Just the simple trick you did with how you placed your swatch card on the palette (which is genius BTW!) and all the other hack and tips you shared in this one video.....perfection! Beautiful custom mixes and paintings. I truly hope you enjoy urban sketching and your workshop. Have fun! ♥

This made me so happy. I first thought that you were holding the workshop. Then when I opened the video I realized you were attending. One of the things I most enjoy is "preparing" for things . I taught a beginner watercolor class last year to complete novices. Everyone got a tote with everything you needed to start painting. They also got 7 pages covering supplies and how and why to use them. The two hour class turned into 6 hours. 23 students. And my goal was met - I think they walked away seeing the joy they could find by putting brush to paper. And now because of you I've started my gouache journey. I start swatching tomorrow. Yep I'm a nerd as well. Thank you for sharing your life with us! Find joy in all you do and bring joy to those with whom you come in contact! Bless you. Question - do you ever use blending medium with gouache?

We like this very much! Thoughtful rational planning is the key to being prepared with a travel kit, and as we see here, it helps to have a high level of knowledge about your materials. We often see the "kitchen sink" approach to plein air kits, and while it feels good to have your whole arsenal, narrowing down to the essentials with a focus on practical supplies that perform leads to a much more satisfying experience.

Love how you customized your set up; you're so ingenuitive! Good luck on your plein air workshop.

I’m so excited that you’re urban sketching! I love urban sketching but I’m new to it but it’s so fun. When I do portraits I do semi realism but with landscapes and urban sketching, it’s more illustrative. I can’t wait to see what you do!

I always feel anxious if I haven’t painted in a while. I agree about the practicing drawing..such a good reminder!

I'm about to go on a vacation and was considering bringing my art supplies with me - this gave me so many ideas on how I can paint on the go. Thank you so much for sharing.

😂😂😂😂 sooo funny how you pack when a storm comes. I feel you are very excited for the workshop! Funny video! Also the comment of Wolfy about the doctor from Jurrasic Park😂. The doctor has a great accent though! Enjoy the workshop!

Nice watercolor sketch! Those corrugated plastic sheet [I don't know the commercial name] extensions with Velcro are a very versatile way to extent a plein-air easel surface without adding much weight to the kit. I'm 'copying your idea' immediately.{ ;- ) Though I have had 'wind-age problems' with other light weight platforms in the past, so I'll anchor the tripod and attach the extensions very securely. It's windy here most of the time. I hope your workshop with Iain Stewart goes well. He is a very accomplished draftsman and a skilled water-colorist, for sure.

Hi Sarah that purple squiggle near the beginning when you made your palette was gorgeous my room painted similar colour ❤

Great teaching how to prep for events. Tell us a bit more about your cart/chair/umbrella setup!!

Giggled on Dr.Grant comment 😂 Such a scenic spot! And the setup is nice, thank you for sharing your process

hi sarah...i watch all your videos...on tv...so may not get counted by YT. just want u to know i think yourev a wonderful artist...and excellent teacher!! hope your dream of a studio/ school comes true!!

🤣 Jurassic Park!! Love that set up!! Hope you have a great time in Fife.

That sounds so exciting! I’m so happy to hear you laugh again and see you trying new things 💪🏻 Sarah, you mentioned that you are planning to leave patreon and set up your own community. I am reading your blog and follow your two channels here, but didn’t find any information about it. Is it still your plan to leave the platform patreon?

Ian Stewart is amazing. After meeting him at a Plein air event, I took one of his workshops and learned a lot. I love watching him demo. Have fun!

Hi Sarah thank you for this video. Can’t wait to see your beautiful artwork.

This is a really brilliant video, and I love the set-up you have now. I also love the reminder to STUDY! I'm currently working through a Proko course, but I could always be doing more. PS: I miss being one of your patrons. Hopefully I can join back in once I settle some of my financial BS. Your photos are always so gorgeous, and I miss your tutorials.

See you still have one of those Strathmore wc travel journals. Can’t get my hands on one!!! Your tips are great. I bought a CupEasels palette which is great as well. Have fun at the workshop! I went to workshops last year and again this year with urban sketcher, Ian Fennelly. So much fun just to be with a like minded group in a scenic location. I think he mentioned the artist you are doing your workshop with. Looking forward to you posting pictures of what you do there.

That was so great, Sarah!!! Thank you!!!

Great as always just wasn’t long enough lol thanks for sharing

Thank you. 💛 LOVE this! Definitely inspiring 🙌 ✨️ 👏

Love your customization! It's going to be fun to watch you practice for the workshop, and especially fun to see what you come back with!

Good idea on the hacks, also prepping for the workshop is the right thing to do. Hope you have a great time.

This workshop sounds great! Sounds like something that you will really enjoy and learn a lot from. What you’re saying about working on your observational drawing reminds me of how much I need to do the same. Thanks for all you do to inspire your viewers and I hope you get a lot out of the workshop!

that's an awesome set up! Hope you have a lovely time ☺

I love your setup and will be excited to see the video that follows this class you are taking. THE CHAIR THINGY THAT DOUBLE AS A CART IS INTERESTING. Can you tell us more about that or do you have a video I have missed where you talk about ?

LOVE...lots that you did here Sarah...thanks for sharing...and hope your week long course gives you all you had hoped for. LOVE...the idea you had about attaching the swatch card...sooo amazingly usefully😊😊!!! Love your innovations.....you are creative to the nth! Looking forward to seeing some videos of your week long workshop...to the south in Fife Scotland.😀

What an amazing opportunity - I'm so excited to see your adventures! And your prep work for the workshop. 😊

Excellent easel customization!!! You thought it out brilliantly. Also cool about putting magnets on the pans. Since you have time until the workshop, why don't you just make some extra pans of your mixes to take along on the trip? P.S. Wolfy is a nice addition to your videos. I like his goofy sense of humor.

That video was so helpful, I’ve been pondering how to adapt my etcher slate 🤗

Gorgeous sketches at the end-loved the bridge colors…btw-I’m loving my brushes that I got through you!! Have a wonderful trip!

Great video. Enjoy the trip and workshop. I saw a similar rolling chair on an email ad I just got from Jerry’s Artarama

Very inspiring and fun video Sarah, also really like the editing on this one- it made me get excited to pack like im the one going to the workshop 😂 have fun, looking foward to seeing the recap on how it goes~~

Thanks for sharing your set up. Hubby and I just returned from Scotland and though I didn't have much time to paint, I took lots of photos to use in the studio. Those Western Highlands are so beautiful. I did make it to a Cass Art in Glasgow and even bought a pencil or marker case with Cass Art on it. A good "souvenir". Thanks for the recommendation.

That's a very clever way of doing things, this way it allows you to get a full advantage of the upcoming workshop and eliminates all the stuff you could be struggling with, thank you for sharing this,I for one would not necessarily think about preparing before, so for me it is especially valuable. Not only in relation to art! 😂 Hope you will have a great time and the weather will favour you! 🍀 I have something exciting to look forward to as well, I missed the opportunity to get your brushes the first time they were out, but today I received an email, and they are on a way to my place!🎉 Very excited!

What an opportunity the workshop is for you. Hope you will share what you learn from it.

Self adhesive magnetic strips from magnets 4 you instead of Velcro for your paintbox easier than Velcro kind regards steve

His workshops look amazing - the ones he's run this summer so far have looked fantastic. I'd love to go to one but it's just not practically possible with my son's needs at the moment. Also as a fifer from Kirkcaldy, I can't wait to see your pieces. Hopefully you'll get to paint Dysart Harbour, a special little place 😊

I loved watching your little modifications to your setup. I am a fan of corflute. I made my own lightweight easel, that my husband 3D printed a tripod baseplate for (that I attached with zip ties to the back). When not in use, it folds down flat and can easily fit in my backpack. In use, it becomes a small table with an angled canvas/paper support that I attaches to my camera tripod. Like you I am constantly modifying it. I spent the weekend making a new one that was slightly shorter and wider. I needed it wider so I can quickly attach (or unattach) my magnetic whiteboard palette to it. My easel is light, quick to setup and packup (due to summer storms in Sydney) and it fits in my backpack. I am pretty excited by my latest design, yet to test it though. I just need my husband to print a new tripod baseplate.

That Amethyst, Buff Titanium and Ultramarine custom mix is LUSH ❤ Have an awesome time with Mr. Stewart. ps Yes, I too am obsessive about the order of my pans. You are not alone 🤭

OMG, you still have some Strathmore travel sketchbooks!! I miss them so much!

Sarah what are the 12 colors you put in the palette

Ian Stewart! That’s so exciting!! And an entire week ~ yay! Your setup looks great ~ customized just for you. I would be sure to take a really good 100% cotton paper sketchbook too. It really works the best with watercolor. I am painting a small landscape on Stillman and Birn right now and it is a little nightmare. I’m wishing I used watercolor paper 100% cotton. I’m wondering if you might share with us what your convenience mixes are and what you use them for? I’m excited to hear about the workshop when you get back. I’m trying to improve my drawing skills also.

Thank you for showing us your preparation for up coming workshop. Looking forward to more videos as you work towards your perfect setup. I love the frankesteining of the etcher travel easel. I have a question about how you managed water, did you have a jar off camera? I am hoping to gather enough courage to go plein air (in a wheelchair) for the first time so really looking into best ways of making it work. Your videos are always really helpful so thank you once again.

Nice to see your preparations for Iain's workshop Sarah. I'm looking forward to meeting you at last. By the way, due to a cancellation a spot has become available on the workshop so feel free to spread the word.

I like that set up. For me however, I go with a much smaller set up that will fit in a relatively small pouch, much like a purse with an over the shoulder carrying strap. Have room for a small pallet (Mung Yo watercolor pallet made of steel), an A-6 watercolor hardbound booklet (140#, cold press), some pens and pencils, a small tear off piece of kitchen towels, and three water brushes. Works great for me. Some day I may move up to using a tripod. Until then, I will continue watching what you do. Love your landscapes and seascapes. -OkieSktecher1949

Je suis impressionné qu'une habituée comme toi à la peinture en plein air ait autant d'interrogation sur le matériel et la meilleur façon travailler lors de ton workshops 😊 en fait ça me rassure car j'avais les mêmes interrogations lors du stage que j'ai suivi en Ecosse il y a quelques semaines... l'angoisse d'avoir tout ce qu'il faut et de pouvoir travailler dans les meilleurs conditions possibles. Comme j'ai voyager en avion il fallait en plus que cela ne soit pas encombrant 😅 Résultat au final... j'ai pris quand beaucoup trop de matériel de base que je n'ai pas utilisé 😅 J'aime beaucoup ton montage du plateau-palette avec les velcro ❤ Merci pour les tipps 👍🏻👍🏻

I’m glad you are getting a chance to enjoy this wonderful upcoming workshop. That’s a gorgeous personal mix of color. What is the brand of the green fountain pen that you are sketching with in the sketchbook?

Why not just put a couple magnets underneath the board since it’ll be on a soft surface. Then you can just set your palette on and it’s magnetized. The soft surface of the Etchr will allow room for the magnets underneath so their won’t be wiggling. This video is probably popping up while you’re at your workshop. I hope you’re able to film a bit while you’re on your workshop but I could imagine it would be difficult when you’re trying to take everything in. It’s nice to have no distractions.😊 And I don’t understand why Gorilla discontinued their chair. I’ve wanted one forever. I do believe though on Amazon their are choices. I haven’t looked recently. They last several years actually I haven’t been able to plein air paint due to health problems and multiple surgeries. The latest was a knee replacement 3 days ago. But I’m hoping to get be\ack at it before summer is over!

Your modifications created a nice little desk surface! That’s always my issue when I try to paint somewhere, I need more solid surface to hold my paint/water/sketchbook. I have a couple of small “Let’s go Sketching” sketchbook “attachments” and they’re great for A6 or A5 size, but sometimes I’d like to use a larger palette, so would like to make something myself with Velcro and magnets.

plein air painters are like macgyver when it comes to their supplies, a lot of glue, velcro, and duct tape to make everything work for them, as long as its as comfortable and easy to get together (and put away quiclyt), its good to go 😀

I love the colour selection, and I've never thought of having my colours arranged in that order! I organise all my palettes in the same way: yellow, red, blue, green (if I include any), earth tones (if they aren't being used as reds/yellows/greens) with black as the last colour in the top row and white last in the bottom row if I include them. I'm going to try your set up here, it looks nice and just as easy to use as my regular one, could be fun to switch it up a bit! Off topic, but what music did you use while colour mixing in your sketchbook? It reminds me of Simon and Garfunkel.

Your new nick name is Speedy Gonzales. For the way you get out of the rain.. LOL

Hello Sarah! Love your videos which are so inspiring! Just loved the magnets you use and wondered which ones you use. I clicked on your link but it keeps bouncing to “something went wrong” error message. I too love using magnets but mine are thin sheets I cut to size and they aren’t very strong. Good luck on your upcoming trip to Fife! 🥳🤩

Thanks Sarah. Curious about the medium you added to paint pans. What does that do?

What are the dimensions of your drawing board? Can you make a blog post/video on its construction?

Curious why you added blending medium to the watercolour when putting it into the pans?

Sarah, are you using the Artist grade or the Student grade with the Baohong paper?

do you have some japan garden photos from when you were there, can you tell us about it?

What kind of tape was that supersticky tape!

Which phthalo turquoise are you using?

Sarah, we are our own worst critic! Your work is amazing and I would even prefer to take a workshop with you (shh, don't tell Iain though ... I may get to do a workshop with him too one day). You have a calm, down to earth style that makes for a relaxing adventure in painting! Cheers, @drag.nfly