watercolor setup
0 Comments Published by Dave on Thursday, August 19, 2010 at 8/19/2010 10:49:00 AM.
Often I sketch on the go, standing or sitting on a small stool. One of the challenges of plein air sketching (sketching out in the open) is where to put/keep all your stuff during the journey or on location.
Some artists carry boxes and bins of stuff in their car. Others use travel easels with fold out bins and drawers of supplies. But that's far too encumbering for me. I like to take just these few items:
1) Waterproof fine black pen (Uni-Ball Vision Needle
0.5)
2) mechanical pencil (Pentel Sliding Sleeve
Sharp Mechanical Pencil or the Pentel Sharp Kerry Automatic Pencil
)
3) eraser (Design Kneaded Rubber
1225)
4) sketch journal (usually 6x10 inch Carnet de Voyage Travel Book
)
5) travel watercolor kit (Cotman Pocket Travel Watercolor Paint Set
)
6) Waterbrush (Niji Waterbrush Large round
)
7) metal ruler (Walmart)
8) binder clips (Walmart - for securing the paper from the wind)
The metal ruler and binder clips work well together and enable me to place my small watercolor kit off to the side of my sketchbook. I wedge the ruler into the pages of the thick sketch journal, and binder clip it in place. I modified the bottom of the watercolor kit using stickable magnets from my local Walmart store. If I don't use the metal ruler, and set the kit on some table or other flat surface, the magnets don't get in the way, as they are flat and cover the entire bottom of the plastic kit.
This little combo fits in my back pocket (I place the sketch book tucked into my waste belt at the small of my back). Sometimes I put the kit into my pocket vest or Lands End Rigger Attaché case.
The lighter the better.
...dave
Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. - Leonardo DaVinci
Some artists carry boxes and bins of stuff in their car. Others use travel easels with fold out bins and drawers of supplies. But that's far too encumbering for me. I like to take just these few items:
1) Waterproof fine black pen (Uni-Ball Vision Needle
0.5)2) mechanical pencil (Pentel Sliding Sleeve
Sharp Mechanical Pencil or the Pentel Sharp Kerry Automatic Pencil)3) eraser (Design Kneaded Rubber
1225)4) sketch journal (usually 6x10 inch Carnet de Voyage Travel Book
)5) travel watercolor kit (Cotman Pocket Travel Watercolor Paint Set
)6) Waterbrush (Niji Waterbrush Large round
) 7) metal ruler (Walmart)
8) binder clips (Walmart - for securing the paper from the wind)
The metal ruler and binder clips work well together and enable me to place my small watercolor kit off to the side of my sketchbook. I wedge the ruler into the pages of the thick sketch journal, and binder clip it in place. I modified the bottom of the watercolor kit using stickable magnets from my local Walmart store. If I don't use the metal ruler, and set the kit on some table or other flat surface, the magnets don't get in the way, as they are flat and cover the entire bottom of the plastic kit.
This little combo fits in my back pocket (I place the sketch book tucked into my waste belt at the small of my back). Sometimes I put the kit into my pocket vest or Lands End Rigger Attaché case.
The lighter the better.
...dave
Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. - Leonardo DaVinci
Labels: illustrated journal, sketch
Brooklyn Chinatown
2 Comments Published by Dave on Monday, August 16, 2010 at 8/16/2010 07:25:00 PM.
We enjoyed the trip to New York this past weekend.
After one of the all-day sessions I did a quick 10 minute sketch on one the corners while Ruth went shopping for some dinner.
Later that evening I added a watercolor wash back at the hotel. We sat on the front porch, drank a little wine and watched people walk by.
...dave
I cook with wine, sometimes I even add it to the food.
After one of the all-day sessions I did a quick 10 minute sketch on one the corners while Ruth went shopping for some dinner.
Later that evening I added a watercolor wash back at the hotel. We sat on the front porch, drank a little wine and watched people walk by.
...dave
I cook with wine, sometimes I even add it to the food.
Labels: illustrated journal, sketch, urban sketching
stairwell water main
2 Comments Published by Dave on Monday, August 09, 2010 at 8/09/2010 05:17:00 PM.
Got a quick chance to capture this on my journal. I've been meaning to do this. I just stood in the stairwell for a few minutes. I was on my way to the car in the company garage.
I was feeling a bit self-conscious. Not sure if someone would just barge into the stairwell and see me standing there staring at this mechanical device.
"What is WRONG with this guy?" They'd be thinking.
It was just a simple scribble and if they had looked over they shoulder on the way up the stairs they'd think: What a mess.
Actually I did it without looking at my paper. I just kept my eyes on the water main. Later when I got up to my car I broke out the travel watercolors and threw some pigment on it. In about 10 minutes I was done.
Then I went off to my next meeting. Rats, no real time to really get into it.
But even for a quick sketch, I'm happy to be able to capture something just "everyday" anyway.
...dave
You really never consume water. You just borrow it. - dave terry
I was feeling a bit self-conscious. Not sure if someone would just barge into the stairwell and see me standing there staring at this mechanical device.
"What is WRONG with this guy?" They'd be thinking.
It was just a simple scribble and if they had looked over they shoulder on the way up the stairs they'd think: What a mess.
Actually I did it without looking at my paper. I just kept my eyes on the water main. Later when I got up to my car I broke out the travel watercolors and threw some pigment on it. In about 10 minutes I was done.
Then I went off to my next meeting. Rats, no real time to really get into it.
But even for a quick sketch, I'm happy to be able to capture something just "everyday" anyway.
...dave
You really never consume water. You just borrow it. - dave terry
Labels: illustrated journal, sketch, water