Southern France Civilized Painting Adventure How to use this blog.
Welcome to our very own painting adventure blog! I thought it would be a great way for us all to keep in touch and post information about our trip. The plan is to keep a trip diary of our daily travels so be sure to pass along the url http://www.2010paintfrance.blogspot.com/ to your friends and family.
The posts are arranged from the most recent to the oldest, so you may need to scroll through to find what you are looking for, or use the "Blog Archive" posted in a box to the right. You will also find a directory of related web sites on the right. If you have a web site of your own, please send it to me and I will add it to the list.
This is your blog too, so feel free to post your questions, comments or just say hello! You can do this by clicking just below on "comment".
Have you started to think about what painting gear you will need to take along?
It is very important to think minimal and keep it light! You will need to carry your things as we tour villages and out in the open. There will be times when we will just take out sketch books, but most likely you will want to throw your kit into the van just in case.
I have posted more detailed information and photos of brushes, my palette etc. below but here are a few ideas to keep things simple and portable.
1. A rolling backpack works well to cart painting equipment.
2. A small water flask for drinking or painting. There will be jugs available in the van, but you will want to have a small container.
3. Watercolour paper.
4. A small piece of plexi-glass cut to size to fit your pack.
5. Brush caddy and brushes (see below)
6. Light weight wooden board. Cut to fit in your pack.
7. Clips or clothes pegs to stop your masterpieces from blowing away.
8. Palette (see below)
9. Sketch book(s) and marker.
10. Collapsible water container and small water sprayer.
11. Pencil case with pencils, markers, sharpener, watercolour pencils if you wish to use them etc.
12. Paints in a sealed container. (see below)
13. Small sack or paint bag to use when travelling extra light.
14. Tissue! Bring several packages - multi purpose... there may be times when there is no TP in the public toilettes. (Don't worry - once you get the hang of it you might actually enjoy the adventures that each new day brings!) Here is a bit of reading to bring you up to speed:
http://www.travellady.com/Issues/June05/1520atoilettimidtourists.htm
http://gofrance.about.com/od/travelplanning/ht/toilet.htm
15. Binoculars/bird watching book if you are into birding
16. Paper towel and a terry-cloth hand towel. The cloth towel works well to sit on if you find yourself on a hillside or other natural perch.
17. Wet wipes
18. How about your camera, extra memory cards and battery charger? There is so much to see and many photo-ops,
** note that most things go into your kit in zip-lock bags so as to protect the rest of our equipment and clothes.
No doubt there are more things you will want to add - a light rain jacket, snacks, sun screen, bug repelant (you can purchase small individual wipes rather than bringing big heavy bottles), candy for the teacher...
If you can think of things that I have left off the list, please leave a comment. Why not leave a comment if you can't think of something/anything.. or even if your mind is blank?
L.
I will take along a minimum number of brushes. Fewer to carry/fewer to lose - I have also marked my name on the handles.
Best not to bring along expensive sable brushes. Of course, you may bring your favorite selection of styles and sizes.
My kit includes, from left to right:
- A #2 or 4 rigger or signature brush
- 1.5" flat wash brush (Loew-Cornell Skywash 7750 or Robert Simmons Skyflow)
- 1" flat skyflow ((Loew-Cornell Skywash 7750 or Robert Simmons Skyflow)
- A small stiff craft brush for spatters and lifting
- Round brushes - sizes 14, 12 or 10 - your choice of size, but go for bigger, rather than tiny.
- One or two 1" badger type brush. (Kemp Badger or a Skipper from Cheap Joe's Art Stuff) *If you can not find a Badger brush you can purchase one from me and I will mail it out to you before the trip.
How to carry your brushes
This particular brush caddy, shown in the picture above, came from the drugstore rather than the art store. It is intended for make-up brushes, but I like it because it is much smaller and lighter. A rolled bamboo place mat works well too and allows your brushes to air dry.
Selecting Your Paper
Watercolour/watercolor paper is surprisingly heavy, so consider how many paintings you might do each day. (Don't bring along old paintings! It is amazing to see how often students drag the sad old things along with them wherever they go.)
Always work with good quality rag paper. Coil pads may seem like good value, but will only result in frustration and poor results. Blocks will do, but I like loose sheets, torn to size.
Bring your favorite paper, weight and surface. My choices include Arches 140 or 300 lb cold press, Saunders Waterford 200 lb CP, Strathmore Gemini 140 or 300 lb and Stathmore Aquarius II 80 lb.
Tear your paper into the sizes you like to work on before you leave home. I recommend that you work small, such as a 1/4 sheet or 11 x 15". For travel, the dimensions I choose are - 5.5" x 7.5" and 7.5" x 7.5" the largest being 11" x 11".
Carrying Your Paper
The torn papers are then stacked and sandwiched between two pieces of cardboard or mat board and bound with an elastic band or tied with a string. Neat, organized and light! Each day you can select 2 or 3 pieces of paper of a variety of sizes to take along. The extras can be left in the studio for another day.
With all the changes in travel these days, it is essential to know how to transport your paints. You must put your paints in your checked baggage! You can not put it in your carry on.
That being the case, you will want to be sure that your clothes are protected from squishy paint tubes. I pack mine in plastic seal tight containers, such as Tupperware or Lock and Lock. The locked box of paints is then further encased in a zip lock bag.
Mark on the outside of the container and bag as shown: Non-combustible, Non-Toxic, Non-flammable and any other "Non" you might like to add. You may be able to get a safety sheet from your supplier it include. I have had my bags inspected regularly when flying as evident by the note that is left to indicate that it has been searched. With the paints labeled and stored in this manner, I have not had a problem. Of course there is always a first time, so let's hope everyone will pass through without an trouble.
I will post a list of my colours, but do bring your own favorite colours and brands. Artist's quality tube paints are superior! Small tubes will most likely be enough for you.
Artist Palette
I have recently found this wonderful palette! It is made by Hommee (also called Heritage Palette) and is available though Curry's in Canada and Cheap Joe's or Jerry's Artarama in the States.
http://www.cheapjoes.com/art-supply/HWP18_4568_heritage-folding-palette-well.asp
Here's what Joe has to say about it:
The Heritage Folding Palette is a great travel palette that won’t put a crimp in your travel plans! The Heritage Folding palette is one of the nicest travel palettes that we have seen in a while. It’s unusual because the lid doubles as a hearty sized mixing area that has a clear removable plastic tray. This tray can also be used as a second mixing area! In addition the lid has a soft plastic seal, which keeps the palette from leaking and keeps your colors from drying out so quickly. Each well in this palette holds approximately 5ml. of paint. Here’s a tip! If you hold the tube over the deep end of the well then come back towards the shallow end while squeezing the tube, then hold the palette in both hands & gently tap the palette on a flat surface- the paint settles nicely in the wells. 18 Wells
I couldn't have said it better myself!
You may wish to fill the wells ahead of time and give the paint a chance to set up before you hit the sky.
Bring a palette that you like and that fits into a zip lock bag. You may wish to hunt around for an additional mixing surface, such as a white plastic plate. I have a tray from my last flight to France that the flight steward gave to me - honest!
I've include a collapsible water container and mist bottle in this picture - complete with their own plastic bag.
