Summer is nearly upon us and people everywhere are getting ready to do a little traveling. Maybe for vacation or maybe just to visit some friends and family in distant places. Most of us capture our visits with dozens if not hundreds of photos in our phones, or as I like to call them, our personal entertainment devices. But how many of you actually go back and look at all the photos you’ve taken? Probably not too many.
I want to encourage you to develop the habit of recording your trips and making small sketches in a travel journal. This doesn’t have to be complicated or involve carting around tons of equipment. And you surely do not need to record details of every minute of your trip. But a travel journal is often helpful to prompt your recall of that marvelous chocolate shop in the Marais District of Paris, or the intriguing rock shop at Zion National Park. A note now will save much time trying to recall those lost memories.
I recently had the very great pleasure to visit relatives in California, both northern and southern. Although I have traveled to California before, this visit was pure pleasure and exposed me to many beautiful sights. Plus, I dined on all kinds of delicious food. Yum.
Since I was traveling very light, I only took the barest of art equipment and a journal in which I’ve recorded many other trips over the years. I make brief notes of daily activities, plus some essential facts about the details of my travels. My greatest pleasure is to capture some scenes through sketches and small watercolors. The best part of my recordings is that they help me to concentrate on the scenes and set them firmly in my memory. Obviously I can’t capture every scene, but am happy with the ones that I do. They mean so much to me when I review my travel journals at a later time.
These are some of the sketches from my recent journal. My metal Prang watercolor set has been refilled with professional watercolors. It is so old that it’s a collector’s item now. I only carry three or four small brushes, a mechanical pencil (no sharpener required), a pen with permanent ink, a folding water container, all in a resealable bag. The notebook is only 5 x 7 inches. I have smaller sketchbooks and larger ones but this size fit in my backpack and was easy to carry.
The first day we visited the beautiful Municipal Rose Garden in San Jose. I could smell the scent before I even entered the gardens. People of all ages were strolling or lounging in the shade of some magnificent redwoods. We sat in the shade and caught up with life while I made this sketch. You do not have to include every detail when you are sketching but may take liberties to change things to suit your needs. You’re trying to catch the spirit of the scene, not necessarily the exact replica.
Another day we drove out to Half Moon Bay and walked out to Pillar Point to see the surf. Later, we drove down the iconic California Highway #1 to Santa Cruz for dinner on the pier. I even spotted a plein air painter on a bluff above the ocean.
One day we took the train up to San Francisco for a day of sight-seeing. Starting at the Palace of Fine Arts, we walked to Crissy Field, down the shore to Copper’s Corner. I sketched the Golden Gate Bridge from this vantage point. Fortunately my son took pity for my knees and respect for the hills of SF to hire cars to take us to various spots. We ended our outing having lunch at the famous Sam Wo’s restaurant. I was exhausted by the time we took the train back to San Jose.
Later, I flew down to LA where I reunited with my sister and nephew and niece whom I haven’t seen in many years. They were the best hosts and tour guides. We visited the outstanding Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach. Another day we went to the Getty Museum atop the hills. The collection was beautiful as was the museum and the views. One day was spent at the wonderful Hilbert Museum viewing its impressive collection of California art. Special kudos for my nephew’s husband and his navigation of the LA traffic, all without a hint of impatience.
Did I sketch everything that I saw or visited? Of course not! But I captured some significant to me places and events. Plenty of food for thought and future paintings. Meanwhile, I can refresh my memories with my sketchbook and notes.
So while you’re planning your next trip or vacation, don’t forget to pack your sketchbook and some drawing materials. Happy traveling!
Here are a couple of links to previous postings about travel sketching.
I'm a professional artist, retired director of a performing arts center, bona fide book addict, and enjoy the quiet life...most of the time. I'd love to hear from you or get your ideas for future posts. Come back soon!
my90acres 