What to bring for an art picnic

An art picnic needs more than food and a blanket. You’ll need a way to serve drinks outdoors, enough reusable tableware, protected work surfaces and art materials that suit both painting and drawing. Use the guest count to scale plates, glasses, cups, aprons and paper, then add a small buffer for spills and late arrivals. Check dietary requirements before shopping, and chill drinks and pack picnic baskets close to the start time.

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What to bring

Grouped the way you'd shop for it, with quantities.

Furniture

Party tentsqty 2
Foldable tablesqty 8
Chairsqty 50
Picnic blanketsqty 12
Buffet tablesqty 3
Artificial tablesqty 4

Tableware

Reusable platesqty 60
Reusable bowlsqty 60
Reusable glassesqty 80
Mugsqty 40
Cutlery setsqty 60
Serving spoonsqty 10
Serving plattersqty 12
Serving tongsqty 6

Catering

Coolersqty 6
Thermos flasksqty 4
Water jugsqty 6
Picnic basketsqty 12
Groceries
- Baguettes - 12 pieces
- Wholemeal loaves - 8 loaves
- Wraps - 60 pieces
- Hummus - 2 kilograms
- Cream cheese - 1.5 kilograms
- Young cheese - 2 kilograms
- Brie - 1 kilogram
- Grilled vegetables - 3 kilogram
- Cucumbers - 12 pieces
- Tomatoes - 3 kilograms
- Bell peppers - 15 pieces
- Arugula - 1 kilogram
- Iceberg lettuce - 6 heads
- Avocados - 20 pieces
- Red onions - 2 kilograms
- Olives - 1,5 kilogram
- Feta - 1,5 kilogram
- Pesto sauce - 6 jars
- Mayonnaise - 2 bottles
- Ketchup - 2 bottles
- Mustard - 2 jars
- Olive oil - 2 bottles
- Balsamic vinegar - 1 bottle
- Salt - 1 pack
- Black pepper - 1 jar
- Italian herbs - 2 jars
- Potato salad - 4 kilogram
- Pasta salad - 4 kilograms
- Quinoa salad - 3 kilograms
- Falafel - 3 kilograms
- Chickpeas - 12 cans
- Apples - 50 pieces
- Bananas - 40 pieces
- Grapes - 5 kilograms
- Strawberries - 4 kilogram
- Watermelons - 3 pieces
- Cookies - 6 packs
- Brownies - 60
- Paprika chips - 6 bags
- Plain chips - 6 bags
- Mixed nuts - 2 kilograms
- Cola - 8 bottles
- Cola Zero - 6 bottles
- Sinas - 6 bottles
- Sparkling water - 12 bottles
- Still water - 18 bottles
- Apple juice - 6 packs
- Lemons - 30 pieces
- Coffee - 3 packs
- Tea - 2 boxes
- Milk - 6 liters
- Oat milk - 4 liters
- Sugar - 1 kilogram
- Ice cubes - 20 kilograms
- Paper napkins - 8 packs
- Cling film - 3 rolls
- Aluminum foil - 3 rolls
- Baking paper - 2 rolls
- Paper towels - 8 rolls
- Hand soap - 4 bottles
- Dish soap - 3 bottles
- Sponges - 8 pieces
- Cleaning cloths - 12 pieces
- Disinfectant wipes - 4 packs
- Trash bags - 60 pieces
- Toilet paper - 24 rolls

Art supplies

Painter's canvasesqty 60
Watercolor paperqty 100
Drawing paperqty 100
Acrylic paint setsqty 12
Watercolor paint setsqty 12
Brushesqty 80
Paint palettesqty 30
Water cupsqty 30
Colored pencilsqty 30
Wascoqty 30
Apronsqty 30
Tablecloths for paintqty 8
Painter's tapeqty 8
Drying racksqty 4

Decorations

Buntingqty 8
Table décorqty 12
Menu boardsqty 4
Name badgesqty 60

Lighting

LED string lightsqty 6
LED lanternsqty 10

Equipment

Bluetooth speaker
Extension cordsqty 4
Power stripsqty 3
Rechargeable batteriesqty 4

Cleaning

Waste binsqty 6
Hand broomsqty 3
Cansqty 3

Kitchen

Cutting boardsqty 4
Chef's knivesqty 4
Serving knivesqty 6
Cooling matsqty 12

Tips

Plan one reusable plate, bowl, glass and cutlery set per guest, plus 10% extra for dropped or dirty items. Bring serving spoons, platters and tongs separately so guests do not use personal cutlery at the buffet.
Allow at least 500 ml of drinking water per person, then add extra for painting and warm weather. Use coolers for chilled drinks and water jugs where people can refill without opening the coolers.
For the art tables, provide one work surface per participant, two or three brushes each, and at least one water cup per painter. Pack extra watercolor paper and drawing paper because wet or damaged sheets are difficult to reuse.
Cover every art table with a paint tablecloth and give each participant an apron before paint is opened. Keep watercolor and acrylic supplies in separate containers so cleanup and setup stay manageable.
Pack food into picnic baskets only after dietary requirements are checked. Chill drinks several hours ahead, and keep a separate serving area for food so paint, brushes and rinse water cannot reach the buffet.

Frequently asked questions

How much tableware do I need for an art picnic?: Plan one plate, bowl, glass and cutlery set per guest, plus 10% extra. For 20 guests, that means 22 of each frequently used item, with at least 2 serving spoons, platters and pairs of tongs.
How many art supplies should I buy per person?: Give each participant one main paper or canvas surface, two or three brushes, one palette and one water cup. Add 10–20% extra paper and a few spare brushes for spills, damaged sheets and late arrivals.
How much water and how many drinks should I bring?: Start with 500 ml of drinking water per person and add more for hot weather or a long workshop. For the first hour, allow two to three drinks per person, then adjust the total for the event length and guest list.
When should I chill drinks and pack the picnic baskets?: Chill drinks at least 4 hours before guests arrive if they start at room temperature. Pack picnic baskets 1–2 hours before the start, keeping perishable food cold until it is served.

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