Watercolor Travel Kit

Carrying a small watercolor kit is something that I do on every trip. I also take it with me to local parks, quick outdoor painting sessions and even when I get the truck serviced. I paint while waiting for the flight, on the plane, in the field looking for horses.

My kit is very light and minimal. It all fits in a small fanny pack. I use a Moleskin watercolor field book. Ninja Water brush, Rosemary travel brush, Nalgene water container, empty Metal Watercolor box, which I fill with full pans of colors that I use the most. I also use a Sucret's tin for additional colors. I also have a couple of brushes, pencils, a small sponge and cotton cloth that I can clip within easy reach. I keep a few business cards in my pack as well.

Please let me know if I can answer any questions. Keep painting!

At Assateague Island.

The Museum of Natural History. 

At Sky Harbor waiting for my flight.

Bear Mountain, NY.

With Meredith Hudes-Lowder and her travel harp.

In flight.

A lay-over.

A local park.

Assateague Island National Seashore.

Assateague Beauty - Wild Horses with the Ocean

Assateague Island has a wonderful combination of ocean side and bay side views. The warmth of the sun and cool ocean blue is a wonderful balance to the warm coat colors of the horses.

"Assateague Beauty"
Oil
18x24
$800.00

"Assateague Beauty", combines the beauty of the ocean and horses that makes it such a magical place.

Assateague Island Alliance Painting and Photogorphy Workshop

The Assateague Island Alliance sponsored workshop, Painting and Photographing Wild Horses was a wonderful success. The participants were talented and engaged. They eagerly approached the adventure of painting unrestrained horses that move  on their own timetable. We covered painting in oils, quick watercolor sketches and gesture sketching. The Photography sessions with Meredith Hudes-Lowder of Equus ferus Wild Horse Photography were educational and full of insight. Students learned to make  the most  of their DSLR, point and shoot and smart phone cameras.

Many thanks for Assateague Island Alliance, Equus ferus Wild Horse Photography and our awesome workshop participants!

Follow us on Facebook:

Karen McLain Studio

Equus ferus Wild Horse Photography 

Assateague Island 2016

We are getting ready for the Painting and Photographing Wild Horses at Assateague Island. Meredith Hudes-Lowder of Equus ferus Wild Horse Photography will lead photography sessions to assist participants take better reference photos; and I will be teaching painting horses from life. The three day workshop is sponsored by Assateague Island Alliance.

Contact Assateague Island Alliance for registration information.  

Workshop dates: October 28th-30th. $300.00 

2016 Wild Horse Painting Trip

The 2016 Wild Horse Painting trip is over and I am back in Arizona. It was a wonderful trip to see herds of horses that I have visited every summer as well as the first herd that I ever saw.  The light was stunning and the weather was perfect.

Painting from life is the best way to learn and grow.

Meredith Hudes-Lowder of Equus ferus Wild Horse Photography chronicled the trip with short videos in addition to teaching a workshop and taking amazing photos. During the trip, Meredith played her Harpcile Harp, which was  delightful for myself and our friends.  

It is always a treat to see Picasso.

At the end of the trip, we drove to Las Vegas for the Star Trek's 50th Anniversary.

Thank you for following the Adventure!

Summer Wild Horse Painting Trip--Pre-Sale Event

During the last six years, I spend time each summer painting different mustang herds. Every year, I strive to visit new herds and learn more as I observe and paint.  This summer, as I have done in the past, I am pre-selling paintings that are based on this adventure.

Pre order a 9x12 painting and receive 30% off my standard price.

I will travel to the  Sand Wash Basin, McCullough Peaks, and Pryor Mountain, with additional stops at the Great Basin and Cold Creek herds. During this trip, I am meeting Meredith Hudes-Lowder of Equus ferus Wild Horse Photography.  We will present a free open photography workshop  at Sand Wash Basin July 27, 2016.

Painting at Sand Wash Basin, 2015.

I am leaving in July for the range to paint  as many field studies of the horses and landscape as I can. When you pre-order a 9x12 painting based this trip, I will take 30% off my standard pricing.

How it works:

Original 9x12 oil painting $225.00 Quantities limited
Pre Order Price: $157.50 plus shipping. Two payments of $78.75 plus shipping.

 Payment on the first installment needs to be made before I leave, and the second payment is made when I return and you choose your painting. Choice is awarded in the order that you take advantage of the offer. (So make the first payment now!) You will be able to choose your painting in August. If you want to make other arrangements for payment, please email me.

Offer ends July 20th.

Join my e-newsletter and hear about my adventures, sign-up here.

"The Paint Box" 1972 Shasta 

 To see more photos from my Adventures visit my "Go There, Paint That" page.

New York visit- The Met, Natural History Museum and the Hudson Valley

Last week I had the opportunity to visit my wonderful friend Meredith Hudes-Lowder in New York. While she was at work, I visited the Met and the Natural History Museum.  We also visited the Weir Farm, the Catskills, Woodstock, beautiful waterfalls, West Point, Bear Mountain, the Monastery, and a session of kobudo.
While I worked on quick watercolor paintings, Meredith played the harp, enjoying the beauty of the Hudson Valley.

Sky Harbor Airport

Sketching Rosa Bonheur's "The Horse Fair" 

Museum of Natural History

Meredith playing along side Catskill waterfalls 

The Weir House

Bear Mountain

Bear Mountain

Meredith's Kobudo session

The China Pier

The China Pier 

Museum of Natural History

The layover