Author Archive
Mary Poppins Has Nothing on this Bag
After years of tirelessly searching I have found (in the most obscure places) the ideal painting tools that I consider my treasures.
There is an entire graveyard of fancy painting products that simply do not work, trial and error have paved that way for what I am about to reveal.
My Plein Air Bag
The actual bag is an inexpensive army surplus bag and it does the job perfectly! I can hardly believe I fit all these supplies in this one little bag.
- Pallet with paints
- Paper towels
- Brushes: flats, rounds and whatever your favorite is
- Extra tubes of paint, most definitely extra white
- Sun visor
- Clips
- Sketch book & marker
- Art bin boxes for extra used mixes
- Gloves (I use Atlas nitrate gloves)
- Extra panels for color studies
- Red glass
- Eye glasses (unless you’re blessed with perfect vision)
- Bottle with clean brush clear
- Mineral spirits (by Garnsol, odorless)
- Solvent gel (By Gamlin)
- Walnut/Alkyd Medium
- Linseed oil
- Stand oil
- Vaseline Petroleum jelly
- Windex
- Toothbrush holder for small handle brushes & fine markers
- Head band for windy days
It never hurts to throw in your camera, sunscreen, bug spray and some business cards as well. I never leave home without my Plein Air Bag.
susan
I recently spent some time on the Mendocino coast, with a paintbrush in hand practically the entire trip and therefore a perpetual smile on my face. I did 18 paintings in just a week and loved every moment.
One of my favorites from this trip, get up dear friend, will always make me chuckle.
Upon finishing this painting I was approached by a gentleman who I thought was a fellow artist… but turned out to be a homeless man.
I greeted him and asked, “Is there other secret spots like this one in the area?” He replied, “Yes, at the State Park just a mile up the road.” He then looked me up and down in my painting gear (which was not clean, why would it be) and said, “You can get a shower for seven dollars there and stay till ten!” I smiled and left.
I guess I look worse then I though in my painting gear? Who has time to put together an outfit when there are blank canvases waiting in the car.
susan
I chose blue for my August color study. To me, blue screams summer in every hue.
Inspiration comes in the strangest places. I do my best work around 2am so I often come up with pieces of my composition by looking around the house. This time my girls (the 3 royal lucas terriers who are very aware of their regal branding) had to take one for the team as I confiscated one of their toys for the greater good.
The precocious little fellow you see below is actually a dog toy. For such a little guy he caused me quite a bit of difficulty as he just didn’t want to stand still!
hey! where are you?
a 4″ x 4″ original work of art
king of the block
a 4″ x 4″ original work of art
this is my good side
a 4″ x 4″ original work of art
I am a self-proclaimed hardware store junkie. Hard work has never scared me and I get satisfaction from getting my hands dirty. People occasionally laugh at my efforts, but when I find a new tool they use it. My latest find is the Aluminum Form Holder, which I now affectionately call my Guilded Box. It holds my paints perfectly in a compact, portable way. My goal was to downsize and simplify my materials and tools as I am always on the go and often live out of my car as I search for scenes to paint. You can find this gem at Office Depot or online at Amazon if you don’t live near an office supply store.
Guilded Box with a piece of wood cut to fit
Box lid holds my personal cheat sheets
The bottom section holds my paints… and yes paint will get on the lid, just scrape off and use it or even use the lid to mix your paint. Comes in handy when you forget a mixing surface.
Believe me, I have tried a variety of products and this simplistic approach is the key to many of my latest field studies.
I hope you give it a try, who knows you might find a treasure as I have with the Guilded Box – a steal of tool for under $30! I don’t leave the house without it.
– susan