What a trip!  I loved every minute of my week in the Adirondacks at the Saranac Lake Plein Air festival.  I'm packing up now and about to have one more walk around the property to enjoy my last evening at Camp Arden.  See you again soon with more plein air adventures!

  Wrapping up another day and tomorrow is my last full day here in the Adirondacks.  Today was more relaxed as I explored Saranac Lake and we had our preview party in town.  Tomorrow is our show and sale which will be exciting!  Enjoy my Day 6 Vlog entry and I'll see you tomorrow for our finale.

  Day 5 was a busy one, but I had a lot of fun!  Here is my recap of the day along with some added motivational philosophy.

  I had a very productive day today!  I can't believe how quickly the time is going by, but I'm loving every minute of my time here.  So much to paint and so little time..

  Today's update includes a look at my nocturne painting from last night at Hotel Saranac.  I did two more paintings today, one of them was a mountain scene at Paul Smith's VIC and the other is a scene of my cabin at Camp Arden.  See you tomorrow!

  I started painting today and there are so many scenes around here!  I could easily spend a year painting here!  Enjoy my Day 2 update, which includes a goodie bag (un-bagging?).  I'll see you again tomorrow to share more!

  I'm so excited to share this Vlog post from Camp Arden in the Adirondacks, NY.  I have a week of plein air painting ahead of me and I'm happy to share updates as I explore Saranac Lake.  Tomorrow night, we'll be painting nocturne scenes at Hotel Saranac.  Stay tuned and thank you for your support!

  We are very proud to officially announce that we are working with the excellent distribution team at KQED Presents.  Receiving this letter of support from KQED is a big step forward as we continue to develop Eric En Plein Air.  Thank you again to everyone at KQED and Artemis Independent for supporting our work and series program!

  Getting ready for a trip is exciting, but it's normal to also feel a little nervous.  I often have the thought: "I don't want to forget anything!"  Here are some tips for travelers who want to bring along supplies to have some en plein air fun.

  I've been keeping lists for years and it's an invaluable tool when preparing to travel.  I have a "to-do" list in a small moleskine notebook and I also have a day planner that helps to keep me organized.  I like to make a list of supplies to bring and then check them off as I pack.  Now, let's see what supplies to bring.

  This can be a subjective question, but here is a breakdown of what I bring on a basic watercolor trip.

Essentials:
1. Paint - Tubes of paint fit nicely into a large ziplock bag and I don't have to worry about any leaking.

2. Palette - For watercolor, I use a folding metal travel palette.

3. Brushes - I like to bring a full set of brushes to make sure that I have enough.  Along with brushes, I use a brush cleaner so I bring that also.

4. Paper - I use watercolor "blocks", which contain about 20 sheets.  These come in a variety of sizes and are very compact.  Note that you'll need a letter opener or other tool to take the sheets off of the block as you paint; a palette knife works well for this.

5. Travel Easel - Watercolor easels are pretty easy to transport so if you have the room then bring one along.  Some painters work with an easel in their

Extras:
  I'm putting these materials into the "extras" category because you can bring them with you, or you can find a lot of them when you reach your destination.

1. Water Container - preferably two containers for watercolor.  These can be simple cups or jars.

2. Paper Towels - I like to use paper towels for watercolor and then I let them dry out so I can reuse them.  Some painters use a hand towel which would work also.

3. Umbrella - I like to have a plein air umbrella when I paint, but it's not a necessity so I'm putting it in the "extras" category.  If you have an umbrella and can bring it then I recommend it.

4. Pencils & Eraser - I like drawing on my paper before painting so a drawing pencil and eraser are useful for me.

5. Hat, Sunscreen, Bug Spray, Water Bottle, Snacks - These extras are to make your painting experience more enjoyable.  Staying hydrated when you're en plein air is important so bring a water bottle with you.  And of course, a snack or two never hurts!

  If you're traveling by plane, then you will have a different set of considerations when you're packing.  Oil painting can be especially difficult when traveling by plane so please make sure you do not bring any solvents (OMS, Gamsol, turpentine, etc.) aboard.  Put your tubes of paint in checked luggage with a note that explains what they are; please refer to this link from Michael Harding Paints for more information: https://www.michaelharding.co.uk/project/traveling-with-paints-2/

   With a little experience and guidance, you'll realize that it's really easy to travel with your art supplies for a plein air trip.  Remember, that you can also keep it really simple by just bringing a sketchbook.  Making art on location is a wonderful experience and I hope you'll bring along your materials on your next trip!