Since Tricia just had a birthday and it is so cold here in Normandie it seemed logical to head for a couple weeks in warmer Spain. Friday we are off to Paris for a few days, lunch with friends who live there, then on to Valencia and ending up in Peniscola.

I am getting things ready to go, looking forward to some outdoor sketching time, which has been hard to come by this winter. It has been a long time since I have posted about my travel kit, which does change a bit from time to time, so it seemed a good thing to post.

Of course it is small and light, as is all of my packing. On our return from the US our bags were far too heavy for my preference, lugging them on and off trains makes one appreciate the wisdom of going light, art supplies are no exception. I apply the same logic to art as clothing, if it is “something I might need” it is probably left behind – creativity includes finding workarounds. So here is what I am taking on this trip.

Paints Let’s start with paints. I have used the Art Toolkit pallet for many years now, their company has grown but it is still the best small pallet out there. I will top off the pans before leaving and I will be set.

On a recent trip to the south of France I used gouache again,, but in tubes, which i just don’t like for travel and urban sketching, too bothersome. I tried filling an Art Toolkit with gouache but it does not act as well as watercolor so am leaving it behind. However Caran d’Ache makes a travel gouache pallet and since there are a couple of art supply stores near us in Paris I will check that out. I like the opaque quality of gouache, so we will see.

Brushes My favorite waterbrush is the Faber Castell, only the Pentel brand even comes close. Every other brand I have tried leaks or has flow issues. I rarely use any other brush for watercolor.

This trip I will take my #4 Escoda Riserva, it will work better with gouach.

Pens and Pencil My go-to sketch pen is the Duke Confucius Fude pen, easily 80% of my sketching is done with this. I do love my TWSBI for when I want just a fine line. Both are filled with Platinum Carbon ink.

I do carry a 0.2 fine line waterproof for putting ink on top of dried watercolor.

A Blackwing pencil for laying things out and notes, and for any other time I can find a reason to use these wonderful pencils. If you know Blackwing you understand how that works, if you think “aren’t they just a pencil?” – well I guess I will just sigh.

Sketchbooks and paper My main sketchbook is a 13.5x21cm Moleskine Art. It is where I keep a bit of a journal of the journey.

I like to have some watercolor paper for paintings and such that just seem to work outside of the travel journal, or for a rare gift. I found this one at a shop in Saint Remy last October, it is 10x16cm, 300gr, fine grain.

The 7.4x10cm Bamboo paper is for the small sketches I do for servers, flight attendants, and just people I meet along the way, with my details on the back they act as a business card as well.

All of this fits easily in my small shoulder bag, with room for my iPad and Apple Pencil should digital sketching or reading be in order. At times I can stuff a couple things in my pocket and get along quite well without even carrying a bag, c’est parfait.

One thing I never tire of is making cards for people, so on the way out of town we will drop a couple of cards in the mail for our niece and nephew back in seattle.

Safe travels wherever your journeys may take you, near or far, and happy sketching.