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Ready to Sketch

This lightweight, minimal travel sketch kit fits in my purse. Whether sitting or standing, I need my painting materials to attach to a support board.

 

This 8x10 lightweight corrugated plastic ‘sign’ board acts like a clipboard. Previously I clipped my palette to a heavy clipboard, but I am now using a magnetic strip on this lightweight board to attach my palette and sponge. (I recycled the magnetic strip from a wedding ‘save the date’ magnet.) These small ‘Kiss With Confidence’ mint tins from Bed Bath & Beyond make great palettes. This tin has a slight ridge around the bottom, but the lid is flat and hangs on tight to the magnetic strip. The approx. 3” x 3” x 1/2” size holds 15 half pans (Daniel Smith) or 8 whole pans. I especially like the shallow profile and how the lid lies flat. For the mixing lid, I rubber-cemented in Yupo paper instead of spray painting the inside surface. Yupo paper also provides a smooth surface if the lid has embossed lettering.

 

I added a sponge in the tiny Altoids tin to wipe my brush; it also gives me a second mixing area.

 

My vintage metal Prang palette is flat-bottomed and works well with this magnetic board, so does the Altoid tin. The Schmincke palette and WN Bijou box have feet and a thumb-ring on their bottoms so will not stick. However, the lid of the popular Schmincke palette (the one that Liz uses) will stick to the magnetic strip, but slides off when placed sideways across the top of the board, requiring the other end to be clipped. I am still considering removing the Schmincke secondary mixing lid to make it more compact on my board.

 

Any suggestions of sketching supplies you can’t do without when traveling?

 

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Uploaded on September 1, 2012
Taken on August 28, 2012