Travel Art Studio + Supplies

Do you like to bring art supplies when you travel? I love to create little works of art while on the road (or over the ocean!) to help commemorate my adventures and really cement them in my mind.

Today I want to share my compacted art supplies and how I set them up while out and about in the world, taking inspiration from all that's around me. I'm sharing what I bring, how I setup and record, and what my experience with bringing these art supplies through TSA has been.

Don't let distance from your home studio prevent you from making great art! There are only a few items that you'll be able to find or borrow wherever you land that will help complete an efficient studio space:)

My Art Supplies:

(some of these are affiliate links which help to support this channel at no extra cost to you - thank you!)

Himi Gouache

Tiny Gouache Sketchbook

Princeton Size 1 Round Brush

Da Vinci Size 2 Round Brush

Map Eraser

Washi Tape

Rechargeable Clamp Light

Phone Mount Articulating Arm

And thanks to the folks who submitted their own list of travel art supplies to be included in the video! I often ask my viewers for input thru Instagram Stories, so if you haven’t already, find me there!

7.2.2023

It's a Van Life Christmas!

I’ve been down van life traveling and visiting my folks down in Florida for almost two weeks and it feels so good to be back in the tropics again!!

The sun is shining, the birds are chirping, and the absolute abundance of wildlife is blowing my mind all over again.

This is an extra special visit, not only for obvious holiday reasons, but it’s the first time bringing my sweetie Alan down to meet the family. Everyone got along so wonderfully and we had a blast road tripping back up north, camping for two nights in Withlacoochee State Park where we hiked and biked and then kayaked…

We had hoped to see some manatees but it had been too warm for them to come into the springs. I did get to swim with them a few years ago though! See the manatee art I made after that special experience here.

before spending New Year’s night at a Hipcamp with alpacas, chickens, sheep, goats, and ducks. So cool! There was a tiny lil wobbly alpaca baby that was just born a few hours before we arrived who still had his umbilical cord hanging, and I even got to cuddle the softest baby lamb.

Waking up the next day I joyfully experienced my first time in an outdoor shower with an alpaca view! What a way to welcome 2022!

I just got back home and I’m super psyched to start working on my art biz to catch up on a few things that have fallen by the wayside during this last crazy busy semester. I’m teaching two less classes this semester so I’ll be able to get back on my ‘A’ game art-making wise.

So cheers to you and all the best wishes for this next year coming up! I’ve got soooo much planned for you here and on my YouTube channel - yay!

1.4.2022

Dealing with Trolls and Online Negativity as an Artist

Yikes! Dealing with trolls, haters, and just plain negative people online can be totally stressful and disheartening! Hopefully you haven't experienced much of it so far, but it never hurts to be prepared for the future.

The more we put ourselves out there the more susceptible we are to online bullying or harassment. Today I've got 7 emotional and actionable ways you can deal with any negativity that gets thrown at your artwork or content. And remember above all else, don't let anyone online get you down - they don't even know how awesome you are in real life!

Tips for Dealing with Online Negativity

1. See if the negativity is just a poorly delivered helpful critique. Believe it or not sometimes negativity does come from a place of frustration that gets aimed in the wrong direction. If there is a real and specific complaint, perhaps try to see what point the critic is making removed from the anger. You may even be able to address the comment in such a way that makes the critic feel heard, understood and treated with respect and then they will do the same back.

2. Have a few positive responses on hand to consult or reuse as necessary. Even if you may be able to win this person over, never allow yourself to negativity - it’s just not worth it because…

3. Realize you can't please everyone and that is OK!! You can never please everyone so don’t even try - it won’t work and you’ll just get frustrated. Realize that no one famous or otherwise has ever been able to please everyone. I’m sure you could even find critics of Mother Theresa so do not stress yourself out over it. Remember, you cannot control how others perceive you, only how you can carry yourself so just be and do things that you can be proud of and you’ll naturally stop caring about those who treat you as if you should be some other way.

4. If someone really wants to troll and hassle you, there are three emotional ways to handle negativity....

   4.1. Laugh it off. Literally give off a laugh and a shrug because this person took the actual time to get their whole panties in a bunch over some free content you posted online - what a loser!!

   4.2. Cry it off. Ugh every once in awhile someone either by chance or by seriously sick and specific proclivities knows just what to say to right under your skin to really make you feel bad/inept/stupid/unskilled so if that happens, allow yourself to feel your feelings for a few.

   4.3. Pity them! And feel relieved that you are not them and neither is your significant other. They may give you and unpleasant 15 minutes but realize that that person is way unhappy in their own lives, and they have to be around themselves 24/7! Yikes!

5. Know there is nothing wrong with simply block-report-delete. This person has disrespected you so you owe them exactly nothing in return. Do not allow this person to bully you into a response, especially if that response would require you to sink as low as their level - ew!

6. The very best way to deal with negativity online is to have a mantra ready so you have a swift and confident inner-dialog answer for any time some awful comment sneaks up out of nowhere and completely derails whatever awesome thing you were about to do. Do not allow those trolls any power over your mindset, goals, or accomplishments.

7. Above all else remember that H.A.T.E.R.S. are just losers who Have Anger Towards Everyone Reaching Success. They are not productive contributors, pumped on accomplishing their own goals - no. They are miserable little wastes-of-space without enough creativity to produce anything notable on their own. They’re succubi. They’re leeches. They are not worth any time and we don’t even know who they are. They know who we are, but they are so insignificant that we don’t even know who they are. Just understand that haters only come after those who are doing something noteworthy and interesting. Along with fame comes haters - it’s a very backwards compliment but trust me, it is one.

Gouache Materials

Any purchases through my special links helps to support this channel at no extra cost to you. Thank you!

Titanium White

Azo Yellow

Gamborge Yellow

Napthol Red

Cerulean Blue

Permanent Green Light

Payne’s Grey

Princeton Size 1 Round Brush

Da Vinci Size 0/2 Round Brush

Da Vinci Size 2 Filbert Brush

And yes, these gouache mushrooms are available for purchase in my Shop right here.

9.19.2021

Travels through O'ahu :: Adventures + Artwork

Welcome back to my second home of O'ahu! I'm so thrilled to have just had the opportunity to spend 7 whole weeks camping, hiking, beaching, painting, and visiting friends on the beloved island I decided to leave just one year ago.

What can I say..? I didn't move away from Hawai'i because I didn't like it!

Visiting close friends and adventuring through the island is such a blissful existence. If you haven’t put it on your list yet, maybe a few more photos will help seal the deal..

Did you enjoy coming along for the ride? Here's my travel + art vlog from the vanlifing I did on Maui and Big Island last year. You can also see more of my life while I lived on island, including where I worked and my awesome bungalow with the fully outdoor bathroom! And if you're wondering why I ever left this slice of paradise, I made a video of that too!

12.20.2020

Vanlife :: Bed Build + Early Campout Adventures

Vaughn the Adventure Van is really starting to shine! Today I'm sharing my minivan to camper bed build (plus a front seat desk) using components we already had around the house - so satisfying!!

Then I made a custom memory foam mattress and matching couch cushion for a serious snuggle factor of 10! I'll be adding some shelf units and hammock nets for storage when I go back to Florida in a few months but until then I'm feeling pretty content and organized either way.

So enjoy these early vanbuild stages and adventures through Florida and onto Tennessee!

2.22.2020

Hammock State Park Adventure

I took myself out on a little nature date last week and it was positively delightful!

It was a bright, crisp day walking the fern- and palmetto-filled trails at the Highlands Hammock State Park here in Sebring, FL (in the same town as my current artist residency), and so cute to peek all the native orange trees!

This park also had a number of boardwalks, including a very narrow cat walk that went directly over the black water swamp for about a mile. I couldn’t believe how long the walkway was and how much you were really able to get right up into that ecosystem.

The water was still and glassy with the bell-bottomed cypress trees and their knees making perfect mirror images in the water.

And to top off a perfect and nature filled day, I actually spotted a group of wild pigs as I was going to hula hoop in a clearing I found, which was exciting to see those adorable pigs enjoying a nice healthy snack.

1.15.2020

First Campout in Vaughn the Adventure Van

Woo hoo for Vaughn the Adventure Van!!

I’m beside myself with excitement and to celebrate I have already taken him out for his first campout at Myakka River State Park here in Florida. I haven’t started outfitting him with my proper bed and storage yet, but for just grabbing gear form my parents’ house so far I think we’re doing pretty well!

First my friend Baila (who was actually my neighbor and hike buddy on O’ahu who recently relocated to the east coast too!) and I decided to go on a relatively local adventure around town…

then we hopped on down to Warm Mineral Springs in North Port for a rejuvenating dip. Not too bad being able to swim outside in December!

We were so grateful to find such a peaceful and gorgeous camping spot just before sunset.

This park was extra cool because it features an elevated canopy walk 26 feet tall so visitors can experience all the unique air plants and local birds at eye level. Such an enlightening experience!

The trees were absolutely teaming with aerophytes! And after that fun catwalk, you get to climb up a 74 foot wooden tower to literally look down upon the trees as far as the eye can see in this super flat Florida landscape.

I mean, WOW!

Those trees are over 30 feet tall

Good thing Venkman isn’t afraid of heights!

One of the neatest plants on the journey so far…

On our way out we got to see about a dozen big fat happy gators sunning on the bank too. Fun to see from a distance, but they appeared around 8 feet long so I think we’ll stick to the roads for now:)

12.11.2019

Big Island Hawai'i Adventures!

Wow I am still floored by all the differing ecosystems coexisting so closely on a tropical island! It’s so weird to drive from arid desert, to grassy plains, to lava fields, to rocky coast back to thick jungle all in a matter of hours, especially when all you’re expecting is palm trees and lush mountains! If you didn’t catch the island hopping vlog already, tune in for a real treat too:)

Not to mention the surreal nature of playing on both black and green sand beaches!

And, did I mention this particular black sand beach was a nude one...? So you know, when in Rome…

I’ll have to admit, the opportunity for some plein air painting in the buff was too good to pass up. What a fantastic day!

One of the wildest things we did wasn’t splashing in our birthday suits, believe it or not, it was actually exploring some lava tubes! Lava tubes are basically places where the the igneous rock has broken away forming long underground caves. The temp became 10 degrees cooler the second you enter, and quite damp regardless of how dry that area of the island is. I didn’t go far at all because I only had sandals, but apparently they go back for miles and miles until you are literally crawling! Somehow spelunking does not feel like my forte though....

Make sure you check out my Maui blog too for some of the most phenomenal waterfalls ever!

11.21.2019

Livin' in a Van on Maui

So um, van-lifing around Maui is my new favorite thing...

From sleeping under the biggest rose gold full moons, to guerrilla bathing in a state park stream, to chasing more waterfalls than we ever thought possible... following Hana Road along all of East Maui has been one of the most delightful road trips of my life. If you didn’t already see the island hopping vlog I made, get ready to plan your next vacay…

My friend Steff from O’ahu (yep, different than Stephanie from Charleston - not confusing at all I know) and I rented a really nice n roomy minivan (although I am calling them adventure vans more and more these days), but weren’t quite sure what we were going to do before we arrived. With my blow-up mattress, sunscreen, and some citronella incense in tow, along with the perfect temperament for adventure, we wound up happening upon the most delightful places to eat, sleep, and play which gave us the most fulfilling, yet totally relaxing island tour ever.

There has been so much beauty to see and so much delicious fruit to consume in countless little adorable ‘honor-system’ roadside fruit stands in between mind-blowing photo ops around every twist and turn… I think we may have actually discovered heaven on earth!

And I can’t help but share these epic waterfall shots Steff snapped of me too..

Make sure to take a peek at my Big Island pics too for awesome green sand and lava tube adventures too!

11.19.2019

Maui + Big Island Vanlife Vlog

Whew! What a beautiful whirlwind those ten days were! Sleeping outside every night under the stars with the biggest rose gold glowing moon you’ve ever seen, letting the wind whip through our hair as we were cruising the winding hairpin turns presenting us with spectacular waterfalls, elementally intense craggy coastlines, the greenest jungle vines, and the lushest rolling patchwork hills you can imagine.

Woo Hoo enjoy this vanlife adventure including the amazing Road to Hana, an orchid painting timelapse from the farm we stayed on, and even a visit to the black sand nude beach!! Plus make sure to pop back over next week when I’ll be posting more of my very best pics from this sunny, nature-filled vacay :)

Check lots more Maui pics here

..And Big Island pics here!

11.16.2019