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Author: Phil_Levine, Contributing Editor
 | To the left is one of my outdoor paintings from a Quang Ho workshop in Brittany. I was really glad that I had not ventured out too far because the winds and dark clouds really threatened with rain. This is also a consideration when packing for traveling over-seas. You will not know what kind of weather you might encounter, so try to be prepared. However, I feel it's my responsibility as a workshop organizer to arrange for indoor painting space in case of rain. I can do that in Southwestern France, Brittany and Burgundy. And that's because it's pretty unusual for folks in these regions to run into American painters. They're much more open to helping and going the extra mile for us. Not so in Paris and Provence, where American artists are ubiquitous! |
| I find it always refreshing to see how resourceful we Americans are when faced with inclement weather and we're out in the field. Still, not a bad idea to come with all-weather clothes and equipment protection, at least take along trash bags that can become instant rain gear for yourself and your equipment. Your wet canvas can be put inside an ordinary cardboard box and then placed inside the trash bag for protection until you can get back to your hotel or store inside your canvas carrier. |  |
| What are we going to paint on? Well, if you bring your pochade box there is no decision to make. Basically, you paint on small panels. Either the cheap cotton on cardboard variety or more glamorous wood veneer or foam core panels. Using the French easel, you have a greater choice. I've taken trips where I've brought staple gun, stretching pliers, several sets of stretcher bars and rolled up canvas. I would have two sets each of 16 X 20 and 24 X 20 stretchers. When I finished painting on one set I would take if off the stretchers and stretch a new canvas for the next day. Admittedly this is a heavy way to go. Probably too heavy if you're only going for a couple of weeks. It's great though if you're going to be overseas for a month or more. |
| You could bring panels manufactured by a number of American and even French companies. Some of them are really great, but expensive and damned heavy if you're carrying a bunch of them. In a ten day workshop where you will be doing two paintings a day, you would need 20 of those panels. And at the larger size, you're talking HEAVY!
Not wanting to change the subject, but having a cell phone along would not be a bad idea either. At least if you get stuck inside because of bad weather outside you can use it for part of your still life set up as I did in the painting to the right. I was in the village of Josselin in Brittany where the chateau is the remarkable center of the life. Well, I had painted enough chateaux and needed a break so I found a small cafe on a little-traveled side street. I went in and asked the owners for a couple of empty wine bottles, a free table and a glass of white wine ("and make sure you keep the glass filled" I said in French). I had fun with this painting and instead of knowing how much time it took to paint, I think it took three refills of that glass! |  |
| Probably one of the best compromises is to bring loose pre-primed canvas that you just tape to a piece of light weight foam core. Finish a painting, take it off the foam core and tape the next one on. Simple and easy. Then when you get home you can stretch them onto stretcher bars or glue them to panels. When you're ready to go home you just roll them up and stuff them into your valise. |
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