DAILY WATERCOLOUR KIT ESSENTIALS

Each time I go out on a painting holiday I come back with better ideas on how to reduce my weight but still have all the materials I need. I have downsized my daily watercolour kit and compiled it into a small shoulder bag for easy light weight transport. I thought I would share with you what I have.

• Small watercolour Journal - this one is a Strathmore Watercolour journal approx. 20cm x 14cm with a soft cover. It retails at about $34.99 and has the ability to be painted on both sides and will lie flat making a long landscape painting possible. I will also be looking into the Moleskine Watercolour Album Hardcover 72 pages retailing for approx. $39.95. I made 2 elastic bands from dressmakers elastic to hold the pages in place in windy weather. Pop a couple of pieces of baking paper 20cm x 14cm into the back of your journal just in case you have to close it before it is dry to protect the opposite page.
• Small plastic palette approx 10cm x 20cm holding 20 of my most used colours squeezed from tubes of my favorite Daniel Smith Watercolours. I also take along a zip lock bag to pop my palette into to avoid any accidental spills when it is time to pack up.
• Spray bottle from one of the Dollar Stores or an empty glasses cleaner bottle for spraying your palette to reactivate the paint.
• Also I take along a small resealable container approx. 4cm for clean water and washing brushes available for a few dollars from the Dollar Stores.
• Tissues - One packet of the travel series will suffice. This will allow you to dab any excess water off and also for stripping excess water from your brush.
• Kneadable eraser to remove any unwanted sketch pencil marks. The Kneadable eraser will not disturb the fibers of the paper keeping the integrity of the paper surface intact.
• Faber Castell Pitt Artist Pen Set of 4 retails approx 19.00. These are waterproof, permanent, odourless, acid free, black and come in 4 different thicknesses. Great for sketching and putting in the final details.
• Set of watercolour brushes. The set I carry can be filled with water and come in Small Medium and Large. The Art Studio Aqua Brush Set retails approx. $15.00. These are easy to use and you can take your own water supply with you.
• Carry Bag. This one I purchased from a travel store for a different purpose and I have now found an alternative use for it but you don't have to go this far. Look for a bag you can swing over your shoulder leaving your hands free to clamber over rocks etc getting to your favourite spot. Take your sketch book with you along with your palette when buying your bag to make sure they will fit comfortably into the bag along with your brushes and tools.
  
• Colour Wheel - small
  
• Remember travel LIGHT AS YOU CAN and enjoy.