the illustrated journal

Happy February

As you can see I posted drawings most days in January (as befitting an irresolution). I continue to try to draw every day, even if it's for a few minutes. 

If you have spent any time following "drawing a day" threads you discover that they merge into illustrated journal sites. I started keeping illustrated nature journals when I worked as a naturalist in my 20's. Now I usually keep an illustrated journal when I work as an ecotour guide or when I travel on my own. You can see some of my journal pages on the illustrated journal page of this site. It's a great way to keep a record of life but also to slow down and be in the moment. Of course, you need a patient travel companion. And/or you need to learn some tricks for getting down a quick drawing. You can frame your drawings in tiny boxes (postage stamp drawings) and restrict yourself to working inside them; you can do a contour drawing (a drawing where you confine yourself to looking at the object not the paper, following a continuous edge.) Learning to simplify what you are drawing is key. Don't try to get everything in. That's what photographs are for!

When I travel I try to carry just the bare minimum of materials. In case you missed my favourite things post l'll show here again my favourite journal: Moleskine 5" x 8" watercolour journal 

As far as paints go, I have always travelled with a small field palette, at least I thought it was small at 4" x 10". Recently I have replaced it with a 2 1/2" x 5" Winsor & Newton palette:

It's important to empty any student grade paint, which these small palettes come with, and replace it with fresh squeezes of artists watercolour. I cut the end of one of my favourite brushes off and extend it with this blue tubing, which I slip over the tip when it's packed in the paint box. I found that the tips of the collapsible travel brushes are too fine.  

I also travel with some favourite pens--a couple of which I wrote about in a previous post More about pens in later posts.

Meanwhile, you might want to look at my illustrated journal page or read about the course I teach on Keeping An Illustrated Journal. 

Check out these sites of inspiring illustrated journalers:

Danny Gregory was at the forefront of illustrated journaling in the U.S. As well as publishing his own journals, he edited a wonderful book, An Illustrated Life, drawing inspiration fron the private sketchbooks of artists, illustrators and designers. As you can imagine, it is full of intimidatingly fabulous drawings. Remember these are professional artists!

Elain Genser keeps a charming illustrated journal of her travels to Victoria BC coffee shops: