shipping supplies to Portola Hotel

AnthonyG wrote

on 3 Aug 2011 7:53 AM

This inquiry is an attempt to get some advice from the veteran artists who have attended the past two weekends with the masters.  Last year, I drove out to California and transported my own supplies.  Slowly but surely, I am learning how to eliminate what I don't need to take to the workshops.   Since I live in Pennsylvania, I am flying to California this year.  Needless to say, it is a very long drive from Pa. to Ca.   My comments and questions are these:  I am going to UPS my art supplies to the hotel in Monterey.  I have only and generalized idea in mind of how to go about sending the materials.  I would appreciate any and all advice as to the best way to approach the issue of packing and shipping the supplies and how to keep the costs of shipping in a reasonable zone.   I will be in three all day painting workshops.  I anticipate from my experience last year that I will probably be able to complete 3 to 6 paintings across the 3 days.  Thus I am considering 6 panels (art traditions) 9 x 12 to 11 X 14.  I will have  a couple RayMar wet panel carriers to hold the wet paintings.  Additionally, paints, brushes, trash bags, gamsol, etc.  Last year, I was far too ambitious regarding what I carried with me.  Essentially, I will need to ship materials out to the hotel and at the completion of the master's weekend ship the materials back home.  I would appreciate any advice from those who have been used UPS and shipped their equipment to the workshops.   (Also what about portable easels.  I use an EasyL versa easel with a tripod?)

Thanks friends for your help.

KatPaints wrote

on 3 Aug 2011 6:08 PM

Could you clarify some more information? Are you taking plein air workshops? If so, is this why you will be shipping your easel? Will you have a car? Will you be checking your bag? What is the fee?

I ask because last year I ended up using the easel provided at the workshop for my portrait painting workshops. I packed and checked everything. I noticed that the UPS shop set up at the end of the conference sold boxes. As I recall, I didn't think it was a great deal for me personally. So I would call the hotel and double check that they will do UPS separate from this special shipping. Otherwise, find a UPS store nearby.

To find out the best way to ship get an idea of the weight of everything being sent. Then contact UPS. Remember slower is cheaper. Then compare this with the cost of checking your airline bag. (Or having a carry on and one checked bag.) It is a really bad idea of bringing art supplies in a carry on bag. Don't do it. Then consider if it would be cheaper to bring a change of clothes and all your supplies in your luggage. It may be cheaper to ship your clothes. (If you need advice on bringing art supplies onto an airplane, I wrote a response to someone here somewhere.)

I would try keeping all the sizes of your  panels the same so you will not have smaller canvases flopping around. Also be sure these are lightweight panels. I brought only 4 panels because of the weight. I have a roll of canvas and I cut a few to the size of the panels. I figured if I finished early or did a second, I could use artists tape to secure it to the fourth board. That lightened my load tremendously. I wish I would have brought one panel and taped everything to it. My portraits were good, but I have done nothing with them. It wasn't worth the extra cost of a panel and my load would have been even lighter

If you tell me the classes your taking, I will give you my opinion on what you should bring. I'm not an expert at these things, but I'm willing to give it a go.

Also if you type a list of what you think you should bring maybe others can add in their opinion of what you can leave out.

Were you the person I met last year?

AnthonyG wrote

on 4 Aug 2011 7:52 AM

Thank you for your response to my post.  I will be involved in two plein aire workshops, hence my desire to use my EasyL versa easel.  I will be involved in a third still life workshop where I could perhaps use one of the easels provided.  That said, I guess I prefer the EasyL versa, especially for outdoor painting.  I am going to try to get along without a car since i am flying out to California.  As you know, there are plenty of flight restrictions regarding hazardous materials.  I am not going to try to deal with my art equipment and supplies on the plane.   I will be using lightweight panels (art traditions), essentially canvas adhered to a foam core base.  These are lightweight and easy to transport.   You advice of sticking to one standard size panel is good and I think more sensible that coping with different sizes.   I can probably get along without trying to ship Gamsol odorless mineral spirits.  Last year it was said that the workshop would provide Gamsol.  I don't know if they did or not since I had my own can of the ods with me.  Certainly if the workshops provide Gamsol, paper towels, trash bags, these could be eliminated from the shipping list.  However, I don't want to be in a situation where I am floundering around trying to find materials that I need.  My array of oil paints includes a range of about a dozen or so colors.  As I stated in my first post, I had more than enough oil paint with me last year.  I know I can cut down the amount of paint that I ship this year.  I could have supplied oil paints to five other artists last year.  Live and learn.  Again, sincere appreciation for your reply.  I don't believe we met last year.  Last year, I participated in a plein aire (Serrano),  and a still life workshop and life drawing workshop both with Sherrie McGraw.  I found your suggestions quite helpful.

KatPaints wrote

on 4 Aug 2011 5:00 PM

Today I listened to an old podcast that can be found on Itunes. It's called "Artists Helping Artists." If you search these words in the Itunes store you'll find it. Listen to the "Sisterhood of Traveling Paints" podcast. I'm sure that this will help you out. I think I'll add this to the topic on flying with paints in case someone googles it.They found much of the same info that I did online, but they have many more stories and hints to share. The podcast brought up some good hints about shipping through the post office. Definitely give it a listen.

Anyway, yes they provide paper towels and Gamsol. I don't recall extra trash bags for wrapping etc. Be realistic chances are you will not need some of what you bring. If you can use a limited palette that would be good or even the smaller tubes of paint of colors that you use less.

I have a tough time limiting what to bring, so keep this in mind. Maybe this will help me.

Here's my opinion:

Check the instructors supply list. Here is Serrano's from last year: ( I saved all the pdf's)

titanium white

Ultramarine Blue

Alizarin Crimson

Cad yellow pale

burnt sienna

yellow ochre

Thalo green

Other:

outdoor easel

umbrella

paper towels (not needed - supplied)

odorless thinner (not needed- supplied)

linseed oil

flat bristol brushes 4&6 (good idea)

viewfinder

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limit your brushes. If you were to bring one brush --  7 flat (Rosemary Ivory) or 6 or 8

If you were to bring four brushes - (for say 11 x 14 or 9 x12 panel)

12, 7 (8), 4, 1 flat

If you were to bring more brushes

12,10, 7(8), 4, 1 flats, 6 round, 4 rigger (bring a second brush of your favorite size - for me 7)

Personally, I find Serrano's palette a bit too limiting. I like a full palette. I would add Cad red, cerulean, cad yellow medium or cad orange and ditch ochre. Who are all your instructors? Try to find a balance with the various material lists.

Let me know how things progress.

AnthonyG wrote

on 5 Aug 2011 7:30 AM

Thanks again for your advice and comments.  I am really looking forward to the Master's Weekend in September.  I have a clearer notion of how I am going to approach this issue.  Mainly, eliminate weight and what is not necessary.