When I travel, I like to have a variety of mediums and papers handy… between practicality and creative expression lies a plethora of sizes, colors and forms to fit the moment. I can spend 3 minutes on a sketch on a postcard in pencil or 30 minutes on piece on 10 x 12 paper in watercolor… it all depends on the scene, the available time and the artist’s whim (not to mention the patience of her traveling companion). When I visited London and Edinburgh this summer this is what I carried every time we went out and about:
– several postcard watercolor paper sketchpads (great for actually sending postcards if you can stand to part with the art),
– one panoramic sketchpad (heavy to carry but wonderful for those views),
– one small square format heavy-weight bristol paper sketchpad, and
– a 10 x 12 inch all-purpose watercolor paper sketchpad.
For mediums, I wanted it all — carrying small tubes of inexpensive watercolors and 3 brushes, a tiny super water-tight tupperware container pre-filled with clean water (thanks Lucie! I borrowed this from your kitchen a few years ago!), a utility box of practical craypas, and a zippered pencil case of graphite pencils, thin black markers and colored pencils.
All of this carried in a chic and impervious Queen Bee shoulder bag. I love having so many options to create — however I feel like creating — wherever I feel like creating…