Travel Sketching: Art Supplies and Materials

Thinking of taking a few art supplies along on vacation? Here are the essentials art supplies and materials to pack.

Watercolor Pad

Any small pad with beefy weight paper will do but if you have a favorite brand, weight, and size, bring it. ‘On the road’ is not the time to master unfamiliar art supplies and materials. For those prepping for a leisurely world cruise. Ignore this advice. You...lucky you, vacation time is EXACTLY the time to spend hours experimenting. [The din of the coins tumbling in the 24-hour casino... the vocal stylings of Johnny Crooner in the background].

Watercolor Postcards

A great motivator. Stamp and address them ahead of time and you are forced to transition into ‘masterpiece’ mode. Sometimes artists need a boot kick out of the comfort zone. No matter that the product is overpriced for what it is.... a sheet of watercolor paper chopped into small squares. Make your own. Once you put a stamp on the back of any decent weight paper it is officially a watercolor postcard. Beware of cutting the ones you intend to mail into oddball sizes though. Any size, other than the postal standard, will require costly extra postage. Address a set to yourself for a delightful welcome back home.

Sketch Book Journal

You might leave this item behind and just journal and paint in the above watercolor pad. I tend to want to write with abandon, so the sketchbook is used as an aid to the watercolor paper version of said sketchbook. Later, I can choose to clean and edit my writings for inclusion with or within the painting. I also am not of the mind to dive in and paint on pricey paper. I want to work out the composition first. This I do in the cheap sketchbook paper. But it is an extra art supply to bring.

Pencil

An all-purpose ‘sketching pencil’ will quickly give you a starting place. Advanced pros or those filled with [false?] confidence might just start in painting directly on the watercolor paper ala prima style. Bravisimo!

Emery Board

Ask for a small emery board at the hotels check--in desk. [It will come in the emergency sewing kit with button and thread]. Use it to keep the point of the pencil sharp.

White Plastic Eraser

Slice it into fourths. The remaining 3/4ths stay at the hotel. You’ll lose the whole darn eraser if you don’t.

Pen Set

For sketchbook journal notations and for drawing. Black, waterproof, fade resistant, archival.

Seating

Forget a sketching stool. Even those that fold up ever so compactly will end up left behind in the hotel room. Pack a plush comfy jacket instead (This wont be the fancy number you will dine at the captains table in). We’re talking old. A jacket you will roll up and plop down on forest floor or museum step with abandon. Tie it around the neck, around the waist. And once the sun is directly overhead and glaring on the bright white of your watercolor paper, the jacket transitions from tote able futon to fashion-forward head dress. Arrange the jacket just so. Over your head it protects you from sun damage and shields your paper from the suns harsh shadows. Lighten your load and leave it behind for someone without a warm jacket.

Watercolor Paint Box

OK you have accumulated watercolor in sets, tubes, pans, vials and have watercolor pencils watercolor crayons. For travel, you need to one more overpriced art supply. The paint box! It’s filled with small squares of paint and everything else you need. It fit in the palm of your hand. [See: Watercolor Pocket Box article]. The lid flips out into a palette, a tiny retractable paintbrush is nestled inside, and some will have a paint well, a water bottle, a velvet pouch and or a carrying case. With a loop to hang off of your belt! Er, is anyone wearing belts on vacation?

Get some version of this watercolor paint box/field kit/ travel set and do not bother packing these next listed items. They are already built sleekly into the paint box:

• Brushes Size will depend on the manner you are working. Decide your format ahead of time. Two or three brushes max.
   
• Palette Opt for a small lightweight plastic one.
   
• Water Container You’ll need to bring water for on location travel sketching. Or you are stuck trying to locate a water source.

Check off all of the above and decide what fits your style. Gather all in a pile and then decide you can better decide what size ‘tote’ you can toss all in. A carrying case of some kind. Not your purse or brief case. And heavens not a big rolling cart for crafters. Something small enough that you will have it when you need it. If it is big, cumbersome or uncomfortable to carry, you will daily debate....hmmm, leave it or bring it? Pack it. Then edit it. Then bring it!

-Cynthia Padilla

Cynthia Padilla-Come along as we learn and improve drawing skills through direct observation.  Explore the traditional dry media applications of graphite pencil, colored pencil, pen and ink, charcoal, and pastels.  I am a national instructor of drawing and sketching through the traditions of Plein Air Field Sketching, the Botanical Arts and Naturalist Illustration.