The pros and cons of travelling light
Posted: January 5, 2015 Filed under: Uncategorized 38 CommentsA few weeks ago I wrote about deciding not to pack my travel easel when I left for Costa Rica. That was definitely the right decision because it would have been an encumbrance on the long walk down (and back up again) to the beach where I painted most days. Instead I carried in my backpack a few quarter-sheets of watercolour paper taped to a plexiglass backing board, along with my travel palette, some pencils and brushes and my water container. Often I sat on a towel in the sand with my plexi propped up at an angle on beach debris (rocks, coconuts, logs), my palette and water next to me. The disadvantage of the setup was that I often had dirt in my palette from people walking nearby and kicking up sand. And the worst was when a dog came over to say hello and stepped into the cerulean blue paint. This was sketched on one of the few overcast afternoons on Playa Beisanz. With some dark clouds approaching I painted quickly and carried my painting home upside down, with the plexi protecting the wet sheet from the rain.
Thank you for the explanation of what you are using this trip… I like the idea of plexi held in place with sand or local stones. Love the Costa Rics colours! looking forward to more!
Thanks TR. I was happy to be able to use this setup wherever I went. And of course very happy that I packed those Costa Rica colours in my bag.
Love these sketches! Was in northern Costa Rica last March, but these amazing sketches so make me want to go back!
Next time I go I would love to explore more of the country. There are so many different types of landscapes that we saw on the ride from Quepos to San José. Made me want to go back too.
This is quite a beautiful scene Shari — the clouds, sea and general composition are perfect. Thank you for sharing this info…
Thanks Jane. I’m glad I waited to post the paintings from home so I could scan them. The colours are more subtle than the sketchbook colours so scans are better for these.
Lovely painting Shari. Lopez Island and Tom Hoffman come to mind? Best, Tony
Thanks Tony. You’re right. I find that a lot of what I learned with Tom was starting to gel on this trip. Especially when I was painting those distant headlands, something he does so well and so often.
What is the thickness of the plexi that you use?
you did great with the bright colors…
The plexi is about 1/8 of an inch. Quite thin and light but still thick enough not to bend.
Thanks Shari, will try it !!
Love the dry brush on the water…this is simple a sweet! I like it very much!
I brought along a brush I hadn’t used in a long time. It’s a petit gris pur from Raphael. Lovely brush.
Years ago while painting on a beach a young girl watched me for some time. When I went in for a swim I came back to find the little girl had dumped handfuls of sand into my palette ruining all the paints.
Yikes, that must have been awful. Was she a really young girl? Where were her parents?
Serene. Thankyou.
Thanks Sandi!
That is great… love those more subtle colours… worth waiting for the scanned image.
Thanks so much Ross. I’m glad I was patient and waited until I got home.
And now, I am sure, you will be wanting to rush to the scanner and work your magic so that you can replace all the earlier sketches from the holiday… is that right?
That was done the day after I got back. Surprised at how prompt I was??
Just a little surprised… is this a New Year’s resolution?
No resolutions for me. The day after we got back there was an ice storm outside which made driving impossible. No choice but to stay home and scan my sketches.
I think that was Montreal’s way of saying welcome home (reserved for people who have left the city in mid-Winter to holiday in the tropics).
Lovely painting, Shari, but what I really love are your comments. We get to go along, and I can just see that dog approaching, and probably some scrambling going on as you realized he was getting way too close. Thanks so much. It’s fun to be an armchair traveller/painter.
Sue
Yes, there was some scrambling going on. Of course I grabbed the painting to make sure he didn’t step on it and then he just stomped on top of the palette.
What a delightful painting, Shari! I love everything about this sketch, especially the sky and clouds. I feel like I am there. The water with the rocks poking up, it is one of my favorites. Thank you.
Thanks Linda. I was happy with the result of this one. It managed to stay fresh, maybe because of the threatening clouds.
I just want to jump into that water!
me too! 🙂
It was so wonderful and calm.
This blog puts happiness into my day. And I’m also happy because I sent this post onto a friend and they are so impressed they have subscribed. Passing on happiness is great. Thankyou
Painting puts happiness in my day Sandi. Thanks for letting me know!
i love this trip of yours. the colors are so vivid and it feels like I’m there with you. thanks!
Thanks Stacey!
Great sky! Ron Ranson would approve.
That makes me happy Mike.
amazing art! 🙂