–

I loved this book by Danny Gregory and give it five stars. It has a short excerpt by different artists about their travel journaling practice, complete with materials they liked and why they do it, accompanied by some photos of their work.  

I read this in anticipation of my trip, partly to get me revved up and inspired, but also for some practical tips on the best materials for me to take to use on my own trip. I have followed the advice proffered here and have chosen watercolors, journaling paper, and pens that were recommended. I can’t wait to use them to create my own travel journal and share it with you!

This book on journaling showed clearly that everyone’s style is very different– from exacting to loose– in a way that it helps one just do their own thing and accept it for what it is: experience. The one common ground these folks share is a feeling that even though they see less on their travels when journaling because they cover less ground than others within the same amount of time, they experience what they do much more deeply, meaningfully, and remember it better. This is how we plan to handle our trip as well.

This book is filled with all sorts of sparks of wisdom, and quotes like this bit from the famous architect Le Corbusier: “When one travels and works with visual things – architecture, painting, or sculpture– one uses one’s eyes and draws, so as to fix deep down in one’s experience what is seen. Once the impression has been recorded by the pencil, it stays for good, entered, registered, inscribed. The camera is a tool for idlers, who use a machine to do their seeing for them. To draw oneself, to trace the lines, handle the volumes, organize the surface…. all this means first to look, and then to observe, and finally perhaps to discover…. and it is then that inspiration may come.”

I encourage you to think of sketching on your travels this summer. We are certainly looking forward to it. And to get your juices flowing, I recommend this delightful book!

–