13 Comments
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Shay Cop's avatar

I love all the anecdotes! And I can actually hear you saying them! Hoping for a wildly successful trip for you and thank you for sharing your work! I love it!

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Brian Biggs's avatar

Hey Shannon! Thanks

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barb's avatar

great post. have a fun trip!

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Dunja Popin's avatar

Ahh, such difficult decisions! When travelling, I only use a few things - three or four - but I try to take as much as possible, because if I don't, I know I'll miss precisely the things I left behind! If I add a small box of watercolours I will inevitably miss my pastels, and so on, but I can't bring everything and... missing a material can be an excellent excuse to visit local shops.

For everyday use in my purse I have an 8B pencil, an Ecoline Brush pen in a pale shade, and for permanent lines a ballpoint pen because it can make fantastic gradations.

And a tiny Sakura sketchbook.

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Brian Biggs's avatar

Love the idea of the local shops. While I needed to find ink in France, I did enjoy finding it in Nice.

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Jacob Souva's avatar

Sounds incredible! Loved reading about the supplies and angsty decisions only artists understand. 💪

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Andrew James's avatar

Such a fun read, Brian. I too am about to start packing for a big trip, and the art supplies are definitely the hard part.

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Brian Biggs's avatar

I mean, it should be "two uniball pens and a Moleskin," but no. We have to get all emotional about it.

Where to?

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Andrew James's avatar

Haha yep. No real reason not to keep it simple but I want my emotion support pencil case!

I fly into Berlin and out of Zurich, but I’m going on a train trip the long way round via Poland, Prague and Austria. Drawing is the main point of the trip and I’m travelling solo so I know I’ll get plenty done.

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Brian Biggs's avatar

Oh wow. Drawing on a train! I will look for posts.

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The Repurposed Life's avatar

I hate to be this person, but… you forgot the otter!!! 🦦

Otherwise, this was a really great read.

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Brian Biggs's avatar

Otter was there last night! Ugh -- I edited the substack so he is there now, though all 994 emails won't change.

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The Repurposed Life's avatar

He probably had a family cuteness emergency and had to leave early. 😉

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