Just in case
Posted: July 5, 2022 Filed under: Uncategorized 46 CommentsThis week I’m testing out a new way of painting and sketching on location. The reason? Out of necessity, I need to reduce the gear I carry when I travel. If you’ve been reading the news, you’ve probably seen all the reports about cancelled flights, lost bags and irate travellers. It’s happening everywhere. I don’t want to be part of that statistic, at least the part I can avoid, which is the lost bag part.
With that in mind, I’ve decided to experiment with carry-on luggage only. Yikes. That’s not easy for me to do. I am a poor packer. I take twice as much as I need, always. Just in case.
But these days, checking bags is risky. I can’t take the chance of arriving at a workshop with no art supplies, or no change of clothing. So I’m trying to eliminate my bulky easel, a bunch of paint tubes, and the six types of sketchbooks that I bring along, just in case.
This is not an easy process for me. I am fairly certain that when I arrive at my destination I will need that one thing that I left at home. But I am going to persevere.
My first test this week was to see if I could paint a quarter sheet watercolour with no easel.
I brought along my super lite chair from REI. It weighs only one pound and I can set it up in under a minute. I painted the water scene at Parc des Rapides in Lasalle, while seated, with my paper taped to a Coroplast board, and my palette on my side, à la Brenda Swenson. It worked just fine, and I never fell off my chair into the water, not even once. It was a promising start.
In tomorrow’s post: the rest of the equipment I will bring in my carry-on.
Shari Blaukopf's Sketchbook 
Hi. Two things I do is make sure there is an art supply store near where I will be in a workshop in case I forgot something…secondly, shipping stuff ahead may work but you need longer lead times now and also want to make sure you have a shipper to send things back at your workshop site …..or ask the art center to ship back to you….
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Thanks Pegret. Great suggestions! When I teach in Madeline Island next week, we do have some sponsors sending stuff for our students, so I won’t need an art supply store. But yes, that would help. As for shipping, that’s a great idea too and many other people have suggested the same thing. I had thought of that but it’s a little too late this time for a workshop that starts on Sunday. Fortunately I have a very kind friend who saw my post and is driving to Madeline Island. She has offered to take a few things for me!!
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I can imagine your anxiety about your luggage not arriving with you with all the delays going on lately. When I travel overseas I usually just do a carryon bag and a backpack.Of course I wouldn’t need as much as you need for your clases. As long as the coroplast board dimensions fit in your suitcase you should be good to go. Your chair looks interesting. I’d like to see a photo of someone actually sitting in it. I’d like a lightweight chair that supports my back but is high enough off the ground that I can easily get out of it. I’ll be watching to see how successful you are with your equipment as you try it out. Good luck!
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Hi Joan, I don’t have a photo of myself sitting in the chair but there are lots of reviews online of the chair. Here is one where the reviewer is sitting in it: https://www.outdoorgearlab.com/reviews/camping-and-hiking/backpacking-chair/rei-co-op-flexlite-chair
It’s very comfortable but it is low to the ground so you may find that it is hard to get out of it.
On the other hand, having it low to the ground makes it easy to reach my palette and water cup!
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I’d like to see someone sitting in that chair too! Are you able to sit up…it looks like you lay back in it! Good luck with packing!
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Hi Laura, Here’s a review of the chair with someone sitting in it. It is quite low and does recline a bit but having a back support is good too: https://www.outdoorgearlab.com/reviews/camping-and-hiking/backpacking-chair/rei-co-op-flexlite-chair
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Timely post for me – I leave California to go to NY tomorrow morning and have a large array of art supplies I need to pair down. Another thing we do here is send a flat-rate box from the post office to our destination. Not sure that works from Canada to the U.S. but I’ve done it more than once with art supplies I purchased on vacation and had no room to pack them.
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Carol, shipping is certainly an option but I it’s a bit late for me now because I’m leaving on Saturday and shipping across the border always takes a little longer than expected because of customs! Have a wonderful trip to California!
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Gosh, Shari–I had only thought of cancelled flights and long waits. I’d not even thought about lost luggage. ‘Just in case’–I so get that thinking! Packing light, but as Pegret (above) says, having an art supply store nearby could be a lifesaver. Good luck!
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Thanks Lois! Lost luggage is not usually an issue here but this summer is filled with travel surprises! I will certainly be packing light!
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I always use a Coroplast bd. Works just fine.
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I have several and they will be coming along with me! Thanks Bill.
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Carry on only can be a challenge and takes some advance planning for sure. Depending on where you are going, you could consider the flat rate box from Canada Post (for shipping within Canada). Relatively inexpensive to send to your destination, and you could have some of the items that you’d normally put in checked luggage arrive ahead of you.
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That’s a great idea Cindy. My problem is that I started thinking about all of this way to late to ship anything for my next trip which is on Saturday. Fortunately I have a very kind friend who is driving to Madeline Island and has offered to carry a few things for me! So generous of her!
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Wow, what a cool chair. I love hearing these tales. As for carry-on, you can do it Shari! You will manage with what you have. You could teach a great deal with just a pencil and sketchbook. 😀
Alison
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Alison, thank you for that. I appreciate your vote of confidence. And yes, it is a cool chair. They have something similar at MEC if ever you are looking for a Canadian supplier.
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Tough to change well grooved habits but like everything else you take on I know you’ll find a way to do it and wow us just the same!
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Tony, thanks. I feel like I can do it. And I have so many great suggestions in the comments too!!
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I’m in Alison’s “camp”- you are an amazing artist and teacher. I absorbed so much from you by just listening!
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Denise, thanks. I had never thought about talking my way through a painting demo : ) That would really make a light suitcase!
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Oh, the joys & woes of travelling light !!!! You are smart – and maybe it will become a long-term habit :).
My go-tos: light Turkish towel, ultra-light down jacket, Dr. Bronner’s peppermint soap for body & laundry, Teva sandals, Talbots print skirt, my long sleeve Nivo golf sun shirt, Prana pants, wraparound linen dress :).
Would love to know others’ faves…
Art supplies – now that’s another story !!!!!!!!!
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Mary, I think it will become a long-term habit! I am determined that for my three trips this summer, I will be bringing carry-on only. I LOVE your list. I always carry my ultra-light down jacket from Uniqlo. As for the soap, never heard of it but I will be looking for that for sure. You sold me at “peppermint”. I always have a few short and long sleeve Colombia shirts that are super light and great for teaching. Maybe not as stylish as your Nivo shirt, but they do the same thing. As for your linen dress, doesn’t it get wrinkled? I have a no-iron rule on holiday, so I’m curious about that. Thanks for all the suggestions!!
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Haha….yes, it gets wrinkled – but this particular dress looks fine wrinkled if you don’t mind the “casual” look.
Good luck – the painting kit looks marvellous and you, I think, are extremely inventive :).
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Love the painting. The water is very relaxing.
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Thanks Sandi. It was very relaxing to sit there and paint that water.
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Losing luggage is a scary thought. We followed packing advice on Rick Steve’s website when we started traveling Europe; he requires everyone on his tours carry luggage. For plein air, I bought the Camptime roll-a-chair suggested by Brenda Swenson and find it wonderful! I use my portable painters pallette on my knee. I do hope all goes well whatever you choose to do. Fingers crossed for you!
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Thanks De. You can’t beat Rick Steves’s info for packing. I think I will go back there now for a refresher!!
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Hi Shari. I just flew home from Halifax with a carryon bag and napsack instead of a purse. The woman next to me on the flight said she only ever travels with carryon. If she accumulâtes items where she is going, she’ll buy a cheap bag for her dirty laundry and check that on the way home. I thought that was a great tip.
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Susan, that’s a great idea. All you need for that is a duffle bag. It’s hard not to accumulate!!
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It’s totally possible to edit the art stuff and travel light. I recently travelled to France (4 weeks) for an art workshop with Ian Fennelly. I had all my art stuff in a backpack with tiny folding stool, small palette, 2 travel brushes +2 in a toothbrush holder, collapsible water cup, 1 set of 4 drawing pens, set of grey Tombow felt tip pens, 1 watercolour sketchbook and a 10X14 watercolour block which I carried in the outside pocket of the carryon suitcase (wrapped in large freezer bag for day trips). It worked great and I didn’t even wear all the clothes that I packed!
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Peri, you are a pro! I bet you had a great time with Ian!
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Shari,
This week you’re using my set-up and I’m using yours….a easel.😂 I’m traveling by car which is less stressful than air-travel.
Hugs,
Brenda
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That’s so funny! Travelling by car is so easy in comparison. I hope you have a great time, wherever you are going!!
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So interesting to read this as I have had thoughts – a lot of them – about flying this summer. We ended up deciding to drive, but the fact is that having less is better is a lot of ways. I have been thinking seriously about what I want to bring as far as watercolor supplies on a 3 week long road trip. Tubes or pans? I am thinking of pans – Schmincke as I know they are great and have used them. Then what brushes? What paper? What size? Cups, etc. I want to have a single item that holds it all, and small, even though I will be driving. And coroplast is my go-to board for a lot of things. Just a note on that – wipe it off between paintings as stray watercolor can ruin a nice sheet of paper. Of course, teaching is a lot different than being a student – you need a lot more – and sending it may be a good idea. I am looking forward to seeing what works for you!
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N, I just wrote a new post with info about what I will be carrying in my sketch bag. Have a look. The only thing I can’t do is work from pan paints. I just find that I don’t get enough pigment. Of course that is a personal choice because fresh pans are wonderful. They just don’t work as well for me.
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Just read the new post and it looks pretty good – the beefy thingy for brushes and pens. I wonder if your lack of pigment with pan paints is the brand? I have the Schmincke and don’t feel there is a lack of pigment but more a lack of wetness, which is what tube paints deliver. It takes time and effort to get the pans wet enough for a lot of paint. By the way, how do you like the customizable Art Tool Kit palette?
These are great posts!!
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Oh, while I think about it – you could give up clothes and pack art supplies, buy clothes on your travels and send them home at the end of your trip. I don’t know about VAT etc. in Canada, but in the US it would be fine – no problem there.
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I could certainly do that but often when I travel to teach, there is no time to shop. So the clothing has to be in the bag.
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Hmmm. This will be interesting for sure! Like you, I pack more than I need – just in case. I do get you there.
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Shari,
I can’t wait for your next post. You can do this! I am able travel overseas for 10 days on a river cruise with a 21 inch suitcase with 4 wheels, a tote bag and a small small crossbody purse. I haven’t checked any luggage in 10 years… it’s liberating. Choose lightweight clothing that mixes and matches and take only 2 sketchbooks with your pared down supplies. (I recently purchased the larger Folio Palette from Art Toolkit and use Brenda Swenson’s hack of making a six well mixing area using a sheet of magnet which I can just set on the lid of my palette when it’s in use…it carries a lot of paint and it takes up no space what so ever). I look forward to each and every one of your posts. You are an inspiration!
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Cindy, I am encouraged by reading this. Yes, I have a feeling it will be liberating! I will be teaching in Europe for most of September, and I am hoping to take carry-on only. I feel like I will be able to do it!!
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I would have to do carry on too..but Im like you and pack too much:)Big responsibility art teacher/classes..I might experience some anxiety …I am sure ..you will be just perfect..Shipping isn’t always safe either;)Have fun..
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Thanks Monique! I can see from your blog that you have a lot of beautiful things that you buy in France, right? So if you are a shopper you might have a problem with a carry-on as well! As for anxiety, I always have that when I travel : )
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I’m am the Queen of “just in case” and always pack way too much! I will be traveling to Ireland in August and have been trying to pare down. I know how to prepare palettes ahead but worry about taking extra little tubes. I’ve never carried on tubes ..worried that an overzealous TSA person would declare them paint! Will look forward to hearing how you fared.
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Just lovely! You are gifted! 🙂
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thanks so much Kimmey.
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