62 artistMay 2020 http://www.painters-online.co.uk
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outside. They can be a bit heavy to
carry so if weight is a consideration, the
half easel or Open Box M style pochade
is better. If I’m painting sunrises or a
nocturne, I attach a light.
Sketchbook, pencils and
viewfi nder
Whether you take a sketchbook will
depend on how important it is for you
to sketch. I always carry a small one:
the A5 Seawhite Starter Sketchbook is a
good option. A viewfi nder can be really
helpful for composing, especially with a
new subject.
Extras
It is hard to focus on painting if you are
not comfortable. Wear layers of clothing
as well as a warm and/or peaked hat
and gloves, and decent walking shoes.
You may need sun cream, insect
repellent, snacks and a reusable
water bottle/fl ask.
If you have a French pochade you
might need a small backpack as the
paints and brushes fi t into the pochade.
With an Open Box M type pochade you
will need a bag to carry it. I use a laptop
backpack with wheels (bought on eBay).
If your bag is even slightly heavy it is
really helpful to be able to take the
weight off your shoulders.Travelling by air
Any product or material with a fl ash
point below 61° Celsius is classifi ed as
dangerous goods, and those products
cannot be transported by air, even
in the hold. The fl ash point is the
temperature at which a product will
fl ame, therefore a higher fl ash point is
better; for example, Winsor & Newton
state that the fl ash point of their Artist
oil colours is greater than 230º Celsius,
which makes them safe for air travel.
However, do check with your airline as
some are more picky than others.Do as much as possible to maximise
your chances of arriving at your
destination with your painting
accessories. There is a lot of information
online – type in ‘fl ying with oil paints’.
Gamblin (https://gamblincolors.
com) and Making a Mark (https://
makingamark.blogspot.com) have
good articles. Pack the paints in a clear,
sealable plastic container and label
the outside ‘Artists colours made with
vegetable oil’ (never say paint.) Inside
the box include a safety information
sheet, which states the fl ash point of
the paint. Most manufacturers have
these on their websites.
Pack your palette knife in your hold
luggage – don’t carry it in hand luggage.
You cannot fl y with normal solvents,
although there are some fl y-friendly
options such as Sennelier’s Green for
Oil range; I have used the medium and
was impressed. Zest-it is also safe to
fl y with and there are a lot of products
in the range. M. Graham walnut/alkyd
medium has a fl ash point of 215 º
Celsius, so it’s safe. Again, these should
be packed in a clear, sealable container
with a safety information sheet to show
what you are fl ying with.Subject preparation
Before you leave home, search
for possible subjects to help with
inspiration and ideas at your painting
destination. For instance, try searching
social media with the relevant hashtag,
eg #venicepaintings. You can look at the
local views on Google Maps.
Sun Seeker is an excellent app for
iPhone (Sun Calc for Android) that helps
you work out the sun direction at any
time of the day on any date you choose
for your subject. It can prevent wasted
trips.
Looking at books by artists you admire
can offer inspiration. For example, if
I were planning a London trip I might
dig out Peter Brown’s London book for
inspiration.At your destination
When overseas the fi rst thing an oil
painter should do is fi nd a hardware
or art shop and buy brush cleaning
solvent. Check Google maps for art
shops or hardware shops before you go;
make a note of the word for solvent in
the local language, too! I usually take
my sketchbook and just walk around,
looking for subjects: drawing, notingPalette Garage, which comes with
a plastic tube to store it in, on my
Open Box M pochade
Oil paints and equipment must be securely
packed and put in your hold luggage. Use
sealable clear containers and label them
accordingly