Have you ever gone of vacation, or out of town for the weekend, and had the itch to create but didn't have your sketchbook on you? Or perhaps you have a habit of drawing and don't want to break it.
In this blog post, I'll share tips on how to create art while traveling, and how to best equip yourself for a spontaneous art session. Traveling can be a great source of inspiration, and we want to make sure you can capture that creativity wherever you are.
Introduction
One of the most exciting things about creating art while out and about, is that inspiration can hit at any time! Especially when you find yourself in a new environment. When we experience something new, our brains release a chemical called dopamine, which makes us feel pleasure and satisfaction. Pair that with serotonin, a chemical that makes you feel calm and stimulates learning, and you end up feeling creative.
Creativity and inspiration often go hand in hand, but you can be inspired without feeling creative, or create when not feeling inspired. Travel often brings both to the table, which makes it great for creating art on your adventures regardless if it is just a study of architecture, or the creation of a character based on a native plant or landscape.
Benefits of Creating Art While Traveling
Just like art styles, our environments can evoke different emotions from the shape, contours, and colors. A great way to develop your own artistic voice is studying the world around you. Sure picture references can provide a visual to study, but being in an eerie, misty swamp is not the same as looking at a picture of one. Experiencing an environment can allow you to easier evoke those feelings and put them onto paper creating a more developed piece.
People of different cultures can also influence your art style. If you've ever people watched, you can deduce quite a bit about someone by how they dress, act, and even look. Lines, colors, and textures can portray the personality. Exploring different personalities can be a great way to develop how someone would look in your style.
Traveling is a great way to explore the world in your style. From locations to statues, and people to objects, there are a lot of things to study and be inspired by.
Tips for Traveling Artists
Pack Light
If you've ever traveled or spent the weekend out of town, you know that space is precious when packing for your trip. This is not the time to bring a tablet, 3 different sized sketchbooks, a 30 paint tubes, 100 copic markers, a handful of pens, pencils, and an eraser. The best practice, is to pack only a few different mediums that can be used together or separately, and to keep tools to the minimum. You may have seen some artists use altoid tin paint palettes with a fillable brush, or bring a pencil pouch of various tools, or just a tablet.
My personal preference is a medium to small sized sketchbook, 3 pens, a white gel pen, a few different pencils, 2 types of erasers, my pack of col-erase colored pencils, and a simple pencil sharpener with a plastic baggy for pencil shavings.
Capture Moments
One of my favorite things to do when traveling is using my sketchbook to art journal. I may draw a place I went to visit, a treat I picked up, or something else significant that happened that day. Art journaling can be a great way to also gain some inspiration for an art piece.
A reminiscent way to art journal, (thank you to my sequential art professor for this exercise} is separating your page into 4 sections: did, saw, heard, and this happened. Draw or write things for each section that you experienced that day. This can lead to a fun daily sketch or even inspire a full piece later on!
Explore Local Culture
If you are going somewhere with a vastly different culture try exploring it, and incorporating it into your art! Symbols, food, and cultural arts are great subjects to study and draw inspiration from.
Stay Flexible
One of the best things about art and travel, is that you can create anywhere, but that also means you need to be flexible. You may not always have a table or surface to put your supplies on, or the weather could change at a moments notice. Try not to be too picky when finding a spot to create, and don't worry about what may change.
Embrace Imperfection
"Happy accidents" are truly something to embrace while out and about. You never know if you'll be sketching on a bus, or when you might spill your coffee all over your sketchbook. Take it as a twist and incorporate it!
Conclusion
Creating art while traveling can be a great way to explore new places through your art and find inspiration. Additionally it can impact your art style and help you evoke feelings in a piece.
Whether you have a vacation coming up, or just exploring a local park you've never been to, getting out of the studio can be a great way to impact your art in a positive way. Try bringing your sketchbook with you on your next trip or casual outing or perhaps meet up with a friend at a local spot and see what you can create while in a new environment.
I hope you were able to take away some tips for creating art while traveling. Remember, the goal is not to be limited by your surroundings but to let them inspire your creativity!
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