“We are always interested in what other painters use even though we all know that what is good for one painter is not necessarily good for another. Anyway here is what I use and why  - and also how to make the home made stuff”

PAINT

I have used paint from many manufacturers over the years and I have to admit that apart from slight colour and viscosity differences all of them are good. I always use artist’s quality tubes mainly because they seem to stay moist for longer. I also understand that they have more pigment and are more finely ground. Like most people, I love a bargain but please avoid the cheap sets of paint that cost the same as a tube of decent stuff - they are horrible and completely useless even for practise.

BRUSHES

Sable are the best but horrendously expensive and they do lose their point. In general I use a squirrel mop for big washes, a size 12 round squirrel/synthetic blend for general use, a Kolinsky sable size 6 rigger for more detailed work and a medium swordliner for branches and squiggles.

PAPER

Paper is probably the thing that will make most difference to your painting. Use only reputable makes and find one or two that you like and stick to them. Different weights of the same paper can behave in very different ways. I use Bockingford 200lb NOT for general use but I also like 90lb Arches NOT, 140lb Fabriano Artistico rough and 200lb Fabriano Hot Pressed. With heavier papers I just tape them to a lightweight plastic board and I make my own blocks with the lighter papers.

OTHER BITS AND PIECES

I use a metal sketching easel with a clip on home made tray for most work but I also have a very small lightweight easel converted from a photographic tripod to take a board or block of paper. I made my own little accessory table that fits to both easels and I use a collapsible water pot. My palette is a Craig Young handmade brass palette.

TRAVELLING

When travelling, it is a good idea to keep your painting kit as simple and light as possible. My basic sketching kit is an A5 sketchbook with a 2B pencil, a drawing pen, a small metal paintbox with 6 or 8 half pans, an Escoda size 12 travelling sable and a rigger cut in half and stored in the paintbox. This will all fit into a large pocket or small bag. I usually use a snap top wide neck plastic container as both water carrier and holder.

If you are travelling by air I would recommend that tubes of paint and anything that could be considered in any way sharp should go into your hold baggage.