Creative Immersion Retreat, Isla Mujeres, Mexico
Art SuppliesDemonstrations will be on drawing and watercolor, but you may work in ANY medium you like. For those for whom this is all new, basic items (as well as favorite brands) are listed below.
I am happy to help you personalize supply decisions further. Here is a link to a kit of supplies. It is a simple and extremely cost-effective way to get high quality paints that travel easily.
Should you wish to gather items on your own, below are comments about basic supplies.
Sketchbook. Beta Wire Sketchbook 270G has a spiral spine, making it easy to keep open. It has paper of substantial weight and easily accepts pencil AND watercolor. 7 x 10 AND the square version are fun.
Pencil. Pentel Express .5mm mechanical pencil and extra HB lead, so no need for sharpener outdoors. Pens. Carbon Ink Black fountain pen with cartridge and Kuretake Fudepen #14. The Carbon pen enables very delicate line work and is waterproof. The more bold Fudepen bleeds slightly when dampened, but in an appealing way. Paper. For this adventure, blocks, or rigid pads are recommended. Brand options include Senelier, Italia, Arches, Fabriano, others. Fluid WC EZ Block is cost-effective in 8 x 8”, 6 x 12” and other sizes. Also fun, Plein Air Watercolor Board, 8 x 10. It is very stiff and an interesting surface. Brushes. Black Velvet Voyage #8 (or anything in the Black Velvet Series, Voyage or not) and the Neptune Synthetic Squirrel Mottler 1”. Isabey is another favorite brand. Paint. Because of air travel, I recommend pan paints rather than tubes. Schminke pocket palette (unique to Wet Paint) is small but packed with rich pigment. St. Petersburg 24C is also good quality. Koi 24 is less expensive, cute but lower quality. Water-Soluble Drawing. CC Graphite Aquarell 4B, a water-soluble graphite pencil; Viarco Art Graf Tailor Coins; watercolor pencils, Caran D'ache. EquipmentMiscellaneous. Tote bag or backpack for supplies; small wide-mouth plastic water container, sponge, few sheets of paper towel, clips or silicone bands to stabilize paper if it's windy..
Stool + Easel. Many choose to sit on a towel. I like a stool and swivel easel for working en plein air. ALPS Mountaineering Folding Tripod Stool. US Art Supply 73 inch Large Watercolor Aluminum Metal Easel. Art Supplies Readily Available at:
Wet Paint Artists Supply 1684 Grand Av, St Paul MN 55105 651.698.6431 http://www.wetpaintart.com/ |
Packing BasicsPack as minimally as possible. Storage is always at a premium. We suggest one medium checked bag and a backpack or totebag. Basic items include: tickets, passport, personal ID and drivers’ license, itinerary, location informaton, emergency contact information, health insurance card, camera, chargers for electronics, ATM card, credit card and cash. We highly recommend using pesos while in Mexico, rather than American dollars.
Shoes and Hat. You will want comfortable walking shoes plus sandals. Pack a billed cap or a rimmed hat to protect from sun.
Clothing. Plan to layer. Temperatures can swing through the day. Expect some days to be extremely hot. Some might include short, light rain. Possible items to bring: travel umbrella, light rain jacket, cotton sweater, sleeveless shirt, short-sleeved shirt, long-sleeved shirt (for sun protection), t-shirt, shorts, capris, sundress, swimwear, underwear, socks, sleeping attire. Please pack light. It is very “international” to wear items more than once. One can easily wash items in the sink and dry on balcony. Toiletries. Hotel soap and shampoo are provided. Possible items to bring: body lotion, deodorant, toothpaste, razor, toothbrush, brush, comb, hair dryer. Earplugs can be useful. For international travel, it is recommended that prescription medications be in the original package. Miscellaneous. Sunglasses, chapstick, camera, local bird-fish-plant books. Extra pair of glasses. Some like a bandana to cool the neck or croakies for glasses. If you plan to snorkel and have prescription goggles, those can be fun. Sunscreen can be packed or purchased on site. Packing Check List
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