No. 51: Evolving My Travel Sketchbooks
A Personal Pivot That Led to Two Unexpected Projects
As we prepared for our holiday travels, I felt torn about how to record the trip in my sketchbook. Should I make a special little book just for the trip, like I’ve done before? Or should I incorporate the daily adventures into my regular sketch journal? Maybe I should abandon it altogether and take a break. After all, I had just finished writing a new book on capturing adventures through art—perhaps it was time for a rest.
This trip would be too special not to capture, especially as time goes on it will become harder to find ten whole days for just the four of us to spend time together. So at the very last second, as I was locking up my studio, I remembered a tiny accordion book I had made from a scrap of Fabriano watercolor paper. It was just sitting there, waiting for the perfect project. I tossed it into my travel art supply kit, and as soon as we touched down in Paris, it became the focus of my creative energy. The small format—sixteen approximately 2" x 3" panels (including one for the title page)—made it simple to fill. Here is a post that shares the little book in progress.
Of course, I like to complicate things, so halfway through our trip, I decided the little book needed a cover or holder. The inspiration came unexpectedly at the airport on our way home: a Ricola cough drop box was the perfect size! Finding the right container became part of the journey and added to the adventure. Back in my studio, after covering the box with two coats of white acrylic paint, I added more story elements to the box itself. Below is a video that shares the final result:
Deciding to work on the tiny book was the first thing I did differently this vacation, and it felt like a refreshing change of pace. But as I started filling the pages, it didn’t feel like I was capturing enough of our whole family’s experience. We’ve always loved traveling with our boys, and I’ve diligently recorded these adventures in my sketchbooks. These travel journals have been central to my experience of our trips and are the foundation of my published books (especially the upcoming one) and much of the work I share with you.
So as a second project, this time I decided to involve the whole family in my creative process. I came up with the idea at the perfect time because I was able to pick up a simple spiral-bound sketchbook at one of the local shops down the street from our first Airbnb. While everyone in my family is an artist of some sort, none of them enjoys drawing the way I do. They express themselves in other ways, so I knew pressuring them to “draw” would only lead to resistance. Instead, I asked them to just scribble and make random marks. We took turns and watched what happened. To my surprise, it became the best collaborative project and an amazing bonding experience.
We created a page at every meal, and it became this thing everyone looked forward to (at least I think so!). By the end of the trip, we had filled the book with over twenty pages of memories, and I couldn’t be happier with the result. Back in my studio, I removed the spiral binding and taped the pages together, transforming it into a continuous accordion book that flows seamlessly from edge to edge. I am so pleased that others have responded so positively to this family project. I even asked my editor if we could include this as a prompt in my new book, as it’s a fantastic project for people of all ages, artistic levels, and interests. We are reviewing last proofs now, so we will see if we can make that happen! Here are a few of my favorite spreads:
And here is a full flip through video of the book:
I also worked on a few spreads in my regular sketchbook because, well, I like to overload myself—a true sign of loving what I do. I haven’t painted all of the pages yet but plan to share them soon. For now, here’s a glimpse of one page featuring our favorite coffee shop, Dreamin’ Man, in the Marais. Each morning, we hoped to snag an empty table there
This trip and its creative outcomes reminded me how grateful I am for being in a family who understands my passion and for the enduring joy that my sketchbooks bring to our adventures. I am so excited to share more about how you can draw your own adventures, big and small, in the coming months!
Do you know that I have a special post sharing all of my favorite places in Paris? It’s an evolving list that I update with each visit.
The next Draw Your World meetup with paid subscribers will be announced soon in the subscriber chat, and in the session we will talk about a February seven-day challenge.
This about sums it up. Just add a sketchbook next to cozy books!
Painting Miles: Draw Your Adventures
A Two-Day Workshop in Apex, NC
Friday, May 30 to Saturday, May 31, 2025
Halle Cultural Arts Center, 237 N Salem St, Apex, NC 27502
Over two days we will break down the various ways you can capture the world around you in the pages of a sketchbook. We’ll cover combining writing and drawing, fully detailed paintings, collage, and page design including lettering and playing with type.
The Draw Your World Palette
Seventeen hand-mulled pigments
The Draw Your World Palette, from ArtToolkit, includes an assortment of seventeen hand-mulled pigments from Greenleaf & Blueberry in a Black Pocket Palette, with colors ranging from modern primaries and convenience colors to specialty pigments such as faux gold and faux silver. I selected my favorite and most frequently used colors and arranged them based on my daily illustration practice. The result is a unique and comprehensive palette designed to inspire you to capture the world around and within you. Once these sell out, they will not be available again. We plan to collaborate again on a different palette that will come out next summer timed with the publication of my new book, Draw Your Adventures. If you would like to purchase a set from me directly, I have a small amount to sell. Please email me and we can coordinate. I am offering free shipping within the US to my subscribers (first come, first served).
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Most of my Skillshare classes feature my favorite Caran d’Ache art supplies. My relationship with the US distributor, Creative Art Materials, started back when I wrote Draw Your Day in 2018, and they saw how heavily I featured their art tools—many that I have been using since I was in grade school. Click here to find some my favorites on the Orange Art website.
All Canvas lights and accessories are 10% off with my discount code: SDB10.
Brilliant! Love this idea - perfect for a trip.
I loved the shared journal. We have an upcoming 3 sister trip and I got journals for myself and my sisters but I think I will only bring one journal to share! Wonderful post.