I heART Journaling – Travel Journaling

My family loves to travel, and I love combining traveling with journaling. Sure, I take a lot of photos, too, but there is nothing like taking a little more time and sketching and writing about what you see and feel along the way. You will find you'll remember so much more than what a photo shows. Looking at the sketch of my Caprese salad from a recent trip, I distinctly remember the taste of the creamy mozzarella cheese, the basil, the tanginess of the balsamic vinegar, not to mention how the salad was artfully plated. Vacation memories!

A fun sketch from a trip to Galena, Illinois, last summer. Downtown Galena has several blocks of fun shops. While my husband was golfing, my kids (Erika and Nicholas) and I went "exploring and adventuring" visiting various shops, and enjoying some treats along the way.  

This entry was from several years ago, and I am including it to show another way of recording a trip by using a timeline/calendar approach. It's a quick and simple way to journal and capture some great memories. It lends itself to daily journaling, too.

Journaling on the go - my travel journaling kit. Depending on the activity, I pare it down even more to just a pen, travel watercolor kit, and waterbrush. Here is an entry from a trip last year where I go into more detail about it.

Tomorrow I will be teaching a journaling class from 12 noon - 4 pm at the Center for the Visual Arts in Wausau, WI. While we won't be traveling, I will be sharing the techniques I use when travel journaling. I believe in hands-on learning, so there will also be a number of writing and mixed media exercises including stencil-making, and making your own mini-journal--perfect for traveling! There is room for a few more peeps--we are so lucky they have such a nice, big studio space!--just register with the CVA by stopping in or calling 715-842-4545. 

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Fun Friday: Sketchbook Journaling on the Go...

"Ferocactus Pringlei"at The Living Desert, Palm Desert, CA
© Nancy Laliberte
pen and watercolor

Last week I was on vacation in the Palm Desert, CA area. It was sunny EVERY DAY. Bliss compared to the gray days and snow we have been having the last few weeks (feels like months). Whenever I travel I always bring a sketchbook. Sometimes I use it a little and sometimes a lot depending on the type of trip. This time I used it every day and then some. I really encourage you to keep some kind of journal when you travel. It can be sketches and notes, or ephemera (tickets, receipts, brochure bits of places you visit) or anything that appeals to you. When you take the time to sketch or write while you are in the midst of traveling, you gain so much more sensory-wise. When I look at these images, I remember the sunshine, the air, smells, and the activity around me. 

"Key's View"at Joshua Tree National Park, CA
© Nancy Laliberte
pen and watercolor

Sketching at Key's View at Joshua Tree National Park. An amazing place, I am definitely going back at some point to do more painting and sketching here. While to some, it may seem like miles of browns, but looking more closely, the colors are so much more than that.

"Hummingbird and Aloe"at The Living Desert, Palm Desert, CA
© Nancy Laliberte
pen and watercolor

Painting in-flight to help pass the time. All of my supplies went into the black and white
paisley bag and then I put that in my small carry-on bag. My water brushes, spray bottle and glue stick went into my quart-size TSA baggie.  

The goodies: sketch bag (Thirty-one Bag, 9" x 12"), a few water-soluble colored pencils, eraser, pencil, Uhu glue stick, Tombow brush markers, viewfinder, spray bottle, compact watercolor set, paper towel piece,  Handbook Art Journal, water brushes, black Identi-pen, date stamper, 1/2" flat watercolor brush, Tombow brush marker in black, Pitt pen in sepia, Pentel brush pen, an extra black pen, Signo white, gold and silver pens. I have a small cross-body bag I use when out and about, and would just bring the essentials with me: journal, water brushes, watercolor set, paper towel, viewfinder, pen, phone, and a snack. 

Art & Soul Creative Journaling Class March 5th
Next Tuesday is the March session of the Art & Soul Creative Journaling class I teach from 5:45 pm - 7:45 pm at the Wausau Hobby Lobby store. We will be working on travel journaling techniques--watercolors, collage, writing, drawing and more - perfect timing for your next trip. All supplies are included except your journal. I will be bringing some vacation items, but feel free to bring some of your own objects (sea shells, souvenirs) and ephemera (tickets, brochures, pictures). Sign up is on my website. And, yes, there will be chocolate. While you are there be sure to check out the other workshops and classes I have going this year.

A Big Shout-Out
A big shout-out to my fellow artist blogger friend, Mary Maxam. Mary had a painting give-away for her blog followers and guess who won? Yes, moi! I am so thrilled!!! Thank you, Mary! Mary's work is amazing so be sure to check out her blog and website.

Studio Fan Page
I have a studio fan page on Face book where I post behind the scenes art happenings in and out of my studio. If you haven't already Liked it, then you should and feel free to share with your friends. Thanks! I appreciate your awesome support!

Have a great weekend! 
I have a workshop I am teaching tomorrow at the Center for the Visual Arts in Wausau, and am so excited! 
take care, 
Nancy

Back from Vacation, Back to the Real World

Hibiscus Study

watercolor on paper

 I just recently returned from a Mexican vacation in Mazatlan. In the past I have brought my acrylics with me and plein air painted, but for the last couple of years I have brought my watercolors and travel sketchbook. It is small and light and easily fits into my carry-on or small backpack. I've sketched sights around the city, and our resort has beautifully landscaped grounds and interesting architecture so there is never a shortage of scenes for painting. This year on the flight down, I met another artist, Sharon D. from St. Paul, MN, and we were able to get together and paint at the resort. We had a great time, and I now have a new artist friend! Thanks Sharon! 

Travel journal setup

Included in my travel setup is a compact set of Winsor Newton watercolors, a Hand•Book artist journal sketchbook in the 5-1/2" x 8-1/4" landscape size (available from Dick Blick), a Niji brush (also from Blick), a retractable pencil, part of a kneaded earaser and a paper towel square. Everything except the sketchbook fits into a soft pencil case I picked up for $1 at Walgreens.

Edible color mixing

A couple days after I returned from my trip, I taught at the Center for the Visual Arts Expressions Art Day for children. My afternoon class was all about color theory and was geared for students in kindergarten through third grade. After we made color wheels and talked about color theory the kids were able to put to practice color mixing with frosting and food dye in the primary colors. I had a delightful group and they really got into it. I think more frosting went on the fingers and in the mouth than on the cookies! A big THANK YOU goes out to Val Berkely of the CVA for coordinating this event and to all of the students, parents and volunteers for making it an awesome day filled with a lot of excitement, art and creativity!