Today, I learned that my waterbrush, fountain pen and watercolor palette all FREEZE at 20 degrees! It is VERY hard to paint with frozen everything. Where is that vodka when I need it? Often, when it's cold, I pare down my supplies to a couple of pens and water brushpen in my pocket, and my travel palette in my other pocket. Naturally, they stay warm. On this first cold sketch day, I grabbed my bag like normal, and never thought of the cold, nor of grabbing my oils - which would have performed perfectly at this temperature. The water and paint slushed up into icy crystals on both brush and paper, and I couldn't figure out why my TWSBI fountain pen was not flowing ink - even when I licked it! TWSBIs ALWAYS work, it's why they are my workhorses. I guess 20 degrees is enough to freeze the ink! Who knew? It was a crazy morning of learning new lessons, and I wished I was closer to the car, where I actually have a little spray bottle with vodka and lemongrass oil. I could totally have put that in my water brush pen for good paint flow. This beautiful place deserves more painting time, and I hope to capture more of it in the future. Painting number 4729 in 4729 days.
