Plein Air Painting

Is she doing water color or something else? My mom travels with a sketch book and a small collection of pastels. Pam

Haven't used it myself, but www.jerrysartarama.com has a small (13x6x2) watercolor paint box that might do. I travel with a watercolor block and several small paint tubes, travel brush and a couple other odds and ends in a metal pencil box. Use the lid for a palette, water in the other side or a cup or whatever's handy. Recently took a class with a teacher who has traveled with as little as 6 paints in waterbottle lids glued into an Altoids box and a Niji waterbrush that holds water in the handle of the brush. Now that's traveling light!

Sorry, I've never used oils so I've no idea of the drying time. Watercolors, especially if you work pretty "dry" like I do, dry pretty quickly if you blow on them a little. My little watercolor blocks have a cover that folds back over them so I can carefully put them in my bag when I'm done. I'll bet there's an oil painters blog/forum out there somewhere that might give you a better answer.

She should consider acrylics if she likes the look of oils, but not the terribly long dry time. Take a few tubes of the primary colors, black and white and she can make all colors from those. I would suggest a mounted canvas board in a size that she can fit into the bottom of her suitcase to bring home, or she could use unmounted but pre gessoed canvas and tape it to a board while she paints, then discard the board and roll up the canvases to bring home in a tube.
If she want to try something else, she can always bring watercolor paper, permanent sharpies and watercolor pencils. Sketching/drawing with the permanent markers, then do a watercolor wash with the pencils. Easy and not too messy.

Dawn, if your mom really wants to travel with oil paint take a look at blog.oilpaintersofamerica.com. I did a search and came up with a July 30, 2012 entry by Jane Barton "Art in Cuba and the Traveling Painter". If you scroll down a bit she gives lots of information about how to label the paints so TSA lets them through, how to transport wet canvases, what supplies you cannot bring, and a lot of other information.

She's like to use oils, but may settle for watercolors or pencils.

Wow what a great idea! She would prefer oils. Maybe we can fashion something out of water bottle covers...the real issue is a wet canvas and bringing it home.Thoughts?
Thanks

Thanks so much. All great advice. She did mention today that acrylics may be an option. She's going to give them a try tomorrow. I will also check out the website giving advice on painting and travel. Thanks and Happy Trails,
Dawn

There are some really interesting stuff available now. I would go to an art store and inquire about watercolor pencils. I think that there are also some pastels that are oil based. All would dry faster. I think that problem with oils in the traditional sense is that they would have to be checked. Also, if she does think it might be fun to try these, she'll want to experiment before she goes. My mom is in her 80's also and she's enjoyed experimenting. I'm sure that your mom will too! Pam

Hi Dawn, I spoke with my mom tonight and she told me that she got her travel bag for Winsor & Newton art supply. Here's the link to the kit http://www.winsornewton.com/products.aspx?PageID=163&ProductID=648. It comes with a very cute wee water bag that fold up, plus brushes and other water color supplies. Mom says that she found sketching with pen and ink and water color the easiest. It's easier than pastel and way easer than traveling with oils. So, I hope this helps. Pam

Thanks for checking Pam. I will take a look. Mostly materials have to be light and quick-dry. I did just get her the Walkstool for seating, as long as she's comfortable we're all happy.
Dawn