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| 'Friends Upon the Marsh' 9x12 pastel ©Karen Margulis sold |
Just call me the Bag Lady. I have a slight obsession with bags, luggage and containers. I have countless bags and more suitcases than I care to admit to. Yet I am always on the lookout for the next best bag. Give me a reason for a new bag and I am on a mission.
This week I had a reason for a new backpack. I decided to purchase Stan Sperlak's "Gogh Box" travel pastel box. Here is a sneak peek at the box. I will be taking it for a test run next week during my trip to Pawley's Island....so look for a complete review soon.
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| Stan Sperlak's Gogh Box pastel plein air box |
The idea behind the Gogh Box is that it holds everything you need for plein air pastel painting...pastels, drawing board, paper, finished painting holder with room for extra supplies. I made a similar box for my Southwest trip and it was great but perhaps a tiny bit too small. This box looks perfect.
But I needed a backpack to put it in for travel. It would be fine to throw the box in the car for a plein air outing but for longer trips I wanted a backpack that could serve as my carry on. (I will be going on a big adventure trip this summer so I am getting ready) This backpack needed to be roomy but light, It needed a padded section for my iPad. Plus a little extra space for toiletries and other travel essentials.
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| The old back back (front) and the new one |
So off I went to REI with my coupon and tried out backpacks for for over an hour. I finally settled on one by Northface. I got it home and didn't like how it wouldn't sit flat on the floor. This would never do so I made plans to return it. I decided to take out one of my old favorite backpacks that had seen better days. All it needed was a good washing.
So I emptied the pockets to get it ready to throw in the wash.....and surprise!! In my secret stash pocket I had stashed some cash.....$130 in cash! Wow...that backpack could have easily been donated to the Goodwill if I didn't need to find a new bag! I had not used in in over a year!
Here is the Rest of the story.....My Gogh Box arrived and didn't fit in the old backpack....but fit beautifully in the new one that I had not yet returned....and with the box inside the backpack sat nice and flat. It is perfect! So I got a great new backpack and found some cash for my trouble!
About today's painting: This is the demo from last night's pastel class. It is 9x12 on Uart paper done with a value block in using a 305 Nupastel.
9 comments:
I'm all to familiar with the saga of the search for the perfect backpack, I have yet to find it myself. Congrats on finding the "lost" cash, what a great suprise.
I sure hope this is the right one. I have a few trips coming up to give it a good trial before my big trip this summer...and the lost cash paid for it so I'm happy!
You really made out--new pack, new box, new money!
I hope so Patti! I will be giving the back pack a good trial run!
That rocks! I'm so glad you did search all the pockets and found that unspent money. Makes for a much jollier trip, especially since the new box fits the new bag so well.
I'm like that too, always trying new bags. I overestimate what I can carry, then get frustrated if I don't bring enough supplies. Lately, I've relied more and more on what I keep in my vest of many pockets. I know I've always got minimal supplies.
Robert I love the idea of the vest with pockets for gear!!
I have a very similar post on my blog - and I went to REI too! LOL
This (and the previous post) are two of the ways I pack. A friend even invited me to Salmugundi club to show my pack and easel.
Enjoy!
http://mermaidsuesstudio.blogspot.com/2013/08/packing-for-hiking-and-plein-air.html
Thanks for showing how you travel. I'm always looking for new ways to pack.
Hi Sue,thanks for sharing your post! Your packing job is very inspiring! I looked at that same pack too but I needed the padded section for my iPad. It is also a bit bigger than I wanted so I will have to be careful on how I pack it. Off tomorrow to give it a try!
yeah, this pack has few other compartments...though the ipad could go in the area i put the camelback in. It'd be right against your back, so, safe from bumping, but not easy to get to. I was aiming for one the size you have, but the boxiness of the easel ruled those out. It is sort of heavy, but I can walk quite a distance easily.
I have found that it's helpful to have some pockets in a jacket or pants that the wallet and camera can go in and be easily accessible.
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