As expected, GUT members are on fire with this one! The images, tips, tricks, lists and suggestions you’re all sharing in the most recent GUT Chat thread are beyond inspiring. From the most simple kit to the most complex, from extending paint-life to using vintage books on the go, from waterbrush tips to your favorite name brands, there is field kit gold in the GUT chat thread.
, who shared with me off line that she has two kinds of kits: a foreign field kit and a local field kit. I selected her local kit to share with you all today. I thought it was a nice contrast to Hockney’s overwhelming oil painting plein air situation we saw in the Sunday’s post.
Art Auntie Kathleen: Local Field Kit
My best local travel kit is a sketchbook and pen only.
But otherwise:
Collapsible water cup, cotton rag, paper towel, pencil sharpener, baggie.
Eraser, HB pencil, fountain pen
Sakura watercolor travel kit with water brush
Zipper bag. I prefer to take this bag to make me keep it light and simple, but I’ll use whatever bag I feel like.
Watercolor sketchbook by Hahnemühle, ~ 6x4.5in. Heavyweight watercolor paper. Finally been convinced to take this along. The paper doesn’t buckle from the watercolor like the paper in the Talens sketchbook. Extra rubber band to keep the wind from blowing over a wet page.
And/or Talens Art Creation mixed media sketchbook, 4.5x4.5 inches.
Water bottle.
It’s a tight fit to have both sketchbooks in that bag, but the idea is to keep things minimal. If I take the Hahnemühle and not the Talens, then I’m kind forced to do a watercolor, which is a good thing, to make me work through performance anxiety about using a Real Watercolor Sketchbook.
I sometimes just sketch in pen or pencil in the field and then paint back at home. Depends on weather, mood, location, hunger etc. But at least I have a line sketch.
FZ Zinn
FC Zinn: Backpack kit for painting on cardboard at Friday figure drawing sessions - sketchbook, water cup and palettes from a Thai takeout place, acrylics (limited palette burnt sienna, pthalo turquoise ) soap bottle, tin of assorted pens and pencils, a cloth roll up of brushes (formerly for serving utensils), paper towels, newspaper. Mostly improvised over time
Finn Star
Finn Star: Usually bring along some combination of this and that on the go. Most days, I carry a tiny yellow pocket sketchbook, a few pens and water colors for impromptu sketching at a cafe or around the city. On longer road trips or camping in the wild, I’ll pack some pastels, charcoal, few acrylic paints, brushes, sketch book, prepped canvases and a small easel. Acrylic dries almost instantly, so I bring a glossy medium to extend the drying time enough to mix colors and create a quick impression of the landscape. Looking forward to experimenting with slower drying oil paints for longer sessions en plein air soon.
The Traveling Sketchbook
The Traveling Sketchbook: I try to keep it light watercolor, guache,cardboard to tape paper on, pencil and maybe a pen and a small sketchbook
Henrie(tta) Richer
Henrie(tta) Richer: My kit …. pencil case, pens, brushes, water colours, sketch journal, kitchen paper, water jar and bottle, cloth bag …
L. Allison
L. Allison: I always have this kit in my bag so it's ready to go. The thing I like best is that it weighs 6 ounces. Pens, mechanical pencil, pentel water brush, and tube watercolors in a plastic pallet box. It all fits easily in a 6X9" zipper pouch. Add in a Multimedia sketchbook and the lot weighs in at just over a pound. On days when I'm walking far I substitute a lighter notebook that I make myself.
Anne Woods
Anne Woods: Caran d'Ache watercolor pencils that came in a nifty little red metal case that doubles as my palette, along with a heavy brass sharpener -- both came from the Art Students League in NY; prismacolor watercolor pencils; Uni-ball Vision Micro pen, pencil, brush, brush with super handy water reservoir (I always have water!); Moleskine unlined journal; sometimes a mixed media sketchbook if I want to play with washes; Cavalini & Co pouch from my favorite plant nursery; coffee, always. This kit makes me happy every time I see it, and that makes me want to draw more often.
Irene G.: I’ve wrestled with this for a long time. I don’t like carrying a lot of heavy stuff around. This sturdy little case and tiny palette made by a company called Art Toolkit. I carry a fine line marker, a water brush, the palette with watercolors, a sketchbook, a binder clip and a paper towel. Surprisingly light and compact, and It all goes into a backpack.
I guess I do like to be noticed. At least have my art, words, and ideas noticed. It makes me smile when my shares are chosen. I also love when I look at the selections and remember seeing them in the feed. Everyone's works is so much fun to see.
I guess I do like to be noticed. At least have my art, words, and ideas noticed. It makes me smile when my shares are chosen. I also love when I look at the selections and remember seeing them in the feed. Everyone's works is so much fun to see.