On a recent vacation, I sketched and wrote in my first Travel Art Journal. It made me more mindful then, and brings to mind now, what I experienced, thought, and felt. It gave me a reason to sketch and paint, skills I want to develop.
I prepared it ahead of the trip, adapting ideas I found from artists and writers, but keeping it fairly simple. I thought I would sketch more often, but opted to be active instead, sketching and painting at the end of the day or in the morning from my photos.
A travel journal can be as simple or elaborate as we like.
It can include:
pockets for paper memorabilia
printed photos
scraps of things purchased
brochures and maps of places visited
sketches of meals
menu cards (in a pocket perhaps?) which list daily meals
a page for conversation snippets you overhear
stories you learn from strangers along the way
notes for next time you travel: things you wish you had packed, things you didn't need
how you felt about what you experienced
stickers, washi tape, stamps
I brought an envelope with colored papers and some pocket templates I made ahead. I didn’t use much of it. I found a collection of pockets at Hobby Lobby I packed at the last minute and ended up using one of those for the airplane shots.
Next time I’ll bring a few pockets ready to glue and leave the templates at home.
I loved having a focused way to be creative while away from my studio. I would do it again.
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