
- For heavy boards: Utilize heavy-duty spring clamps to prevent slippage.
- For high wind: Choose clips with high-tension springs, such as Bulldog or Guerrilla Painter styles.
- For frequent adjustments: Magnetic clips offer the fastest workflow on compatible easels.
Always prioritize the stability of the support over the convenience of the clip. A minor adjustment in your packing list can be the difference between a successful outdoor session and a canvas hitting the ground.
Bulldog vs. Binder Clips: Which Is Better?
Bulldog clips are the clear winner for long-term durability and consistent, high-pressure grip. They are built for constant use and typically feature a stronger spring than the standard office binder clip.
Binder clips, however, are far superior for versatility and cost. They are easily replaced if lost on the trail and offer a wider range of sizes for unconventional boards or secondary accessories like palette holders.
In the knitting equivalent, think of Bulldog clips as professional-grade stainless needles that last a lifetime, while binder clips are the trusty wooden needles that get the job done and are easy to replace in a pinch. Keep both in your kit to handle unexpected requirements.
Tips for Securing Your Board on Windy Days
Wind is the greatest enemy of the plein air painter, often causing boards to vibrate or shift mid-stroke. Just as a knitter adds a lifeline to a complex pattern for peace of mind, you should always have a backup plan for your board.
Use a “safety tether” made of cord or a thick rubber band to secure the top of your board to the easel frame. If the wind is truly fierce, reduce the board size or angle it to minimize the surface area catching the breeze.
Lastly, consider adding weight to the base of your easel. A heavy bag or even a container of water can stabilize the entire structure, providing the firm foundation necessary for precision work.
Finding the right clips for your outdoor painting kit is all about matching your tools to the challenges of the terrain. With the right gear, you can translate the inspiration of the outdoors into your work with total confidence.