Gauguin Suggested Supplies

The Artist Tours Group suggested material list for our Paul Gauguin Artist Expedition may be ordered directly from this site by simply clicking on the Dick Blick Art Materials logo above.

Samsonite is pleased to offer our Artist Tours Group / Participants a Special Discount off of their Luggage & Travel Accessories.
To redeem this offer please click on the link below. You will be prompted to enter promo code "art". Click the submit button and you will be sent to our eCommerce site. The prices that you see will be discounted an additional 15%. This discount will not be applied until the final check out page.

www.samsonitecompanystores.com/partner

If you have any questions about ordering,
please call 1-800-547-BAGS / extension "ART".

To All Participants:

Listed below are some recommendations & suggestions for the supplies and materials (Courtesy of Kevin & Wanda Macpherson).
So please carefully review the list and feel free to e-mail us at: info@artisttoursgroup.com if we can be of any further assistance.

SUGGESTED PALETTE:
Oil paints
You Can Use Water soluble oils in place of regular oils (can be difficult to work with when exposed to rain)

Cadmium Yellow Light
Ivory Black
Cadmium Red Light
Yellow Ochre
Alizarin Crimson
Titanium White
Ultramarine Blue
Thalo green

SUGGESTED BRUSHES: (Do not need all)
Filberts #4,#6, #8Rounds #4, #6,#8
Canvas or canvas boards: 8”x10”, 9”x12”, 12”x16”, 16”x20”
Plan to probably use two panels a day
Remember you will be toting wet canvases ie. buses, hotel and air French easel (for outdoors) or pochode box with quick release tripod
(use a Folding Palette if using an easel )
Backpack (big enough to fit your stuff for the day)
Drying box for wet paintings
Good walking shoes
Rain coat or poncho
masking tape
painting apron
Kleenex or paper towels (purchase when you get to town)
Turpenoid, or odorless mineral spirits (bring an empty jar, we will purchase when we arrive on the first day)
Palette knife
Small Sketchbook
Umbrella for easel (tricky in windy conditions)
Black magicmarker (bold point)
Hat and sunblock
Drinking water (purchase when you get to town)
Small folding Chair (If you are not used to standing)
Remember to take Photos to work from if the weather is bad
Students, feel free to bring a sample of your work (on a 35 mm slide or in a color print)

To accelerate drying time of your paintings
Substitute your regular white oil paint with an alkyd white.
This will be mixed with just about all your other regular oils and expedite the drying time.
As it does dry at a quicker rate it is recommended you practice with it a few times before your trip.

Artists' supplies
The Artist Tours Group will locate artist supply stores for us on most tours.
If you need supplies or forget supplies it will be possible to buy it over there.

Protecting your wet paintings while traveling:
Trains, planes and automobiles do not like wet paintings.
Our daily excursions will entail moving two or more wet canvases
in and out of our bus, hotel, restaurants and crowded streets. A lightweight wet painting carrier is a must.
Get one that can transport multiple sizes. Example: 12x16; can carry any panel with a 12" dimension, 9x12, 12x12, etc.
(See supply list for wet painting carrier recommendations. RayMar, makes the lightest carrier).
The U. S. Postal, UPS, and Federal Express create shipping boxes at various sizes.
I bring a couple flattened shipping boxes to protect the finished bubble spaced drying paintings.
Check them out before the trip for the box size that works best for your canvas size choice.

Size does matter:
I am sure some of you work comfortably on a large canvas.
But remember we will need to move these canvases around the bus, hotels and streets.
Plein air painting is a race against time. The sun moves fast so painting smaller is usually recommended.
We will go to new locations each day so we can not go back to complete a painting started on a previous day.
So plan accordingly.

Boy, we have alot of stuff!
Stretched canvas adds a lot of bulk so canvas mounted on board or gesso boards are a better solution.
But twenty canvas boards get heavy! One possible solution: Cut canvas 14x18, tape with masking tape on a 16x20, lightweight foam core board,
(bring four to six foam boards). Leave canvases taped to boards while drying; (the alkyd can speed this up).
Wax paper layered between each dry painting will protect them for further transport.
Once you are home you can mount or stretch the keepers.
Pasting tiny plastic bubbles on the back corners of each board can protect the stacked wet canvas boards.
These spacers will give enough distance to drying paintings. Stack many and tape them together.
(These bubbles can be bought at a framing store).

Security Concerns:
Do not bring turps on the plane. But do bring turp cups or a small empty container for your daily turp needs.
We personally check all our paint gear on the plane when Wanda and I travel.
So far with all our travels we have been fortunate not to lose any of our gear.
If you do carry on, keep your easel empty. Do not bring paint or palette knife with your carryon, pack it in checked baggage.
Remember we can buy most things at our tour locations.
The Artist Tours Group will bring us to an art supply store upon arrival.
It is a good idea to put your oil painting a ziplock baggy.
The airplane cabin pressure can squeeze out some paint. You may want to have them in bubble wrap.
Kevin has had problems before where the corners of a tube have dug into another tube and created a hole.
Put your name, address and hotel information and Artist Tours Group Information inside each bag.
If you and your luggage get separated it may find you easier.
Don't be flashy

Inclement Weather:
Although we ordered dry, windless, sunny days. I bet we will get rain.
Bring a raincoat or poncho that can fit over you and your backpack.
If it is light drizzle you can still work either under an eave or protected with an umbrella.
Check out your umbrella system before you go. Make sure it attaches well and won't pull over your easel. Your umbrella can shade your workstation on sunny days too.

Back packs and shoes:
There is so much stuff!
We may do a lot of walking. A good backpack that can take all your daily gear is a welcome pack.
Some have pull handles and rolling wheels. This will take some stress off your back.
But at times the cobbled streets and irregular curbs may test your patience.
The streets also tire your feet. So bring good shoes.
Make sure you save room in your pack for water and box lunches if provided.
You will be responsible to carry all your gear.
PACK LIGHT!

Bring your cameras:
There may be times you just want to explore with your camera for studio reference and getting people shots.
Caution: Saw a recent article on film and traveling. New airport security procedures make it harder to protect photos from harmful x-rays.
Film subjected to multiple x-rays have cumulative damaging effects. Carryon baggage x-rays are not as bad, but checked baggage is screened with a higher scan. Lead lined pouches will not help with checked baggage. Best advice is to buy and process your film at your destination.
Digital Cameras: I don't know how x-rays effect the digital cards or floppy disks?

Our Mentor Tours :
We encourage personal artistic growth, individuality, and sharing the artistic spirit.

We will be there to guide you to your next level.

Sharing what we have learned along our artistic journey.

Call or e-mail The Artist Tours Group at: (201) 768-2926 or artisttours@aol.com if you have more questions.

Suggestions or Questions:
Please don't hesitate to ask or suggest better solutions. We can share with the other artists.

Recommended Reading:
"Fill Your Oil Paintings With Light and Color", by Kevin Macpherson
"Composition of Outdoor Painting", by Edgar Payne
"Carlson’s Guide to Landscape Painting", by John F. Carlson
"Hawthorne on Painting", by Mrs. Charles W. Hawthorne

For all tour participants:

Bring a Valid Passport and make a copy of it to leave at home, in the event that you lose or misplace it while traveling overseas.

Please remember that all airlines have restrictions in regard to "flammable" materials and that some of the materials may be prohibited from airline travel.

For your own comfort and convenience, you can procure all of your painting supplies conveniently through Dick Blick Art Materials by clicking on their logo at the top of the page.

Photos courtesy of Tahiti Tourisme