“A sketch has a freshness, a directness, an instinctive response to the subject matter that often gets lost in a more elaborate statement.” – Thomas W. Schaller
In an era of endless smartphone photos, there’s something profoundly intimate about documenting your travels through sketching. Each line drawn captures not just what you see, but how you experienced that moment in time. From John Singer Sargent’s luminous watercolors of Venice to David Hockney’s iPad drawings of Yorkshire landscapes, artists throughout history have used quick sketches to capture the essence of their journeys.
Rich Tradition of Travel Sketching
The practice of travel sketching dates back centuries. In the 1800s, Eugene Delacroix filled numerous sketchbooks during his transformative journey through North Africa, capturing the vibrant colors and dynamic scenes that would influence his later masterpieces. John Ruskin, the great Victorian art critic, insisted that drawing was essential to truly seeing and understanding a place. His detailed architectural sketches of Venice not only documented the city’s magnificent structures but preserved them for future generations.
More recently, Urban Sketchers, a global community of artists, has revolutionized how we think about travel art. Their motto, “showing the world, one drawing at a time,” encapsulates the power of personal perspective in documenting our surroundings.
Before Your Journey:
Preparation is Key
- A lightweight, durable sketchbook
- 2-3 waterproof drawing pens of varying widths
- A small set of watercolor pencils or a compact watercolor palette
- Water brush or collapsible water cup
- Mechanical pencil and eraser
- Small ruler or template for straight lines
- Sketch everyday objects in timed sessions (5-10 minutes)
- Practice quick gesture drawings of people in motion
- Experiment with different media to find what works best for you
During Your Journey: What to Sketch
En Route
- Airport terminals and waiting areas
- Fellow travelers
- Views from train or airplane windows
- Maps of your journey
- Transportation vehicles
At Your Destination
- Architecture and streetscapes
- Local food and drinks
- Market scenes and vendors
- Natural landscapes
- Cultural events and performances
- People in daily life
- Local flora and fauna
- Street signs and typography
Travel Sketch Prompts
- Morning ritual: Capture your breakfast setup or the view from your accommodation
- Local transportation: Sketch the unique vehicles of your destination
- Weather moments: Document how weather affects the local scene
- Cultural contrasts: Draw what surprises you about the local culture
- Time-based series: Same location at different times of day
- Collection studies: Local objects, foods, or patterns
Technical Tips for Success
- Begin with simple geometric forms
- Add details progressively
- Focus on proportions before details
- Quick thumbnail sketches in grayscale
- Establish light and shadow patterns
- Create depth through contrast
- Include location names and dates
- Note weather conditions and time of day
- Add brief written observations or memories
- Quick, loose sketches often capture more energy than perfect renderings
- Don’t worry about mistakes – they add character
- Focus on what interests you most in the scene
After Your Return: Creating a Visual Journey
- Review and organize your sketches chronologically
- Add notes about memories or experiences
- Create a digital archive of your favorite pieces
- Consider creating a themed collection of your travel sketches
- Share your work with fellow artists and travelers
Legacy of Your Travel Sketchbook
Each sketch you create becomes more than just an image – it’s a time capsule of your experience, capturing the sights, sounds, and emotions of your journey. Unlike photographs, sketches force us to slow down, observe deeply, and truly connect with our surroundings.
For those ready to embark on their sketching journey or elevate their current practice, we proudly recommend Leda Art Supply sketchbooks. Each purchase supports our mission of nurturing creativity and promoting mental well-being through art. Leda offers eight versatile sizes to suit every artist’s needs, from pocket-sized companions perfect for spontaneous inspiration to professional-grade larger formats. The cream-colored, soft and smooth lush paper provides the perfect surface for various media, while the water-resistant cover ensures your work stays protected wherever inspiration takes you.
What stories will your sketchbook tell? Begin your visual diary today and join the centuries-old tradition of artists who have found their voice one page at a time. Check out this premium A5 sketchbook to get started.
