I LOVE looking at other artists’ stuff. It’s like art supply porn isn’t it?? And who doesn’t love to be able to use the word “porn” in a wholesome way. Ok, yes, it may cause you to burn your credit card into ashes as you fill your cart with new art supplies. But that’s just therapy, right? Join me in a perusal of my personal Plein Air travel stash. Oh all the shiny objects!
My Bag:
Ok, so I thought I’d show you my set up for going Plein Air Sketching. I love this bag! It’s from Lihit Labs and the houndstooth pattern on it makes it feel kinda classy to me. It does come in 5 other colors though so choose your fun. Which color’s your jam??The other five colors (in three sizes!) are available from Amazon so yay, probably free shipping for the US. The size is approx. 11.5″ x 7.5″ and holds a lot of stuff, this bag is like a clown car!
You do have to purchase the snap on shoulder strap separately but for less than $30 I think it’s a great deal. The bag is resistant to tears & water and has some padding to protect your stuff. The main pouch will fit my Hahnemühle A5 landscape watercolor book (approx 8″x5.5″)and two collapsable watercups too.
This pattern does come in a smaller version if you only cary the essentials. Here’s the link. It’s approx 7″ x 5.5″.
The Paint Palette:
I do love me some Da Vinci watercolors but I wanted to get a whole boatload into a small package. Someone on Instagram had somehow crammed extra half pans down the center gutter of a 12 half pan metal palette so I thought it would be a good idea to try that. The palette I bought was from Whiskey Painters but that one’s not available anymore. I think the same thing will work with the Medeen (pink, blue) metal palette though. This Meeden palette is only approx. 3″ x 4.5″.
I put magnets (1 sheet, 3 sheets) on the bottom of the middle gutter half pans. You’ll probably also be able to get another half pan in each row for a total of 21 colors. YAY! That’s a whole lot of color in one small package. (if your gutter is narrow you may have to use empty Winsor & Newton Cotman or Van Gogh half pans. They’re smaller than generic half pans.)
Colors I’d Choose:
Top Row
- Hansa Yellow Medium (PY74)
- Hansa Yellow Deep (PY65)
- Benzimida Orange (PO62)
- Rose Dóre (PV19+PR188)
- Red Rose Deep (PV19)
- Opus (PR122)
- Quin Violet (PV19)
Middle Row (Gutter)
- Leaf Green (PG7+PY65)
- Sap Green (PG7+PY42)
- Phthalo Green (PG7)
- Ultramarine Blue Green Shade (PB29)
- Phthalo Blue (PB15)
- Indanthrene Blue (PB60)
- Payne’s Grey (PBk6+PB27)
Bottom Row
- Da Vinci Violet (PV23)
- Cobalt Turquoise (PB36)
- Prussian Blue Green Shade (PB27+PG7)
- Quin Gold (PY150+PR206)
- Alizarin Gold (PR177+PY42)
- Sepia (PBk6+PBr7)
- Burnt Umber (PBr7)
Pens, Pencils & Other Stuff:
I have lots of stuff in this bag! I was worried about breakage of leads so I got a pack of pencil caps. They fit my Faber Castell Watercolor pencils perfectly and also the Blackwing pencil I have too. Here’s the list of other stuff I have. I’m lucky. I keep all my travel brushes in an old empty tin that used to house Neocolor ll crayons, a set of 10. I just spray painted it and found it fit my five most used Da Vinci Maestro 1503 travel brushes. You can purchase these Kolinsky travel brushes individually at Blick. I use the 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6 the most.
The Stuff:
- click eraser – Love this eraser! It’s triangular shape makes intricate erasing possible, I’ve been through like 3 already!
- Zebra Technical pens (01, 03, 05), my fave black fineliner.
- Waterbrush by Kuretake – I’ve tried several other brands, I like the even flow of this one. It’s also the one I made my own white ink brush pen out of. It’s in the bag too.
- Water container – THIS find was terrific. It allows you to refill water brushes easily. I also use it instead of a mist bottle so I don’t get a micro spray of watercolors everywhere. My Da Vinci watercolors reactivate that easily! It’s also a goto water source if you are not in a coffee shop where you can just get fresh water.
- Mechanical pencil (or green) – This is an auto click up, just shake it for more lead. AND you can replace the eraser which is extra long and retractable.
- Uniball Signo White Gel Pen – My goto highlighter white.
- Uniball Angelic White Gel Pen – Finer line than the one above but not as opaque. I keep both in my bag.
- Pencil Sharpener – Gives a long lead sharpening and so portable!
- Binder Clips – To hold the pages down. Hey, it might be windy at the coffee shop!
- 6″ Mini Ruler – See through makes it even easier to use.
- Tissue – I like using tissues instead of paper towels to wipe excess water or paint off my brush but I’ve also seen wrist band sweatbands used to soak up the excess water too. Good idea.
- Off cuts of watercolor paper – I always need scraps for testing color mixes before I use them.
So, now you know what I take to coffee shops! Go forth and mingle, draw and get your art on. Make up your own plein air set, it’s a treat to keep everything in one compact travel case. If you’d like to see my full studio palette, go here to read all about it.
Remember:
I’m having a GIVEAWAY, be sure to enter!
Susan C
That’s a nice set-up Jenn. I haven’t done any plein air painting for about 20 years, but I used to take my full palette and a case of brushes, plus a stand and a folding chair, paper blocks, and my other supplies in a large fabric tote I made. It wasn’t light travelling, that’s for sure. We would travel around the area and go to people’s gardens to paint. Every year I would save up my money for this one-week plein air class in the Blue Mountains area of Ontario. Good times. Now I live too far away, and health issues prevent me from going out to paint on location….. but lots of good and happy memories.
Jean Marmo
Such a fun bag! I don’t do plain air but it would be perfect for my travels to see my granddaughter.
Jenny
Oh jenn…what a yummy post! i LOVE your share of art on the go supplies-best eye candy! i clicked several links to Amazon of supplies you shared and added to my wish list, i always add a comment to the item so when i go back to look and/OR purchase, i know it was something you recommended. thanks for always sharing those links my friend. hang onto your hat if the wind picks up in the coffee shop-lol! love your sense of humor. tfs, have a super day 😊
sandra strait
Fantastic setup! I should cut down my supplies to one setup but I’m such a painting flibbertigibbet. Instead of talking excessively, I change setups excessively!
alice
pretty cool to see how you set this up and what you have inside. lots of great ideas here <3
Kristine M.
Great bag Jenn! but what I really love is that you are healthy and back to creating, blogging and brightening my inbox.
For people in the U.S. Blick sells its version of the Blackwing sharpener for less than $7 USD https://www.dickblick.com/products/blick-2-hole-pencil-sharpener/
I got one on Black Friday last year for 5 bucks and my only regret is that I didn’t get a couple more at that price.
Linda Kunsman
wow- what a super looking bag full of supplies! If I knew it would all work like magic and I’d be able to watercolor even a pinkie as well as you I would follow your lead here:)
Jennifer Rose
Looks like everything you would need 🙂 the little water jug thing would def come in handy and hopefully doesn’t leak
I just have a pen and a tiny sketchbook in my bag, can lug around much else lol