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Tuesday, June 26, 2012

A Great Idea for Plein Air Shade

'Passing Clouds'        6x8         plein air oil on panel        ©Karen Margulis
available with paypal  $125
 I love the thrift store!  Rummaging around second hand stores has saved me a lot of money when it comes to art supplies. I am always looking for things I can use in the studio and I have found some great things. See my previous posts HERE. Recently I have been on a hunt for some items for my plein air set-up that I saw on a Kim Casebeer's blog. Kim is a wonderful painter and has a great post on her blog about traveling with your plein air supplies. She has great photos of her set-up and some things I haven't come across. Yesterday I scored and found one of them at the thrift store for 50 cents!    See what I found:


Kim uses a sun visor to shade her pochade box and painting instead of using an umbrella.  The sun visors are used to put up in your windshield when you park your car. The are lightweight and fold up into a small easily packable circle. Kim uses clamps to attach the visor to her easel. I used bulldog clips to try it out but I will be looking for some stronger alligator type clips. The visor looks like it would be a great way to get shade on your painting and palette especially in windy conditions when and umbrella won't work. It would also be a great thing to take along when you want to travel light and don't want to carry your regular umbrella.

I was thrilled when I found this pack of two shades for 50 cents. I can't wait to get outside and give it a try. Now I am on a hunt for a real Tupperware container that is just the right size for my turpenoid can. (I know I can just go to the regular store for these things but that wouldn't be as fun or as satisfying!) See Kim's complete blog post HERE

Do you have any unique items you take with you on your painting adventures? I'd love to share your ideas!

3 comments:

Mimi said...

Karen,
I love all your tidbits of information and also LOVE your work. I am working with Barbara Jaenicke each week, driving from Gainesville. I just read your post about the sunscreen visor and wanted to let you know that I have purchased a big bag of assorted size clamps from Big Lots for $5-$6I use them strictly for my pastels. To clamp photos on my easel, to secure my board to easel, etc. So thought it might be something you would find useful. There are several large clamps, medium, and smaller. Hope this helps in some way. Linda

Mimi said...

Karen,
I love all your tidbits of information and also LOVE your work. I am working with Barbara Jaenicke each week, driving from Gainesville. I just read your post about the sunscreen visor and wanted to let you know that I have purchased a big bag of assorted size clamps from Big Lots for $5-$6I use them strictly for my pastels. To clamp photos on my easel, to secure my board to easel, etc. So thought it might be something you would find useful. There are several large clamps, medium, and smaller. Hope this helps in some way. Linda

Karen said...

Thank you so much Linda! I will definitely head over to Big Lots!! Thanks for letting me know. If you happen to see any of the sun visors I know that Barbara is on the hunt for one!! Thanks for writing and maybe someday we'll get to meet since you aren't too far away!
Karen