A collection of stories, thoughts and good vibes from my back porch

This is my bare minimum list for painting outdoors. Since everyone is different, this is just a guide based on what I use. It's highly subjective, not absolute, and purely based on my experience and how I paint. This is what I consider to be what is necessary for me to go out and do a complete painting en plein air. 

• Paints -I use water-miscible oils, so clean-up is easy and I don't need harsh solvents. It's also easy to pack a small box for travelling by air, and pack all of this in checked luggage. 

37 ml tubes of:

Titanium white

Cadmium Yellow Medium

Alizarin Crimson

Ultramarine Blue

Cobalt Blue and/or

Pthalo Blue (Red shade) 

Raw Sienna

Burnt Umber

• Brushes - short-handles if using the small Guerrilla box

2-3 Filberts, #6, 8, 10

2 Flats or brights - #6-10

2 Rounds #2, 4

1 Script liner

• 2 Palette knives

these are 2 of my favorites

• 2 supports 

I favor gessoed hardboards - they are easy to carry. The Guerrilla thumbox will allow you to carry 2 wet paintings back-to-back.

• Stand oil and mineral spirits

I use 2 cup stainless steel palette mounted palette cups

• Paper towels
• Small plastic trash bag
• business cards
• A 7 day pill carrier to store leftover paint from the palette when you're done

*All of the above fit into my Guerrilla 5x7" thumb box and case. It's easy to pack into checked luggage if flying. I pack the paints and stand oil into a plastic baggie inside the thumb box.

• Jullian half-box French easel or Guerrilla 5x7" thumb box for travel
• Collapsible umbrella with easel mount
• Paintbrush carrier/easel if using my half-box
• Bottled water for drinking or cleaning
• Light snacks
• Wine & glass
• phone/camera
• backpack - will carry all the rest of your stuff

February 28, 2015. Last day of the 2nd month of 2015. Tomorrow is the beginning of the last month of the quarter. It's easy to let time pass quickly if you allow it. I went out to a local Mexican restaurant this morning for breakfast, and to write a few thoughts. I wound up meeting a really  nice family who sat at my table just as I was finishing. They were interesting people about my age, with a couple of older sons, a daughter, and a grandson. I gathered it is one of their family rituals to meet like that. The couple sat there first before the other got there, and we struck up a conversation that led to art. Their sons are musicians, and are also interested in painting. They asked if I do lessons. Yes, I do. They shared a part of their lives with me, and I shared a bit of mine. It was nice. 

I was reflecting at breakfast how, in spite of it being a short month, so much happened. The entire 28 days had something going. I have a lot of stories from the month. People moved on, I was out of my comfort zone a lot, we celebrated a friend's 85th birthday. (Someone asked me why I have friends in their 80's - I said because I learn a lot from them, they're a lot of fun, and most of their friends have already died, so they have to be friends with me.), Linda and I have made some important, life changing decisions this month - together - and we signed the first of a few contracts to build our new house. I've painted a few paintings this month, all of a larger size and got all but one of them framed, but all I have to do is mount in the frame as soon as it dries. 

I finally posted about 15 new paintings on the website, and I'm finally getting another blog posted. It's been a busy month, and I am thankful for the current flow of my life, the improvements I've seen in my painting, and at my job that pays for my ability to live this way. When I consider my life right now (which coincidently is the best part of life to consider and ponder), things are pretty damn good. I have a good job that allows me to work at my painting, both for which I have developed a focused work ethic, and a couple of attainable daily measures that keep me on track, and an accountability to those around me to whom it matters. I'm thankful to have purposely surrounded myself with people who encourage me and love me. Life's too short be co-dependent with and surrounded by negative thinking people. My life is kept calm by the people I choose to let in, by knowing my purpose, and keeping to my defined principles so that I live without a guilty conscience. I guess somewhere along these past few years, I've matured a little. 

And so much of my life is filled with those to whom I try to add value and encouragement. If you are one of those people, thank you for being in my life. When my painting hits your happy button, it's very cool. If I can teach you something positive, I've made the world a better place. (Insert Skittles rainbow and sunshine here...) Here's the truth. I'm happy in my skin, and happy to let you be in yours. I recently read a blog by Clint Watson in which he said, "you have a responsibility to share your gift....your art.....with the world." I only hope to live responsibly.