Painting during a pit stop, trying to not get eaten alive by mosquitoes (we forgot to bring waterproof bug spray).
I get a lot of questions about how I paint while travelling, so here's the blog post you've been waiting for!
Painting on the go has been really rewarding since I got in to it a few years ago. I try to bring my travel sketchbook with me everywhere, it's a great thing to have if you've got any down time while you're out and about.
Materials
A peek into my Rendr travel sketchbook. Micron pen, watercolor, and copic marker drawings shown. None of them bleed through the paper at all.
Sketchbook.
I am still figuring out what kind of sketchbooks work best for me. I've been using the Crescent Creative Products Rendr No Show Thru sketchbooks for a while now. They're great all purpose journals but I'm ready to try something new now. They don't work so great with watercolor and gouache, my main mediums.
I like watercolor sketchbooks more recently, but I feel bad just sketching on them like it's a waste.
I've been getting more in to book binding recently and am considering making my own sketchbooks with half sketch paper and half watercolor paper. I plan on trying mossery sketchbooks soon as well. I've heard good things about them.
If you're interested, here's the PDF of my first Rendr journal I filled out.
Paint.
As for the paint I use, I always use liquid watercolors/gouache which makes it easy to transfer to whatever travel pallet you happen to own. I use the art tool kit travel pallet, but honestly, an altoids tin works in a pinch. There are lots of different travel pallets out there so do some research and find the one that works for you! Or stick with the altoids tin.
I use the art tool kit pocket pallet. It is super slim with interchangeable magnetic wells.
Paintbrush.
PENTEL WATER BRUSH PENS!!!!! I love pentel brush pens, and I'm not the only one. They make painting on the go so easy (I even use them in the studio when I'm too lazy to get a cup of water).
Pens.
I'm always experimenting with pens, any thin micron pens are a great thing to have in your travel toolkit. I've recently come to love tiny Japanese calligraphy brush pens. I've been using the Pigma FB for a while and I love it.
All in all, once you start travel painting you won't want to stop! You will cherish the paintings you create while on adventures and learn new things along the way. Start bringing your art supplies on hikes, to the cafe, into the city, to your grandma's house. Try painting while hanging out with friends, waiting for the bus, or if you go to a superbowl party and you really just don't care about football but you are interested in eating and drinking with your friends...