A travel kit fails in one of two directions. Either it is so minimal that you cannot make anything you want to keep, or it is so complete that you leave it in the room.
The useful version sits between, and it is smaller than most people expect.
Twelve colours is plenty
Two blues, two yellows, two reds, two earths, a green, a violet and both neutrals will paint anything you meet. The discipline of a small palette produces more coherent work than the freedom of a large one.
Two brushes and a water brush
A round six for almost everything, a round two for detail, and a water brush for the days when standing up with a jar is not realistic.
Paper is the thing not to economise on
A small block of cotton paper weighs almost nothing and is the difference between a sketch you keep and one you do not. Everything else in a travel kit can be modest; this should not be.
Written by Tomas Reyes