What’s in my bag…

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I like to read blogs and watch videos about what art supplies that artists like to take with them on the go.  So, I thought I would throw in my two cents and show you what I bring with me on road trips.  Even if I am driving, I still like to bring these items with me because you will never know when the mood will strike to create something.   I will admit that this isn’t too exciting, but for now it is everything that I need or want to bring…minus the snacks of course 🙂

I still have a love/hate relationship with watercolor at the moment but I am hardheaded so of course I have a few supplies to curse at while I’m on a trip.

Strathmore Watercolor Pad

Water Brush

Winsor & Newton-12 half pan travel set

My first love….Drawing….can’t forget that!

Casemate Sketch Diary-

General’s Kneaded Eraser

Black Pearl Eraser

Faber Castell Pencils – HB, 2H, B, 2B, 4B

Faber Castell Typewriter Eraser

Blending Stumps

Click Eraser

Pen Mate Duo Expert Lead Pencil

Kol-I-Noor – 24 Color Woodless Pencils – (Artist quality pencils are too fragile for me to bring along. They would probably be okay but I don’t want to risk it.)

 Years ago I use to be into calligraphy.  Modern and Brush Calligraphy has really caught my eye….So, have been playing around with that as well.  I may want to Zentangle too.

U:create Smooth Paper

Speedball Calligraphy Set

Tom Bow Brush Pen – hard

Tom Bow Duo Brush Pen

Sukura Brush Pen

Faber Castell Pitt Artist Pen

Pencil Case- Made for me by SIL Vicki Welsh (isn’t it pretty)

Not pictured that I will usually bring is:

*travel pencil sharpener

*a couple of paper towels

And I can’t forget my kindle and a bit of knitting.

It seems like a lot of projects to bring a long and I may not touch a bit of it but it is there if the inclination hits me.  Its better to have it and not want it than to want it and not have it, lol

So what do you bring along with you on trips?  What are your must haves?

Be Well and Happy!

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My Sketching Essentials…

There are so many supplies available for the artist to work (or play) on the go.  The equipment can get really elaborate as well as expensive.  So, I have put together a few things I have carried with me from time to time with no problems.  By problems I mean,  I have never sat down to sketch and said, “Man! I wish I would have brought_____!”

Sketching

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I am first and foremost a graphite girl! I like to draw on a smooth papers. And the above are  my papers of choice.

400 Series Strathmore Drawing Pad – 8 x 10, 80 lb., pad is coiled so it folds flat (which is awesome).  Paper has a slight tooth, but I still consider this a smooth(ish) paper.

400 Series Strathmore Sketch Pad – 5.5 x 8.5, 60 lb., pad is also coiled, slight tooth and not as thick as the 80 lb.

-Canson Drawing – 5.5 x 8.5, 70 lb., pad is coiled and has very little tooth.  It is the mid range weight between the two pads above.

-Canson Drawing – 5.5 x 8.5,  65 lb., pad is coiled, slight tooth and also a good mid range weight

The two Canson pads are not available, but here is a link to see the Canson line.

Moleskine Journal – unlined, stapled and smooth tooth, compact and very versatile.

Tools

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These are all the tools I need to keep me happy!

A stump – for blending

A kneaded eraser – erasing mistake of course 😉

2B lead – a very versatile degree of graphite. Depending on the amount of pressure and using a stump, this one soft graphite can give you anywhere from a 4H, 3H, 2H, H, HB,  as well as 2B!

Lead Pencil – Trimming your pencil may not be an option, so for me a lead pencil is a definite must.

When I want to sketch on the go and I don’t want to or can’t take a bigger pad.  I throw a Moleskine, stump, kneaded eraser, lead and a lead pencil in a Ziploc baggie and off I go!

Colored Pencil…Would be essentials

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I rarely take colored pencil on the go.  I may if we are traveling by car, but not usually as a rule.  If I decided to and I had no plan in mind, this is what I would probably take with me. I bought this portfolio from Dick Blick many years ago, and I love it.  The portfolio holds a pad of paper, 12 Prismacolor Pencils, and a sharpener.

The additional pad:

300 Series Strathmore Bristol Smooth – 6 x 6, 100 lb. paper, heavyweight paper that will hold many layers of pencil.

Tools

-Colored Pencil Portfolio – I bought this on clearance for a whopping $20.00…ikr, yay me!  Sadly, I don’t think this is available anymore.

A 12 color pack of colored pencils

A kneaded eraser

-Sharpener

Lead Pencilnot shown.

typing eraser – great hard eraser

Prismacolor blender pencil

-A Baggie – for pencil shavings

Watercolor….Would be essentials

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I haven’t had the pleasure of working in watercolor (yet).  But I do have a few things that I would choose as my essentials if I were to paint on go.

Paper

300 Series Strathmore Bristol Smooth – 6 x 6, 100 lb. paper, heavyweight paper that will hold many layers of pencil.

Other watercolor pads

Tools

Loew-Cornell dry watercolor pan

-12 color pan no longer available
Winsor & Newton – 12 color travel set – linked to a similar set

or Watercolor Pencils not pictured

Travel water brush

-A Mister

-a folded paper towel not pictured

A stump

A kneaded eraser

2B lead

Lead Pencil

Ink

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Sometimes, I want to  Zentangle  and this is perfect to throw in my purse!

Paper

300 Series Strathmore Bristol Smooth – 6 x 6, 100 lb. paper, heavyweight paper

Moleskine Journal – unlined, staples and smooth., compact and very versatile.

Tools

Micron Pens

2B lead

Lead Pencil

A stump

A kneaded eraser

I think oil and acrylic would fall under the en plein air category.  And since we all can’t know everything I have no idea what a charcoal or pastel artist would carry.  But I would definitely be interested in finding out.

Nothing is set in stone and you should carry what makes you feel comfortable. For me these things mentioned is what makes me comfortable to sketch in the past and what I shall continue to have with me in future.

What are your go to sketching essentials?

Be Well and Happy!