I am using an Altoid gum tin which can hold 8 half pans close together in rows of 4.  I only have 6 gouache colors so the 7th and 8th pans were filled with a piece of sponge.  My thought was that the bit of damp sponge, in the closed tin, might help with keeping some moisture in the paints. I will see if that idea pans out.

The pans are filled to the rim so the colors easily bled into the adjacent color pan. Maybe, if the pans were not so full, the bleeding may not have been a problem. I will find out as I use the palette more but for now, I removed the second sponge pan to give breathing space between them.

The only thing I had to buy for this project was the half pans for just a few dollars. I repurposed the following needed supplies: 3 empty eye shadow pans that I had saved for a possible stained glass project; two water paintbrushes and sponges from my art supplies; a magnetic clip, repurposed from the fridge where it housed a grocery list; a sock from the odd-sock bin; a few colored pencils; a fine line marker; a mechanical pencil; 2 mini binder clips; a bit of masking tape; a travel-sized spray bottle, 2 heavy duty hair bands; and a make-up bag that will hold all these supplies as well as the sketchbook.

I made a sketchbook that is 4.5"x6" and filled it with watercolor signatures. I made a chipboard cover and spine and covered the entire book with a pattern I made from one of my paintings. I just printed out my pattern on my printer and then glued it onto the chipboard using rubber cement. I also added a ribbon to the covers to tie the book closed.

I was enjoying the process of making a book so I continued with this project, otherwise, I was going to try out the rubberbands and signatures as Chris demonstrates. I like the idea of putting together a book in such a fast and simple way so I will try that for the next sketchbook I make.

 

Yesterday, I went to the park to have a try with my new paint kit. It worked great! The hairbands were used to hold both sides of the sketchbook open. This also allowed me to slip my hand through the bands on the underside of the book for hands-free holding as I painted. The hardcover seemed to help give a stable painting surface. I am seen painting on my knee because I was trying to take a selfie of the process. There just aren't enough hands to take a photo while painting.

 

The sock on the arm is a fantastic and useful item. I can dab off my brush and can mop up excess water on my page easily with the back of my sock-covered wrist without reaching for anything extra. I love that!

 

I followed up with colored pencil details on my painting. I have cut a piece of plastic lid that fits on top of my paint pans. There is a packing tape tab on the right side to easily lift up the plastic. 

 

This was a very enjoyable project from start to finish. I now have a very useful and small kit that is adaptable and can be taken anywhere. I am anxious to give this a try again. 

This was the first time I ventured to paint out somewhere. This was also the first time I have used a water brush. It takes so very little pigment on a small sketch so I will have to practice this. Though this is a rough sketch I had so much fun trying out my travel kit.

I went to a park with my small tripod stool over my shoulder and found a shady place to paint. I had the most enjoyable outdoor sketching time with my travel gouache kit.

Thank you Chris for an inspiring class. 

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