EH Sherman Art - Abroad!

At this time tomorrow, we'll be in Miami.

My shops have been put on "hiatus", bags are packed, electronics are charging and I am sitting here at my desk with a tiny glass of Schramms blackberry mead, (another lovely perk about living in Michigan!) thinking about the journey ahead.

I've written before about how much of my work is based off my actual, physical local - and how near and dear to my process adventure and exploration are. The same way I try to 'look differently' at my surroundings to 'paint differently', seeing something new invariably leads to painting something new. Getting out there is just part and parcel of what my work is about.

And boy, has it been awhile since we've been out there.

We're headed to Miami to reconnect with friends and family for a bit, then off to Copenhagen for a few days, then a road trip around Ireland with my husband's parents. ((If you have any suggestions of where to go while at any of these places, please let me know in comments!)) I've packed my clothes; I'm pretty good at picking a small capsule type wardrobe for trips - I usually only take a backpack so literally every piece of clothing I bring goes with at least 3 other things, and I'm finishing packing up my art supplies.

I'm just now realizing that my supplies take up more room than my clothing does... but we'll have access to laundry, so I'll be fine. Lol.

I usually get a lot of questions about what I take when I make work while traveling - and for this trip especially, I'll absolutely be working from the road - so here's a quick rundown of what I'm bringing. 

1.) 5 sheets of 20 x 30 Arches paper. It can be a bit expensive, but I usually cut each piece down into a few smaller pieces which offsets the price a bit.

2.) Tube-folio. I picked one that would fit inside my backpack, after a horrid experience leaving one behind in Berlin (FULL of work...) 

3.) Fredrix watercolor canvas sheets. These are so much fun. 9 x 12, great for accepting watercolors, liquid acrylics, all sorts of watermedia. Nice and travel sized too.

4.) Golden liquids; white and indigo. If I'm packing only carry-on as we sometimes do, I'll find an artstore in the vicinity of where we are staying that carries these. They are integral to my work and if I can't fly with them, I'll get them on location.

5.) Daniel Smith Gouache; white and naples yellow. These tubes go everywhere with me.

6.) Golden fluid; bone black and paynes gray. Small enough that I can bring these in my carry-on.

7.) Strathmore Watercolor sketchbook.

8.) Old paint towel.

9.) Fredrix Nature Core canvas boards. These things are awesome. Paints like a canvas, but lighter and a bit more durable in transport.

10.) Notebook.

11.) Assorted Brushes.

13.) Daniel Smith Watercolor sticks. I'll paint directly from the sticks, or chop off a bit and dissolve it in water for a nice wash. In their dry state they don't harm the carry-on rule either :)

13.) TAPE.

14.) Instax camera. I use this to see things a bit differently sometimes. Finished pieces, landscapes, people... the film changes an image in a way that affects how I process it. I also like to have physical pictures from our travels :)

What about you? Anything you can't leave behind? It would be fun to make some sort of masterlist, with a ton of artist contributors!

I'll check back in when we arrive in Copenhagen! On to Adventure!

Painting Osorno

One of my favorite memories from our trip to Chile in January was venturing up the active (though resting) volcano Osorno. We took a chairlift from the base and then hiked to the highest spot you can reach without climbing gear.

I was awed by the contrast of the red and black pumice against the lazily lifting clouds, and the deep ruddy browns that bled out of the blindingly white snow at the peak. It was heartbreakingly beautiful. Being summer, the melting snow was dyed with the colors of the earth, and trickled down the slopes in sloshes of dirty runoff.

It was up here, as I stood overwhelmed with the beauty of the land -  that I also learned I have a relatively overpowering fear of landslides. As the snow melted, it cleaved and cracked over the wet earth and started a few small pebbles rolling down the face of the volcano. Which of course I immediately imagined would turn into a raging pyroclastic landslide. After taking a bunch of hasty photos at the crest, my voice can be heard in Dan's video whispering forcefully and laden with fear, like something out of a B movie... "We need to get off the volcano. Now." 

Now it's a funny story -- but then the fear was real, (Rather silly I admit, but still real) which is why I think this particular expedition stands out above the others. As such, I had been wanting to do a painting from that experience (though focusing on the abstract beauty of the place, and less on my irrational fear...) and made a bit of time last weekend to organize my sketches and photos from that day.

I selected a freshly primed linen canvas (follow me on snapchat to see how I make them : LemonSherman) and tried to get into the headspace I remembered from our journey up the slope.

I was able to wrap up work on this yesterday, and am now just waiting for the sun to come back out to seal the piece. 

Hope everyone has a fantastic week!

#artistonvacation -- Chile!

The husband and I are on our second week here in Chile and it's safe to say I'm in love. The country is breathtaking, the food is delicious (avocado on a hotdog is pure brilliance...), the people warm and friendly and the scenery is absolutely awe-inspiring. 

I don't want to ever leave, but I am also so, SO excited to get back into the studio and paint all these mountain and sea inspired feelings.

And if you placed an order this week or last, do not fret - my lovely studio assistant is sending them all out right on schedule :)

Happy Friday friends!

#artistonvacation :: Belgium

A few photos from my little birthday Belgian adventure <3

Will be back in the States next weekend -- wishing everyone the loveliest of days!