When you travel do you, like me, bring supplies to keep the momentum going? Or do you find it more restful to take a break from your work?
Before we left for Maine I put a lot of thought into what art supplies and books to bring along. A trip that involves a flight is a no-brainer because space and weight are such an issue. In that case I’m pretty good about paring down to a workable minimum, having devised a convenient, lightweight art travel kit.
I have been reading about these sketchbooks for months and decided it was time to give one a try. The heavyweight paper will take light washes of water media in addition to pen & ink.
But journeys in the car are another beast altogether. Heading to Maine other years, my accepting husband has said nothing as I lugged assorted weighty bags of materials and reading matter to cram in with the clothes, food, bike and kayak gear. There is usually at least one rainy day when I can get lost in art — and I want to be sure to be prepared.
Extra space means I can be liberal with the pens and brushes I include, and can even stick in a largish collapsible water container.
This time I was trying to be more conservative with what I brought, not knowing how much time there would be to work, or space for doing it. Books, however, are my Achilles’ heel; I can’t imagine a vacation without plenty to read! Here’s a taste of what came with me:
I am a devoted fan of Katherine Tyrrell’s work and her blog Making a Mark. She is an English artist who is unsurpassed in her generosity with information. Her relatively new book is one you can dive into on any page to be off and running. It lends itself well to short windows of reading time.
I learned about this book from one of the artist interviews on Antrese Wood’s Savvy Painter podcast. It’s every bit as informative as promised. And I was happy to discover that author Richard Scott was also interviewed by Wood. If you have time, give it a listen — especially if you are working on your drawing habit.
My one splurge, weight-wise, was this wonderful survey of David Hockney’s pictures – it’s exactly the type of book I like to bring or find on vacation!
Bottom line: I still over-packed. We had glorious weather and much to do, so I was limited to squeezing quick sketches in around other activities, and only had a few isolated hours to really buckle down. But I found a bonus in the cottage we rented: a wonderful book about Degas that went into great depth surrounding the back story of his life and paintings. How great to have the time one evening to soak it up! That’s what vacation is all about.
Goose Cove, Maine ©2015 Elizabeth Fram
I am the exact opposite of you, Elizabeth. I’m an under-packer. I tend to want to get out of the house so fast that I leave lots of stuff behind and end up buying whatever I’ve forgotten once I get where I’m going. Sometimes I like to bring my iPad for sketching. Paper and drawing tools all in one.
Hi Marie, I like the idea of the simplicity of the iPad – but do you find it’s difficult to work with in sunlight?
We usually fly to our vacation destinations, and have to pack lots of snorkelling gear, so space for art work is at a premium. However, I have had a few vacations where there was not enough fabric around me and I literally went into withdrawal! Never again. Last trip, I devised a plan that really worked and that is now my new travel regimen. I pre-fuse a lot of fabric, pack a small-ish cutting mat, rotary cutter, scissors, a few other necessities, and then I work each morning in our rental unit fusing little compositions. With the leftovers I make tiny (4″ x 4″ or so) fused blocks that can find their way into future compositions. It makes for the perfect mix of art work and vacationing.
Sounds like a great plan for working loosely and intuitively, Marya…perfect for vacation!
Not as excited about Tyrrell’s work as I am about your lovely sketch of Goose Cove. You have mastered the subtleties of lines and intensity of strokes. When I come to MI for the summer I tell myself to let what I see around the cottage (outdoors) set the direction for my work here. I do not come with a plan. I bring a favorite sketch book and good pens now that the local art store is out of business. My colored pencils are in residence here so all I bring are fresh boards for drawings. Dianne
And, Dianne, you also utilize the natural matter around you (seed pods, grasses, stones, etc) — which I think is a brilliant way to work “within a place” — maximizing your art practice in a different environment.
Thanks for the kind words re: the sketch 🙂
Just binge-read weeks of your posts. Thunderstruck by the eloquence and wisdom to be found. As always, admiring your elegant work in process and eager to see the whole…in the cloth.
Wow Elly – such a lovely compliment! Thank you. And now I’m off to your blog…