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The Quest for the Perfect Art Bag

July 9, 2014

I have always thought that, if I had the perfect art supply bag, I could draw the perfect picture.

Ever since I was a little kid, carrying my crayons and the stationary from my dad's office to draw on, I have wanted the perfect "bag." Back then I usually stashed my supplies in a cardboard lingerie box from Woodward and Lothrop.

Over the years I have tried many solutions - each offering perfection - including a French Easel, a Swiss Army backpack, Art Bin Boxes, fishing tackle boxes, even a diaper bag. None of them kept me drawing. It was like Goldilocks and the Three Bears, too big, too small, too soft, too heavy, too large, and one leather one, besides being too heavy, smelled funky. Nothing was, "Just right."

At last, I can announce the QUEST IS OVER!  After at least 70 years of searching, I have found THE BAG. It is the ultimate combination of style and utility - form and function… in fact, dare I say so, it is even COOL. Soft, but with structural integrity when a sketchbook is inside.

It is a fairly large, military looking canvas back pack made by Dopp. Thats right, Dopp, the makers of the original Dopp Kit.

And somehow once I had this bag, along with the perfect heavy-duty folding tripod stool, everything fell into place. The stool folds up and fits into the bag beside all the carefully, honed drawing supplies I now carry.

The bag  contains an assortment of pens Including Lamy (black, red and blue), Microns/Pigmas (assorted sizes in black) and at the moment, several sweet, flowing Uni-ball Vision (Fine) pens. While the Ebony pencil used to be my favorite, I now favor the Palomino Blackwing pencil with the replaceable white eraser. I also carry a small box of watercolors, some Daniel Smith watercolor sticks, Niji waterbrushes, a tiny mixing palette, a Global pencil case with Prismacolor colored pencils, a long-point pencil sharpener, a pad of India Ink, scissors, a 6" ruler, a retractable white stick eraser and a big white Rembrandt cow eraser purchased at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Oh yes, and a couple of different sketchbooks and a few zip-lock bags.

There are a few other items that must be in my bag in order to draw en plein air. They include the life essentials - water (for drinking and painting), sunscreen, insect repellent, a folding straw hat, paper towels, handi-wipes, Kleenex and an emory board.

So now the question is: Where's Peggy sitting and drawing in the hot sun today? (Can you find me?)

Hughes Brothers Tire Company

Battleship NC

Sometimes I am in a cool museum.

Cameron Art Museum

These are some pages from my sketchbook…drawn while I was in Wilmington, North Carolina - possibly the hottest place on the planet.

Fortifications - Fort Fisher at the mouth of the Cape Fear River. Over 2000 Casualties when the Union took the Fort in 1865

Fort Fisher at the mouth of the Cape Fear River.Pen and watercolor
(click to enlarge)

Hughes Brothers Tire Company and neighborhood hangout. (Market Street)

Hughes Brothers Tire Company and neighborhood hangout.Pen and watercolor
(click to enlarge)

Huge Corrugated  Dancers by James Grashow (Cameron Art Museum)

Huge Corrugated Dancers by James Grashow (Cameron Art Museum)Ball-point pen, colored pencils, and watercolor
(click to enlarge)

East Coast Seafood on Dawson Street 

East Coast Seafood on Dawson Street pen watercolor and collage
(click to enlarge)

It's in the bag!

I have a Marimekko bag that holds more bags, my teaching materials, tissues, water, some mints, and other paraphernalia. Don't go anywhere without it. Even had it with me tonight at Wolf Trap.

Just keep going and writing about it. I enjoy the reading so much!

Ilo-Mai

I love the art work and of course, the creme De la creme of art bags.

Donna K.

I love these sketches!

RE Hughes Bros.--Watch out Edward Hopper

Ahvi

Awesome.

Karin

The Holy Grail of Art bags! And what an inspiring profusion of talent coming out of that bag!

ONE COMPLAINT: NO sketch of the houndz??

:-) Xox,
Viv

I couldn't agree with you more Peggy. Enjoy!!

Anita M.

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