My family and I took a bicycle trip with family and friends last month. One of my goals was to paint large, to practice for my upcoming Washington State Ferries artist-in-residency. I prepped sheets 11” x14” watercolor paper and packed my favorite gator board folio and tripod, as well as my studio palette and some big brushes! Also, as always, I had my Art Toolkit.

A tandem bicycle next to an e-bike with a trailer parked on a ferry deck.
Big bikes!

And how did I carry so many art supplies, you might wonder? We brought the big bikes, our favorite family tandem bicycle, as well as our ebike towing a trailer. We had one big travel day on both the Blackball Ferry and biking from Victoria about two hours up to Swartz Bay to catch a BC Ferry, where we met friends.

Many cargo bicycles parked on the left side of a ferry car deck with a view of the water and another ferry in the distance.
So many bicycles from so many friends!

Once on the ferry, I immediately started sketching. It’s fun to work large! The words of my watercolor mentor and friend Tom Hoffmann echo in my head, “big brushes make for big ideas.” Since practicing more with direct watercolor painting, I dove straight into painting with my brush.

A woman in a hat and jacket holds a paint brush over a tripod with a paper and board on it while on a ferry.
Ferry boat sketching

I had to work fast to capture the light and scene as we were underway.

a loosely painted watercolor with blue sky, clouds, islands, and a ferry
Leaving Swartz Bay, 11” x 14” watercolor

The light shifted and I started painting two paintings at once with more atmosphere. I love working on multiple pieces at the same time so I can set one aside to dry.

a purple/grey watercolor of islands, sky, and water.
2.5” x 10.5” watercolor of the Southern Gulf Islands

I painted these two with a variation of my favorite limited palette, using Deep Scarlet, Yellow Ochre, Cerulean Blue Chromium, and Indanthrone Blue.

a grey/purple watercolor of islands, sky, and water.
11” x 14”, Enroute to Galiano.
An ink and watercolor sketch of kids playing in a harbor with boats and islands in the background.
Montague Harbor

Once we reached our campsite on Galiano Island, I pulled out my Art Toolkit and favorite Folio Palette and enjoying sketching with a large square Hahnemühle ZigZag book. I love the accordion format of ZigZag books for adventures, and their flexibility for small or extended compositions.

a hand holding a sketchbook with a sunset sketch in it.
Sketching boat fun.
A sketchbook on the sand with a watercolor palette and paint brush overlaying it.
Low tide

I finished our camping trip with one more watercolor painting of sunset. I’ve found it freeing to let go of creating a detailed sketch first, although I notice my horizon lines often end up a bit wobbly! I may start doing a loose pencil sketch, but will see what feels right in the moment.

Watercolor painting of a sunset over a harbor with islands and sailboats.
Sunset, 11” x 14” watercolor
A woman sketching on the beach with watercolor supplies around her.
Sunset sketching on Galiano Island.

Of course I always appreciate my patient and supportive family! This trip was a blast and special thanks to my brother and everyone who helped organize the amazing camping experience.

A photo of a family of three sitting by the water.
My family, photo by Aiden Knight.