Rebecca Z Artist’s Basic To-Go Supply List (for Travel and Painting on Location)
This list is for you if you’re coming with me on an Art Adventure, or if you’re my student and carrying your materials back and forth to class.
This is a list of items I routinely take with me on the road. Plein air painting is a chance to combine the inspiration of travel with your creativity! Use the blue links to shop my list on Amazon. It’s the easiest way to get the supplies you need delivered right to your door. ❤️
Paper-My favorite painting surface while traveling is a good sketchbook. Choose one of these and make it your place to record special places and memorable events. Travel sketchbooks become precious!
My current favorite is the Stillman and Birn Beta Series (with cold pressed paper) or the Zeta series with hot press paper size 5.5 x 8.5 link to purchase hardbound Zeta series sketchbook 5.5 x 8.5. I love this size because it fits nicely in my purse or art bag, and it isn’t too large or bulky to work on. Keeping it open while you work on it can be achieved by carrying two binder clips or a couple of large rubber bands (my favorite)
- Spiral bound journals can be easiest to paint on in the field. The Strathmore Visual Journal 9×12 spiral bound are a favorite in this category. They fold back on themselves, allowing for nice sized landscape or portrait work on location. Click to order: Strathmore Visual Journal 140 lb 9 x 12
- Moleskine hardbound watercolor journals are anotheone of my favorites. The 5×8 fits in your purse easily, but larger versions can make elegant books to use and revisit later. They have a hard bound cover which can make them awkward to paint with in the field, but the paper is lovely and they have excellent binding. My favorite size is A4 (8.25×11.5)
- Arches Watercolor block can be heavy to carry, but it’s wonderful having a secure paper of excellent quality that can dry flat and be ready to go.
- single sheets of Arches watercolor paper are the lightest type of painting surface to carry. If you plan to paint on loose paper, you’ll need a firm, flat support. (I like using a piece of foam core board covered with clear packing tape to make it waterproof as described in the picture below.)
- Do-It-Yourself-ers can try this portable folio for paper : Cut 2 pieces of foam core a bit larger than your ¼ sheet of paper…about 12X16 or 12.5 X 16.6. Cover with plastic shelf liner (Contac Paper) or with Clear plastic packing tape to make them waterproof. Create straps from velcro tape to hold the two pieces of foam core together and form a carrying case for your loose sheets of watercolor paper. I cover the sticky backs of the velcro tape with fabric.
Other Incidental “Must Have’s”
- Bulldog Clips or large binder clips to keep your paper from blowing away (one clip attached to your sketchbook is sufficient) another possibility is to use extra large rubber bands (my favorite).
- Frog Tape
- Automatic Pencil– these are always sharp
- kneaded eraser
- Salt in a plastic ziploc bag or Rx bottle
MY TRAVEL ART PALETTE:
Watercolor Paints
- As a minimum, I recommend you bringing at least 3 reds (Permanent Rose, Permanent Alizarin Crimson and Scarlet Lake), 3 blues ( Prussian, Cobalt, and Manganese), 3 yellows (Winsor Yellow, Quinacridone Gold, Raw Sienna), plus Burnt sienna and Ultramarine Violet. I use professional quality artist colors. Avoid student grade pigments.
- These are the colors currently on my palette: (W/N= Winsor Newton Brand DS= Daniel Smith brand HWC= Holbein AJ= American Journey from Cheap Joe’s)
- Reds: WN Scarlet Lake, W/N Permanent Alizarin Crimson, AJ or W/N Permanent Rose, W/N Burnt Sienna, W/N Perylene Maroon, Opera Pink, W/N Winsor Red (opaque),
- Violets: AJ Permanent Magenta, AJ Janet’s Violet Rose, Schmincke Ultamarine Violet
- Blues: W/N Prussian blue, W/N Ultramarine Blue, HWC Cobalt Blue, AJ Sky Blue, W/N Cerulean Blue, W/N or DS Cobalt Teal
- Greens: HWC Leaf Green, W/N Phthalo Green, W/N Hookers Green Light
- Yellows: W/N Winsor Yellow, W/N New Gamboge, DS Quinacridone Gold, W/N Raw Sienna, W/N Winsor Yellow Deep, W/N Naples Yellow-opaque
- Oranges: W/N Cadmium Orange- opaque, DS Quinacridone Coral
- Watercolor palette. Small folding palettes are ideal for travel with tube colors. Artist quality tube watercolors are what I recommend. Bringing your tubes of paint and filling your palette once we get there is an option. If you fill the wells of your palette in advance, I would suggest traveling with your palette in a ziploc bag just in case the paints decide to flow. (I love this portable palette, which is sold empty at THIS LINK) You could also make a palette out of an Altoid container and small inserts. I have these at at my studio. Another option is using Trident gum packaging as shown here:
Pens/Watersoluble Crayons
- Speedball Elegant Writer calligraphy markers in black or brown
- Water-soluble Tombow markers (in gray N 75, N 79 or burnt sienna 967) can be great for pen and wash or sketching.
- Permanent markers can also make a nice combination with watercolor. I suggest a very fine point archival pen. My favorite is Micron Pigma 05 in black or sepia. A nib of around .4-.45 is my favorite. No sharpies. Order set of 6 Micron .05 pens here
- I love the Uniball white gel pen. I recapture lost “whites” with it. You can order it here: Uniball white signo pen
- Another white pen that is helpful to have with you is the Posca White paint pen
- If you don’t have room in your bag for paints, Water-soluble crayons can be substituted for watercolors. You can lift the pigment from the crayon with a wet brush to paint, and they can be fun to use in conjunction with acrylics. I like Caran D’arche or Pebeo Stabilo brand.
- Stabilo Black Woody Crayon– this useful little guy is great for creating a quick study in black and gray on location. Later on, you can watercolor over it to capture more colors and detail.
Extras
- Container to carry water: Collapsible bowls work well.
- Something to hold water for painting: water bags are my favorite, but a plastic water bottle can be used.
- As an alternative, you can use a “water brush”- a brush with a water reservoir in the handle. This way you don’t really need a water container. Any brand is fine. purchase a water brush via THIS LINK
- Travel pack of Kleenex (my favorite) or paper towel for water control.
- optional folding chair- I use it rarely but its handy when you need it
- Here is an easy to pack lightweight chair for sitting while painting. GCI Outdoor has a sturdy chair that folds up to a small size that weighs only 26 ounces and is priced at around $20 on Amazon. Here is the link GCI Outdoor Packseat purchase on Amazon with this link. Or go to THIS LINK for the GCI Outdoor Pack Seat or call 800-956-SEAT (7328).
- Hat, umbrella and/or shirt for sun protection
- Phone Camera
- Lightweight backpack (I use one on wheels.) Click this Link to Amazon for a quiet rolling Backpack
- If you’re shy and do not want to speak to people on the street as you paint, I recommend a set of ear buds. People are much less likely to engage you if it looks like you are listening to music.
Special technology:
- Photographers can certainly bring a real camera. I no longer find it worth the hassle.
- Your iPad or tablet can be helpful to paint from. It’s nice to be able to zoom in on your image.
* Note clicking the links in “basic supply list for watercolor travel” will allow you to shop online on Amazon and have the supplies delivered to your door. I attach these links for your convenience as part of the Amazon Associates Program. Your purchase via these links does not impact your price. It does help support me and my efforts to be a resource for inspiration and advice for you on your artistic journey. ❤️ 🎨