Travel art has always fascinated me. Not only are the pieces of art beautiful, but it seems like it can enhance an experience. I’ve always loved to draw, so coming into the world of travel art seemed like a natural next step. Yet, in the past few months, I’ve discovered while I love to see all kinds of travel art, only certain methods work for me. This whole experience has challenged me to reevaluate the way I approach art.
My Passion for Art
I have been drawing for longer than I can remember. As a kid, I loved to draw, and it only became more prominent as I grew up. One of my biggest influences early on was anime. Growing up with Studio Ghibli films, I fell in love with the Japanese animation style early on. Anime influences gave me the initial push to improve my art and sparked my interest in Japan. More than 10 years later, here I am, studying abroad in Japan and learning so much.
I end up with a ton of opportunities to stamp in my sketchbook, glue in tickets, and cut out pictures from travel guides.My Initial Understanding of Travel Art
Several years ago, I read a book about urban sketching, which gave me a beautiful, idealized look at drawing on location. This, coupled with videos I saw online, gave me the impression that the best travel art was done by looking out at the world in front of you and drawing the scene in real-time. I still think this is a great method of art, and I love the pieces and styles that come from it. However, recently, I have found that this technique does not work particularly well for me.
My Struggles Making it Work
The biggest problem I have with drawing on location is time. If I am out and about, I typically have activities planned and things I want to do. Often, this involves not only my time but other people’s as well. So, for example, if I visit a beautiful place with friends, I don’t want them just to sit there while I sketch the area. Even if I’m alone, while I could sit and draw, that means less time to explore. In some cases, that’s fine, but often, I’m too allured by the idea of seeing as much as possible to want to sit still and draw.
Food Art
I have recently realized that I really enjoy drawing food. In fact, I have realized that I like drawing food more than I like drawing places. What I don’t understand is how some travel artists draw food that is in front of them. Does the food not become lukewarm? Is this person not trading their own satisfaction in their meal for a drawing? Why would they do that? These questions have haunted me. I want to be a real travel artist, but I simply cannot fathom not eating my food while it’s still at maximum freshness.
This is the gelato I had with a friend after visiting the Snoopy Museum. I was thrilled by how well the sketchbook handled the amount of watercolor I used for this picture.What Actually Works
If I try to push myself to create a certain kind of art in a certain kind of way, I often become demotivated. While seeing other people’s art can be very inspiring, ultimately, everyone has to find their own way of expressing creativity. I have realized that when I like drawing in the evening after I’ve eaten, I’m snug in my dorm, and I have no intention of going out again.
Naturally, this means that I don’t do much drawing on location. Instead, I look through my camera roll and draw what I want from the fun things I’ve seen. This has not only led me to draw more; it’s made me feel more inspired and happier while I’m drawing. Additionally, it’s inspired me to continue working on other projects.
Materials Which Work for Me
My go-to sketchbook has been a cheap sketchbook that you can get almost anywhere in Japan. It’s cheap, high-quality enough to hold up with some watercolors, low-quality enough that nothing will ever look professional on it, and perfect for me. I use my sketchbook as a physical record of places I’ve been, foods I’ve eaten, and whatever else I feel like adding. It’s meant to be a casual place for me to experiment and play around with. I tend to do the drawings and paintings in less than an hour and glue tickets and receipts onto the pages. It’s also the perfect place for collecting stamps from stations and museums.
My materials! These sketchbooks are available at tons of stores in Japan. As for the other supplies, I use mechanical pencils, paintbrushes, and a stocked reusable watercolor palette.Should Everyone Have a Travel Sketchbook?
I recommend that anyone traveling get a cheap sketchbook to bring along with them. It’s been a great thing for me and I love looking through what I’ve drawn and seen. Even if you don’t like drawing, it’s still great for gluing in tickets and receipts and is perfect for stickers. Lots of people believe that good drawing skills are a barrier before they can participate in any sort of artistic activity. That’s simply not true. For me, a travel sketchbook isn’t a finished art piece. It’s simply my way of reflecting on my own experiences, allows me time to dwell on the beauty of a moment, and gives me a physical item that holds many memories. It’s about finding my own reaction and expression to what I see in the world.
A stamp from Tokyo Skytree, a fish from the paper bag I got from the aquarium, and an illustration of the drinks me and my friends got at the cafe. This page captures the memories of a great day.Final Thoughts
For some people, it may seem like studying abroad will force them to put aside their hobbies or passions if their studies don’t directly connect with them. However, in my experience, this is not true. Instead, study abroad can be an opportunity to explore an interest more deeply and through the lens of other cultures. I am so fascinated by Japanese art, and since being here I’ve gained a greater understanding of what aesthetics I gravitate toward and what goes into making them. Pursue your interests while you travel. It may just make your creative world even bigger and give you some great memories to look back on.
Christie Hicks, Olivet Nazarene University, is studying abroad in Tokyo, Japan, with TEAN.
