Watercolor Journaling kits

I have 2 watercolor journaling kits.  The small kit is designed to carry everywhere; meetings, museums, gardens, restaurants, and traveling by boat, trains or planes.  It contains the minimum items I need for painting:

• Paper Mate Sharpwriter mechanical pencil
• One black fine tip permanent ink pens
• Set of water brushes (3 round and 1 flat)
• Artists erasers (Factis Artists eraser or Prismacolor kneaded eraser)
• 2 oz dropper bottle
• Kleenex packet
• Small watercolor journal or block (a Moleskin watercolor notebook and watercolor block of postcards are in the photo below)
• Watercolor travel kit with professional paints (a Van Gough Watercolor Pocket Box is in the photo below)
• Waterproof clutch I found at the Frist Art Museum in Nashville several years ago.

My large watercolor kit I use for sketch crawls, weekend trips and hiking.  

• All the items listed above for the small kit
• 2 oz spray bottle
• Several Kleenex packets
• One Copic sepia fine tip permanent ink pen 
• 6" plastic ruler 
• 6" plastic triangle
• X-Acto retractable knife
• Clear wax crayon
• Guerrilla painter composition finder
• Gray scale and value finder
• Spiral bound Strathmore visual journals 

In addition to the what is needed to paint, this larger kit has space for a water bottle, snack, sunglasses and a hat.  If I will be out in the sun for a long time I also take a three legged folding chair and a portable shade umbrella.   

I purchase many supplies from local art stores, but I also shop on line with the following venders:

• Blick Art Materials
• Judsons Art Outfitters
• REI
• Jerrys Artarama
• Cheep Joe's Art Stuff

Croagh Patrick, Ireland

On a clear day, from the upstairs window at the Essence of Mulrany, I could see the distant mountains and the closer lofty peak of Croagh Patrick across Clew Bay.  Croagh Patrick has an undulating flat-topped base with a towering cone shaped peak.  The view presented to us was ever changing.  Clouds fled across the sky, circling around Croagh Patrick's peak, sometimes obscuring part or all of it from view.  At times the clouds completely blanketed the far side of the bay eliminating any view of the peak.


I took advantage of clear quiet mornings to paint the ever changing panoramic dance of clouds and shadows moving across the water and land.  I did a few smaller sketches and one large painting of the bay and distant mountain.  For big paintings I usually use Winsor & Newton tube paints, but I wasn't sure I could take them on the plane.  So I decided to make a second watercolor travel kit containing half pans of the same Winsor & Newton paints I use in my studio.  I found a Cotman Water Color Compact Set that holds 14 half pans on sale at the local art shop.  I replaced the student grade half pans with professional grade half pans based on the pigments I use the most.

Strathmore online class

One of the reasons I took the Strathmore online class was to learn new techniques and try different painting supplies.  The next step will be to incorporate what I have learned back into my painting method.

New techniques I have learned about:
1) using wax paper for resists (this turned out to be the answer to a problem I was having with another project!).
2) using plastic wrap and wax paper for textures.  This makes really interesting backgrounds as well as being a nice look for larger areas of color in the main painting.
3) using gouache instead of white pigment.

Things I knew how to do but seem to forget:
1) washes (instead of dabs and layers).
2) water color pencils to do an initial sketch.
3) colored inks (I haven't used them in so many years)
4) mixing up what I use and do (it makes the finished product more interesting)

Different supplies:
1) 90 lb paper (I like the 140 lb better, maybe because it holds up better to my sometimes rough brush work).
2) colored pencils
3) gouache
4) masking fluids

Getting ready for a Plein air painting workshop

While I am really pleased with my watercolor journaling kit, and my home painting alcove, I still needed a plein air watercolor kit.  Something besides my giant burlap bag!  The problem is that I am not really sure what to get.  There are a wide variety of wooden boxes (including the pochade) with and without legs, as well as a wide variety of chairs and stools.

So I started with what I believe I want in a Plein air kit:

1. be light weight (maybe less then 5 lbs)
2. be portable (fold up - fit in a bag with carrying straps)
3. be expandable (who knows what I will want)
4. be able to support a 10 x 12 pad or canvas
5. be able to transport and support an essential set of watercolor items:
• travel pallet
• 10 to 12 tubes of paint
• 3 to 6 brushes
• water cup
• pencil, eraser, ruler
• other miscellaneous items:  razor blade, sponge, paper towels 

I was leaning toward a Guerrilla 6 x 8 Thumb Box, but I will have to wait for the new model to be available!  Maybe the 9" x 12' isn't too big?  But wait, I have a camera tripod, and a wooden box that is just being used to store my acrylic paint tubes.  With a lot of inspiration from what others have done and posted to the net, and help from my husband I now have my very own unique prochade box.  Below are some photos of the modifications we made.

Since my box is 9" x 12", I was able to purchase 9 x 12 palette extensions that are made to fit this size box.  When closed, they fit nicely into the box above all the other items in the lower half.  They do not interfere with storing my 9" x 12" watercolor block in the top of the box, but they do make the box close snuggly.  I thought about adding something to keep the block in place, but as it turned out the wood screws used to add the hinges and hooks (see below photos) stick out just enough to secure the block in the lid.

I wanted to use the travel pallet, which I also use at home.  It was a bit larger then the divided space in the box, so we shaved down the dividers to allow it to easily fit.  I added velcro squares to one of the pallet extensions and the top of the pallet so that it will stay put!  I also added a bamboo roll to store the brushes I carry in the box.

We added two larger brass hinges to the back, since the original ones were small and well worn.  This will provide better support when the box is open and I am painting.

Judsons Art Outfitters sells supplies for building and repairing Plein Air boxes.  Which is where I purchased a Tripod Mounting kits.  We attached the Universal tripod mount and four rubber feet to the bottom of the box.  The feet keep the box flat when it is set on a table.

The box hinge only opens to 90%.  I needed a hinge that would keep the lid open at an obtuse angle.  Unfortunately the sliding angle brackets Judsons sells did not fit this box.  After looking at several descriptions of how other people had made hinges we went to the hardware store and purchased some 3" and 4" mending plates, bolts, split washers and wing nuts.  I also picked up a very small wrench that can be carried in the box that can be used to hold the bolts while I tighten the wing nuts.

We added two D-rings using bolts so that a shoulder strap could be added for carrying the box.  We used lock nuts to secure the bolts.  I'm not sure I will be using the shoulder strap as often as I originally thought, since I have an unused laptop shoulder bag that the box fit into, which would allow me to carry additional items like water bottles, extra pads of paper, roll of paper towels, etc.

We added additional brass hooks to ensure the box stays closed while being carried.  This is not as important now, since the extension pallets keep the lid snuggly closed.

I purchased some small plastic containers to hold small items in, a paper towel holder and a hook.  You can just see the small wrench next to the tubes of paint.  I may sew up a roll for the paint tubes, just to keep the box neat.  I now have a wonderful box ready for Plein Air painting!

My watercolor travel kit

I looked at a lot of bags, camera cases and small packs in my quest for the right watercolor travel kit.  I was actually running out of time, when I found a Mountainsmith lumbar series packs that was perfect.

I wanted a pack that was small enough to carry with me at all times, but big enough to carry all the essentials:

1. Koi Pocket Field Sketch Box  
2. 5" x 8" journal (or two)
3. mechanical pencil(s)
4. ink pen(s)
5. kneaded eraser
6. 2 oz spray bottle
7. 2 oz dropper bottle
8. kleenex packet (or two)

I also was interested in something that was tough, light and waterproof (or at least water resistant). What I found was something that that would easily hold the above, and also carry:

9. a water bottle for me - journaling is thirsty work!
10. my field hat
11. other personal items like a phone, keys, cash, plastic cards
12. and I could secure my raincoat to it as well

I use the Fleece lined eyewear pocket for glasses, phone, etc. This pocket has a waterproof zipper and cord port - so cool! The zippered main compartment has a zipper cover that does an excellent job of keep out the rain and easily holds my watercolor kit, journals, kleenex AND other items. There is one hanging interior mesh zippered pocket that I use for pens, pencils, erasers, 6" plastic ruler and wax resist crayon (I just know some day I will use it).  I use one of the two side water bottle pockets for a water bottle and the other to hold the both 2 oz water bottles and/or my hat.

The elastic rigging on the front of the pack is useful for holding my hat or raincoat, or even a larger journal.  The adjustable waistbelt makes it really easy to get into and out of, and it was very comfortable to wear all day every day of the trip.  While hiking I position the pack to my back, but when sketching I move it to the side, or even the front for easy access of items.