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'Travel packs' for the watercolourist
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Message
Posted
I wonder how others carry their equipment about. I have a 'travel pack' which consists of a small brief case (a valued cast off from working days) in which I keep a palette, a few spare tubes of my favourite colours, a few brushes in a brush case, a collapsible water pot, a pencil tin containg pencils, rubbers, a couple of pens and pencil sharpener, a small plastic container with water in it, some spare watercolour paper in quarter sheets (which fit out of the way in the pocket in the lid) , a plywood support and some bulldog clips to support the painting and my trusty old rag. The lid of my brief case stays open giving easy access to everything and I have it beside me when I paint. When I paint in a group on desk top I use the case to support the board giving it about a 15 degree angle which is what I prefer so the case is quite multi-functional.
It may look a bit odd but it suits me down to the ground - I find it so much easier than using one of the purpose made bags where you have to forever rummage around looking for things - I find it quite amusing watching colleagues struggling with their bags - I wonder what do others use?
Posted
It depends.
In our car I have an A6 Daler Rowney sketchbook and a slightly bigger Moleskine water colour sketchbook. I've a small pencil roll with a couple of fibre tip pens, a fountain pen, a pencil and a water brush. In the boot there's a very small plastic water colour box, a small bottle of water and a collapsible water colour brush. I rarely use water colour these days.
If I'm oil painting outside I take a pochade box taking three 240mm X 300mm (10" x 12") painting boards, oil paints and brushes cut down to fit in the box. I put the box in a small sports bag which cost me about £10, and this also holds an A6 sketchbook, some cloths for clearing up, a phone and a camera. I take a lightweight camping chair. I've tried taking a full size easel and have painted standing up, but the easel is too unwieldy so I just sit and paint with the board set into the lid of the pochade.
Edited
by keora
Posted
Some time ago we have had a similar discussion which also continued on my blog. You might be interested in the pictures and the comments.
https://landscapeartblog.wordpress.com/2013/08/11/en-plein-air-equipment/
Posted
I think I might have the smallest of travel packs for my watercolour sketches. A very small box of Windsor and Newton watercolour paints, three waterbrushes, fine, medium and broad, a couple of pens, a collection of pencils hard to soft, all contained in a small pencil case, plus an A5 notebook. All this can fit into a pocket and on a trip to Canada last year kept me under my 'carry on ' bag weight!.
Posted
i have to revisit my set up, it's hard for me to fit the kitchen sink on my bike these days!! i have a travellers en plein air easel which comes with a light backpack. i also have my en plein air umbrella which is brilliant but not always used. i also use a heavy duty plastic clover leaf palette, about 5 or 6 brushes, kitchen paper and lantern waterbowl and a watercolour block 36x46cm (either arches or fabriano), sounds like not much but it's heavy enough!! looking for a proper backpack to fit it all into ...
Posted
I have a green canvas bag with many pockets. In one pocket I have my purse,car keys and mobile phone. In the main section I have two sketch pads and a tin of pencils and pens. I also have my watercolours and a couple of brushes. Apart from a collapsible water pot and a bottle of water I think that's it oh, except for a lavender roll on which is supposed to keep the insects away, and a sun factor roll on too plus a Worzel Gummage sun hat that has been with me for years and guaranteed to frighten off anybody near by.
Posted
Here are some more ideas from James Gurney's blog:
http://gurneyjourney.blogspot.ca/2014/08/watercolor-in-wild-materials.html
Doug B
