New Toy - The Pocket Palette by Expeditionary Art

Just received this in the mail and am so excited!!!!  I couldn't believe how fast the order was filled and sent out to me.

Now I just need to figure out the layout I want and the colors I want to put into it.

I ordered the basic pocket palette and then one package each of the different size pans you can place in the case.  It's magnetic base so it's super easy to add or remove the pans.

A business card is included just to show how big (or little) this palette actually is.

UPDATED IMAGE - showing size relationship to full and half pans:

If the mixing area is not enough (which for me never is with any palette I use), I just use a white piece of plexiglass I often carry with me in my sketch kit.

This will be perfect for quick sketching / slap color over ink sketching :-)

Expeditionary Art - Art Tool Kit

Revisit to Sketching Supplies and Kits

I think part of the love of sketching is not just filling sketchbooks and journals but also collecting various supplies and putting together a variety of kits one can use for going out sketching and painting.  It's almost like an addiction for me and I'm always surfing the net for new ideas..........lol.

I have several related posts under the key word (sketch kits) 

1)  This first photo shows only a sampler of the various sketchbooks and journals I use.  From back to forward and left to right.......

Sennelier Accordion sketchbook / Stillman and Birn spiral Beta; Sewn Hardback Delta; spiral Epsilon; and Sewn Hardback Alpha / Strathmore Tinted Sketchbooks; Global Handbook; Moleskine; Handmade Leather Journal / Itoya Presentation Folders with clear sleeves to slide your work down into / Langton Spiral Watercolor Pad; Handmade Journal; Visual Journal by Strathmore / Handsewn Hardback Journal; Spiral Handmade Journal; Handmade Accordion Journal

2)  Traveling Kit using a passport neck carrier.  Perfect for a small sketchbook, small palette, pens, pencil, eraser, tissue tucked down inside, putty eraser, and a waterbrush.

3)  Accruasee Strap- On Sketch Caddie:  Small palette, waterbrush, pens/pencils, putty eraser, tissue.  This sketch caddie has an elastic strap that wraps around the front cover of a sketchbook.

4)  Collection of pre-made palettes and those customized using old children's paint kits, crayon tins, and Altoid tin boxes.  With the pre-made palettes, I often customize them as well using empty half and full pans if the cases do not have molded pan inserts (like the Winsor & Newton Pocket Palette).

5)  One of my favorites - Lihit Lab Pen Case:  Left inside carries my pens and pencils.  The middle flap where you can add additional pens, I use to hang a small portrait Stillman and Birn journal, and behind the middle flap, I have tissue, q-tips, and a paper stump on the left and palette, travel brushes and putty eraser on the right.

6)  One of my day to day handbags (current link as of 07/25/2022) I carry everywhere (my purse).  I always have pens, pencil, eraser, small tissue, waterbrush, customized thin palette and small journal with me at all times.  Inside the zippered compartment I can fit a 5 x 7 journal, small wallet, bottle of IB, and other small items I might need.  The back is where I carry my cell phone.

Keys and camera are attached to the outside with carabiner hooks......accessible at all times.

7)  Another favorite is this canvas tool bag purchased from Harbor Freight for about $10.  I take this one if I don't have a long distance walk ahead of me (I prefer something with a shoulder strap for any walking I might have to do).  I carry the green Lihit Lab Pen case full of sketching gear (as shown above), coffee and water on either side, large Journal, heavy duty cardboard with clips I can use for a mini lap table, white plexiglass sheet (about 8 x 10) I use as a mixing surface, collapsible water bowl, smaller journal on outside pocket, nylon bag with pens and brushes, a larger folding palette, folded paper towels, tissue, hand cleaner, small mister bottle........and still have plenty of room for more stuff if needed.

Latest Sketching Bag / Handbag

As most sketchers can relate with, I'm always looking for that "perfect" sketching bag.  I have several for various occasions..........some carrying more or less depending upon where I'm going, how far I have to walk from the car, etc.  I'm still looking for one I can carry all the time that also works as a normal handbag.

This so far comes the closest but wish it were about another inch larger all the way around.  Not too big but bigger than this one, which is 9 x 7 x 3.

Although I can carry my 5 x 7 hand sewn journal in the main compartment, it competes for space with my overly thick wallet (I use a man's tri-fold).   Recently I found a "mini" wallet I can carry one card, my license, and a few dollars cash which should work out beautifully but haven't used it yet.  I bought that for when I know I'm going out sketching a head of time and only want to carry the bare minimum in case robbed (and yes I think about that after my youngest son was robbed a few weeks ago).

I don't carry a lot of garbage in my handbag.....wallet, IB, keys, maybe lip balm, cell phone, and camera at times.  I wanted a bag large enough to where I can carry at least a pen, pencil, and small sketchbook with me at all times.  This works beautifully for that just mentioned.  But then it starts getting quite crowded with extras like folded paper towel, tissue, several pens, waterbrushes and palette.

For now this will work but I will continue to search for that perfect bag :-)

Oh Nooooooo, Not Another Gadget - Portable Painter Indiegogo Campaign

As if I really needed more in the way of art supplies!!!  I couldn't resist this new find after seeing it posted by another member on the Facebook Artists' Journal Workshop Group.

Note:  My own personal photos after receiving this today.  Better photos can be found with the link at the bottom of this post)

This compact little palette (the size of today's mobile phones), opens up and is put together to fit across your leg.

It comes with a double ended travel brush which looks like a size 2 and size 4 round.

The two end pieces act as water cups and each have an indent where you can lay the brush across when not in use.

It comes with removable 1/2 pans you can fill with tube paint.  It WILL hold the W&N 1/2 pans but other empty 1/2 pans may not fit down in the slots..........but the ones I have will still sit most of the way down in the slots and the palette will still close.

The only drawback I can see at this point is that little metal clip that closes the case up.  Someone like me could easily lose that piece when palette is in use.

UPDATE:  Going to see how this holds up to save from losing the metal clip while palette is in use.  It's a camera lens cover keeper.  Attached is a carbine hook I can quickly hook to my jeans belt loop or a loop/ring on my bag.

And if I were to make a suggestion to the creator of this little palette, it would be to consider offering one to hold whole pans for those who prefer them over the half pans.

 

Closed up next to a Samsung S5 Cell Phone

The set comes with empty half pans you can fill yourself, but just to show W&N half pans fit perfectly in this portable painter

For more information about this little jewel..............

Portable Palette Campaign On Indiegogo

Another noteworthy tidbit of information, if you need to write the founder/creator of this palette, they are quick to respond.

Another Sketching Kit

I'm such a sucker for finding or creating different traveling sketching kits and this is one of my new ones.  I've had a chance to try it out and works nicely.

It's large enough to carry the most important things for me and yet small enough to fit in my small denim handbag.  Overall size (closed) is 5 x 8 x 2.5 (roughly).

NOTE:  Where to buy:

Strathmore Visual Journal, Lamy Safari pen, DS watercolors, and Albrecht Durer wc pencils

Front has two little pockets, one of which I can carry a few business cards.

Where the Stillman & Birn small journal is here in my kit is actually another area for pens and pencils.  The loop that goes across was perfect for this little landscape oriented journal.

On the left are three little mesh pockets I have yet to decide on what to place there.

Just showing the back - no pockets.

The only thing I wish it had is a carrying strap.

Darsie Beck Field Easel Art Bag - UPDATE

What I have done to make this bag even more convenient for myself.  Here is the original post when I first received the bag........

http://sbwatercolors.blogspot.com/2015/07/new-toy-darsie-beck-field-easel-art-bag.html

Here is how I've set it up.......(click on each for a larger size image)

1)  The strap by itself has ribbed material that I felt was too uncomfortable around my neck and shoulder.  I purchased the strap wrap through Amazon which has made a huge difference in comfort.

2)  Cut the backing from a watercolor block down in size to fit in the back pocket and added four bull clips.......two medium and two large.  Later picture will show what I use them for.

3)  Another angle of bag with sketching gear.

4)  Inside has my 5 x 7 sketch journal, wallet, tool pouch you attach to strap with velcro (comes that way), and painting palette I created using a NeoColor II tin.

5)  Also purchased this Cacoon Grid it Organizer from Amazon.  I have that for additional sketching tools but primary reason I bought it was to add stability to the bag itself for when I use the easel.  This goes into the under flap zippered compartment.

6)  That compartment zipped closed.  Partially showing on either side of the bag is a tiny flask with water (left as you view this) and camera and keys attached on the other side.  In mesh pockets are tissues and folded paper towel plus the top cut off of a sock to wear on my wrist to wipe my waterbrush on between colors.

7)  This shows what I use that watercolor block backing cut down I have clips attached to.  This gives me added room making easel area wider.  I slip the backing board inside the back cover of my journal; the two larger clips holding journal, backing board to easel flap of bag, and then the medium clips holding my palette in place.

8)  My husband modeling for me :-)

The Nomad Artist Satchel

I've held off writing about this only because I've tried very hard to like it and say all good things about it.  Unfortunately, it is not going to work for me.

When the first kickstarter came out selling this satchel, I was interested but wanted to wait until others had actually tried it.  Plus at the time it was a bit pricey for our financial situation.

A friend in one of my groups had purchased from the first kickstarter and decided it wasn't for her and offered to sell it to me.  Although interested, again bad timing.

At a later time, I had my name added to a mailing list showing interest should the Nomad be offered again and missed out on a limited supply that remained after the first kickstarter.

Then last year orders were being taken by those who were interested in pre-ordering a second production and I decided to go ahead and purchase even though the price had gone up.  The gentleman selling these Nomads was super good at keeping us all informed with updates on every step of preparation and production until months later they were finished and shipped out.

The concept is wonderful and if you really would like to know more about it, this link to their site would better explain it.  What I found to be a problem might not be for other folks.

http://www.nomad-artist.com/

And here is one of several videos showing the Nomad and what you can carry in it and how you use it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLPIBypynvY

My personal findings:

1)  The satchel appears to be made with good materials and craftsmanship minus an issue I found with mine I'll explain later.

2)  I find for me the satchel to be a bit on the heavy side even without anything added to it.  I can't even imagine the weight once it's loaded with materials I'd like to put in it.  But in all fairness, what might be heavy for one person may not be to another.

3)  Personally, I would have liked it better if a little roomier inside.  Even without anything in it, it's "full" just with the inserts.  Once art supplies are added, along with a paper sketchpad, it bulges.  So much so that I wouldn't want to take a chance adding an ipad to the outside padded pocket that is shown on site and/or in the video.  I would also worry about extended stress on the outer zipper over time and whether it would hold up or not.

4)  There are two inserts that have these bands (one on either side of the case...one with vertical bands and one with horizontal bands......that velcro to the inside front and back covers.  One side has the zippered netting that helps keep supplies in place.  Major problem with mine is the fact these inserts are cut too close to the overall size of the satchel making it difficult to zip closed.  The banded insert on the side of the zippered netting is too large for the area and to make it fit causes the center to buckle (won't lay flat).  Even then, I struggle zipping the netting without catching the edge of the insert.

Because of this buckling, anything I place on that side is going to be pushed into the other side where the sketch pad is.  To me that might present a problem marring the pad with dents or impressions, etc.  No way could I consider putting a thicker journal or sketchbook (which I would prefer over a sketch pad).

Not sure if all are like this or if only a few.  Maybe this second order production is different from the first because pictures I saw showed the inserts that hold the sketch pad and supplies to be smaller than the overall case.

5)  I love the fact it has the tripod adapter plate and I love the idea of the sling making it into a portable table.  Unfortunately the most important aspect of any satchel is being able to take the materials needed when out sketching on location and for me it's not going to work with the satchel I received.


This photo is one angle showing the bow or buckle with the insert in place.

Second photo with it laying flat on the table surface and how it bows.

Shows just how close the insert fits compared to the overall size of the satchel and zipper.

Conclusion:

I'm actually sorry I spent the money for this.  Great concept but............falls short for what I need and to my liking.

I actually prefer the Darsie Field Bag over this and it's less expensive.

http://sbwatercolors.blogspot.com/2015/07/new-toy-darsie-beck-field-easel-art-bag.html

New Brush Set by MyArtscape

Always looking for new travel sketching toys, I came across this brush set on Amazon, manufactured by MyArtscape (aka Pegasus Guild).

What I liked about this set are the ultra short brush handles and the nice travel case they come in.  The brushes themselves are about 5 3/4" from tip of brush to bottom of handle.

Click on each picture and you can see a larger image.......

 

Upon receipt of this set, I discovered one little issue and that was the ferrules on five out of the seven brushes felt loose and "rocked" a bit on the handles.  Initially I was rather disappointed but it's an easy fix adding a bit of glue to secure those loose ferrules and the brush hairs really appear to be of a good quality.............and honestly speaking, the price is very reasonable.

With the discovery of the loose ferrules, I submitted a review on Amazon about my disappointment and to my surprise I received a response (soon after the review went live) on Amazon as well as an email from the manufacturer reaching out to me about what I had written about.

MyArtscape's customer service is superb!  It's not every day a company writes to the customer.........normally it's the other way around when a problem arises.  Quality control and customer satisfaction is very important to this company and I find that to be an extreme positive attribute!  They were quick to want to make things right for me and said their production and quality of these brushes would be followed up on.

One of the biggest pluses (to me) with this set is the case itself....especially the size.  Because I'm always looking for new ideas for small sketching travel kits, it took no time to come up with this idea.

One can lay a small moleskine watercolor sketchbook inside between brush area and the flap that folds over and closes with the magnetic closure (which I love).  Close that up and then slide a thin watercolor palette (in my case a converted NeoColor II tin) and pull the string tight to secure the palette in place.  Perfect little glove box or grab and go sketching kit.

As for the brushes, one might find they prefer to carry other sketching tools in addition to a couple or instead of the brushes that come with the set.  In my case, I chose to include the small flat and liner brush that came with the set and replaced the other brushes with tortillion, Micron pen, Waterbrush, Platinum Carbon Pen (cut down to size), and mechanical pencil.

Am I happy with my purchase???  YES, I am!  I even made a few marks on paper with each of the brushes and liked my initial feel of how they performed.  The flats have nice flat and crisp edges and the rounds are nicely pointed.  Of course I'll know more after I've used them a few to several times if they maintain the nice edges and points.  :-)

Note:  The set includes a 1/2" rake brush (believe that's what it's called).

Example page worked in the Strathmore Watercolor Journal.