Here is a list of suggested materials.
Easels: There are many types to choose from. If you already have one and are familiar with it or have traveled with it before bring it! If not here are some to look at https://www.1worldarttravel.com/easels.html There are also the very simple and
lightweight aluminum field easels you can use. This is but one example. With this one you will have to find a place to place your palette while you're painting. If you're carrying your stuff in a wheelie you can set your palette on that. Depends on whether you're sitting or standing.
Easels: There are many types to choose from. If you already have one and are familiar with it or have traveled with it before bring it! If not here are some to look at https://www.1worldarttravel.com/easels.html There are also the very simple and
lightweight aluminum field easels you can use. This is but one example. With this one you will have to find a place to place your palette while you're painting. If you're carrying your stuff in a wheelie you can set your palette on that. Depends on whether you're sitting or standing.
Paints: I believe that you should paint with the colors that you're familiar with rather than trying a whole new palette. These are only suggestions. You can paint with a limited palette of as few as 6 colors if you'd like to keep it simple. Any white will do, then plan on one of each of the primary colors of blue, red and yellow. Blue can be cobalt, ultramarine or pthalo. Red can be cad red light or a substitute, yellow can be cad yellow light or a substitute. Burnt sienna and yellow ochre are good colors to have as is a green like viridian or sap green. Maybe a violet as well. Try and avoid the colors that are 'hues'; ie: cadmium yellow hue. They're kinda weak. Don't think you have to bring a gazillion colors. Keep it simple. You CAN learn to make any color you want by using a relatively limited palette. If you have any questions about the paints you have please let me know.
If you're planning to paint with watercolors please let me know the set up you plan to bring: colors, easel, paper, brushes, palette, etc. I really want to get a look at your equipment before we get there.
Brushes: I like to use as few brushes as I can. I recommend hog hair bristle brushes of various sizes: 2, 4 ,6 and 8 should do. Two of each. This is plein air painting not studio painting so Keep It Simple.
Canvas: There are several ways you can go here. If you're coming with a pochade box that can hold only one size canvas you can bring something like the Fredrix cotton panels to paint on. There are other options as well but these are the least expensive. They're not permanent - although the word 'permanent' is misleading. I have paintings I've done on these that have lasted decades. It's just that they're not gonna be in museums anytime soon!
I've gone on painting trips this way: I bring along one larger cotton panel, say 16 x 20 or larger. Then I cut pieces of canvas (of a size that will fit on my 16 x 20 panel) before leaving home. When I get to my hotel I tape a piece of that canvas onto the panel with ordinary masking tape.
I paint on that and when finished I just take it off and tape on another one. Instead of taping canvas onto the panel you can tape on
these paper canvases. When you get back to your hotel room or apartment you can tape these onto the wall (but you must be careful not to damage the the wall).
I paint on that and when finished I just take it off and tape on another one. Instead of taping canvas onto the panel you can tape on
these paper canvases. When you get back to your hotel room or apartment you can tape these onto the wall (but you must be careful not to damage the the wall).
Miscellaneous:
Palette for your easel: Some easels (French easels and pochade boxes) come with palettes to squeeze out your paint on. Some are wooden, some are plexiglass and some are glass. Glass is the most effective because it's so easy to scrape away paint from your palette with a razor scraper. Lots of folks don't like taking glass because of the danger of it breaking. Tempered glass works pretty well and is durable. If you don't want to deal with that just bring
disposable paper palette pads - easy enough!
Palette for your easel: Some easels (French easels and pochade boxes) come with palettes to squeeze out your paint on. Some are wooden, some are plexiglass and some are glass. Glass is the most effective because it's so easy to scrape away paint from your palette with a razor scraper. Lots of folks don't like taking glass because of the danger of it breaking. Tempered glass works pretty well and is durable. If you don't want to deal with that just bring
disposable paper palette pads - easy enough!
Paint thinner: Gamblin does sell one that is safe to fly and odor free. It's called Gamsol and you can get it at Dick Blick https://www.dickblick.com/products/gamblin-gamsol-odorless-mineral-spirits/ or Amazon.
Turp Jar: This is for your paint thinner to clean your brushes as you paint. Bring one that doesn't leak - these have gaskets and seal quite well. This one is available on Amazon.
When you're driving yourself nuts trying to figure out exactly what to paint, you might want to bring this lovely tools - View Catcher.
Questions to ask yourself (or me): where are you gonna put your turp jar when you're painting? Hanging from your easel?
Miscellaneous
*What are you gonna do with the soiled paper towels? - Well, just bring some supermarket plastic bags with you.
*A hat and raincoat just in case.
*Paper Towels: You could get them in Italy but I find they're nothing like our Bounty or Brawny or Viva. You might want to bring a roll.
*Soap to clean your brushes and perhaps a small jar of Masters Brush Cleaner to keep them like new.
*An apron if you like to sling the paint around and get it everywhere except on the canvas!
Miscellaneous
*What are you gonna do with the soiled paper towels? - Well, just bring some supermarket plastic bags with you.
*A hat and raincoat just in case.
*Paper Towels: You could get them in Italy but I find they're nothing like our Bounty or Brawny or Viva. You might want to bring a roll.
*Soap to clean your brushes and perhaps a small jar of Masters Brush Cleaner to keep them like new.
*An apron if you like to sling the paint around and get it everywhere except on the canvas!
Do you sit or stand when painting? If you sit this 1.9 lb tripod folding stool could work for you. It's from Bass Pro Shops but there are also others out there. I like this one because it's only $9.95