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• How To Travel Sketch? Tips, Tricks, & Techniques For Beginners

Travel Sketching is not only relaxing and rewarding but also an awesome family activity during travels.

In this blog post learn about what to put in a travel sketch kit, awesome travel sketching techniques for beginners and tricks to encourage kids to begin their journey of travel sketching.

How to Create Your Own Travel Sketchbook

Pausing to see the delicate patterns of lichen on tree trunks in the Nilgiri mountains.

Becoming friends with a 5-year old Vietnamese boy in a village without a word exchanged between us!

Sitting inside a bamboo grove, silently.

Watching a tour guide’s face light up.

Getting authentic local food and travel tips.

Being zen while waiting in airports and stations.

I’ve had all these experiences and many more through travel sketching.

And, that’s why I love sharing it with others and getting them started on their own sketching journey. Here’s my take on how to get started with travel sketching.

I have included step-by-step photos from a sketching session I did in Sirsi, Karnataka.

Travel sketching is an awesome family activity. It gets children to observe and remember a travel destination. And of course, you’ll have a unique souvenir for every travel

Travel Sketching slows me down, brings everything into sharp focus, and I lose myself in the moment. Sketching has truly enriched my life. Seema Misra, www.lighttravelaction.com Tweet

Explore these awesome washi tapes on Amazon

If you love slow travel, try your hands at Travel Sketching, Painting, even Yoga. The following 3 posts will keep you creative in your Sojourn.

• Are You Embarrassed By Your Painting Skills? Here’re Easy Painting ideas & Tips!
• Are you bored? Looking for ideas to fill in your blank journal? Don’t’ get intimidated by blank papers staring back at you. I teamed up with the talented artist Malabika Saikia and here are 15 of our favorite notebook ideas! 15 Awesomely Creative Things To Do In Your Blank Notebook.
• How about keeping fit while you travel? Here is a curated list of 10 Yoga asanas or postures that are as good for the beginners as for the advanced practitioners.

Travel Sketchbook ideas

People often say “I can’t even draw a straight line. Forget about sketching.”

I tell them, “ That’s great. You don’t need to draw straight lines.” There’s no such thing as a born artist. It is all about practice, practice, and more practice. 

Look for inspirations around. If you find your zen moment of producing a sketch on the spot, go ahead sketch it out. If not, look for small collectibles like dry leaves, ticket stubs to paste in your travel sketch book for inspiration to strike you later.

In the above image, we had hiked up a hill and it was absolutely beautiful and surreal there. There were prayer flags strewn all around. I picked up a few and pasted them in my sketchbook.

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Putting together a travel sketch kit

A travel sketching kit must be a collection of the basic tools required for making a sketch. Also, I have found having limited supplies encourages me to be creative. Such as, mixing two different mediums.

Here’s what you will need:

• Black pens with waterproof ink
• Colour pencils
• Pencil sharpener

Yes, I’ve deliberately left out the ruler and eraser😊

You could also keep a box of crayons, some watercolor pencils, and a glue stick. If you have smaller children, avoid carrying watercolors. For older children, a small watercolor pan and some water brushes are perfect. Keep it small, simple, and light.

A5 size sketchbooks with thicker paper are a good choice – they fit in everywhere and are not too small for landscapes.

Pro Tip: I like to keep all my art tools in a sling bag. This helps me access my art kit easily.

5 Awesome Tips for Travel Sketching for Beginners

Choosing a subject.

Start with a tiny step – don’t try to draw the entire forest or city around you. Choose a small window of a house, a dry leaf on the ground, or an interesting branch.

Long waits in airports can be used to draw the people, bags, food stalls or simply the announcement boards. You could even draw maps to show the places you visited.

This is a small town in Sirsi, Karnataka . The blue roofs amid all the browns and reds interested me and I decided to sketch the road.

Outlining in pencil

Draw an outline of the object using a pencil. It does not have to be perfect – if something looks off, draw over it.

Forget if the drawing “appears correct” – the idea is to capture the object in your own style and have fun while doing it.

Adding in the details using a black pen

Now that you have a basic frame done, add in the details using a pen. Encourage children to add some text to capture the place, date, the sounds around you, or any other details.

You could paste things around your sketch – a ticket stub, a leaf, restaurant bills, bits of pamphlets.

Ask a local to teach you how to write a few words in their dialect on your sketchbook.

There were some changes from the pencil outline. However, I didn’t erase anything.

Click here to read 11 Commonly Asked Questions by Painting Beginners and also get 5 DIY easy painting ideas for Beginners Step by Step.

Adding the final touches with colours

Use a mix of different colours to add life to the sketch. If you are in a hurry, colour in the most prominent bit – the red bricks, a green tree, or that yellow dress. This will save some time while capturing the essence of the place.

You’ll notice I’ve added some blue in the sky which is not there in the photograph. As an artist, you can take liberties while making a travel sketch 😊

Doing art at home or at school is different than working in a public area.

When I sketch during my travels, people often stop to see what I am drawing and want to talk about it. I remember, when I started travel sketching, I’d worry that my drawing is not good. I felt people passing by were judging me.

Eventually, I stopped worring about all those things. I’d simply draw. And that is when I enjoyed outdoor sketching the most!

So, I’d say be kind to yourself.

Don’t judge what you draw.

Just go with the flow.

Drawing on different types of paper, like newspapers, can be a lot of fun.

Often the joy is in making the art and not worrying how it turns out! There is no perfect bird … just the one you have drawn. Seema Misra, www.lighttravelaction.com Tweet

Travel Sketching – Capturing the Feel of a Place

Marco Bucci shows the Process and gives awesome ideas for sketching places from life. See the video for the art of composition, color, focal point, feel, etc.

Travel sketching for children

Encourage children to draw from their observation. Drawing from observation simply means drawing what you see. And, it is the essence of travel sketching.

Breaking the object into smaller shapes

For example, you are looking at a majestic British building and your daughter is stumped where to start drawing it. Ask, “What does the building look like? Do you see a rectangle with a triangle on top? Do the windows remind you of a shape?

Have fun with colors and collage. The above sketch always takes me back to the greenery of a tea estate.

Focus on the process not the outcome

Even if a child fails to colour inside the lines or draws a circle which is more of an oval, it is absolutely fine. Encourage the children to experiment with colours and shapes – give them the tools to draw but don’t tell them what to draw.

Making sketching fun during travel

Engage with your little story teller and ask her to describe the picture to you. Who knows she might have an interesting tale behind the picture and the colours used. 

Last but not least, don’t forget to complement the little Picasos. It would be great if you could mention specifics, like “Wow, I love the way you have drawn that leaf.”

Do you find the thought of “Travel Sketch Journal” inspiring? Don’t wait for the next vacation to start travel sketching! Visit a park or museum this weekend, carry some sandwiches and try out your art kit! 

Video on Travel Sketching Tips from Travel Sketchbook

In this video,  Liz Steel  shares lots of travel sketching strategies and tips while going through her sketchbook from her recent trip to New Zealand.

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6 thoughts on “How To Travel Sketch? Tips, Tricks, & Techniques For Beginners”

This one’s a lovely tutorial. My daughter is creative unlike me…haha…and she loves to sketch, paint and play with colors. I’d make her read this. Thank you so much for sharing.

Happy Sketching and happy traveling 🙂

I love this overview of your travel sketching. It’s another creative way to document your travels. You’re so talented! Thanks for the inspiration to start sketching (or at least improve upon my scribbles first).

Wow you are really talented. Travel sketching sounds awesome, but not many have the skills to create such beautiful pieces!

Thanks Sinjanag, this is a blog post and the sketches have been done by Seema Misra 🙂

This is such a lovely idea! I’ve never considered myself good enough to sketch a scene but you’ve broken it down really nicely, thank you 🙂 https://mcadventureblog.com

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• INTELLIGENT TRAVEL

How to Create Your Own Travel Sketchbook

Set down the camera, pick up a paintbrush, and create lasting memories.

I’ve been sketching my way around the world for five years now, and I can safely say the practice has forever changed me as a traveler. I love how my sketchbook slows me down, throws all of my senses wide open, and paves the way to spontaneous encounters with locals and fellow visitors alike.

So, in the hopes of convincing more travelers to embrace the paintbrush and sketch pad as a way to be wholly present while they explore the world—and to record their unique experience of a new place—I’m offering my take on how to get started.

Establishing your sketching style is an evolution—but, as is always the case with travel, the journey can be as much of a delight as the destination. The following steps are ones I’ve found work for me, and to help illustrate each stage of the process, I’ve included step-by-step photos from a sketching session in the Costa Brava region of Spain.

Colorful doors in Costa Brava, Spain. (Photograph by Candace Rardon)

1. Choose a subject.

Let your natural interests and curiosity be your compass as you begin sketching in a new place. When it comes to deciding on a subject, think about what you already tend to home in on when you travel. Perhaps you love photographing streetscapes or capturing what you eat for breakfast. Start there.

2. Lay the scene out with pencil.

I begin every sketch in pencil, as I’m developing an overall sense of the scene. This is my chance to ask, What’s going on here? What is it about this scene that’s speaking to me? Sometimes I’ll sketch out what I see and realize I haven’t got the perspective quite right. It’s nice having the option to erase and start over again.

3. Fill in the details with pen.

It’s impossible to capture everything you see in a sketch, so I like thinking of each detail as a decision. To include or not to include? That is the question. My style has developed so that my line work is carefully drawn, but you might find that a looser style helps you better express your impressions of a place.

At this stage in the process, I also enjoy writing annotations on the sketch—short notes about what I’m hearing, smelling, or tasting, maybe snippets of a conversation I’ve overheard, or even more personal impressions of how I’m feeling that day.

4. Bring it to life with color.

At this point, it’s all about having fun—after concentrating for an hour or two on drawing, my brain always welcomes the chance to change speeds. Whether you’re using markers, colored pencils, or watercolors, each medium offers its own adventure.

Ideally, I’ll complete a sketch while on location. Staying immersed in the process from start to finish helps me tell the story of that scene as it unfolded during my experience.

When that’s not possible—daylight has run out, it started raining, or there’s somewhere else I need to be—I’ll photograph my vantage point and use it to finish the sketch at a later time.

5. Be open to serendipity.

Traveling with a sketchbook has not only influenced how I see the world, but also how I interact and connect with other cultures.

When I’m sketching, I try to be aware of the people moving around me. If I sense someone peering over my shoulder, I’ll often look up, say hello, and try to strike up a conversation with them.

For example, at the end of this particular sketching session in Spain, a man and a woman came came through the red door that I’d included in my drawing. The man asked me what I was painting.

After I showed them my sketch, the couple offered me a seat, introduced themselves as Joan and Nuria, and told me they had owned the one-room casa particular (holiday cottage) hidden behind the red door for the past 25 years. We spoke for more than half an hour, and the insights they shared about the history and culture of Costa Brava added unexpected layers to my understanding of the region.

The encounter was a perfect metaphor for what it is I’ve come to value most about sketching.

When we travel, each new place starts out as a closed door. The goal is to find our own key for unlocking it, whether it’s through sampling the local cuisine, communing with nature, or photographing street art.

My sketchbook has become that key for me—just like the brass key Nuria and Joan used to open their casa particular. I encourage you to tuck a sketchpad in your suitcase when you’re packing for your next trip…and see what doors it might open for you.

Nuts and Bolts: Supplies

When I first started sketching, I brought just three things with me—a sketchbook, drawing pen, and watercolor pencils. After someone gave me a Winsor & Newton watercolor field kit , I began my foray into watercolors. My advice is to start small and simple, and slowly build the number of supplies you carry with you.

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Pencils: I start every sketch with a pencil outline, and most frequently use Derwent sketching pencils with a hardness of HB.

Eraser: After I finish tracing my initial outline with pen, I erase the pencil lines to give the sketch a clean look. My favorites: extra soft vinyl erasers.

Drawing pens: I’ve experimented with several brands over the years, from Pigma Micron to Staedtler to Prismacolor, but finally settled on Faber-Castell’s PITT artist pens with an extra fine nib. Look for ink that is waterproof, lightfast, and acid-free.

Watercolors: My first field kit was from Winsor & Newton’s line of affordable Cotman paints , but I’ve since upgraded to the Professional Water Colour Compact Set . Both are light and easy to travel with, hardly bigger in size than a smartphone.

Brushes: I travel with three brushes: two Winsor & Newton Cotman watercolor round brushes (sizes 2 and 4), and my go-to, a synthetic squirrel hair brush by Mimik (round, size 6). I use the Mimik brush most of the time, and the two smaller Cotman brushes for more intricate details or lettering.

Sketchbook: Standard drawing paper has a weight of about 130 grams per square meter (gsm), but applying watercolors can cause the paper to buckle. A good weight for watercolor paper starts at 200-300 gsm, so keep an eye out for this when you’re sketchbook shopping. In terms of brands, the one I’ve come to use regularly is Canson, specifically their line of Montval watercolor pads, which comes in several travel-friendly sizes.

Water container: Though I’ve often used a bottle cap in a pinch (or asked for an extra to-go cup if I happen to be sketching in a café), I now carry a plastic water container with me on the road.

Bag: Lastly, I store everything but my sketchbooks and water container in a small canvas pouch, which is easy to keep in my backpack when I’m traveling and ensures I’m always ready should inspiration strike.

Candace Rose Rardon is a writer and sketch artist with a passion for storytelling. She recently released her first book of travel sketches, Beneath the Lantern’s Glow . Follow Candace on her blog, The Great Affair , on Twitter @candacerardon , and on Instagram @candaceroserardon .

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Home » How To Guides » Drawing » Travel sketching: Anne Desmet answers your questions

Travel sketching: Anne Desmet answers your questions

By Artists & Illustrators | Wed 2nd Sep 2020

https://www.artistsandillustrators.co.uk/how-to/drawing/travel-sketching-anne-desmet-answers-your-questions/

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Printmaker and avid sketcher Anne Desmet RA shares her travel sketching tips

Wondering how to sketch while you travel? Illustrator of Anne Desmet: A Greek Journey is here to help you make the most out of your travel sketchbook.

Why is it important to sketch when travelling?

Travel sketching, for me, serves many purposes. It provides a visual diary of a significant journey; I often find that, when I look back at my travel drawings, even years later, I can remember the mood of the moment – the sun, the breeze, some of the sounds or smells – quite clearly.

Because each drawing takes anything from 20 minutes to three hours to create, I get very absorbed in what I’m doing and that seems to fix itself more effectively in my memory in ways that simply photographing a scene does not.

Also, as an artist whose prints are highly dependent on my drawing abilities, I find it is really important to keep those skills fluent and that involves making the time to do sketchbook drawings just simply to keep up my drawing skills.

Why should I work in pen and wash?

It enables me to pin down the essential contrasts of light and dark in whatever I’m drawing. My most successful drawings tend to be those involving a lot of contrasted bright sunlight and deep shade. Those contrasts provide the excitement and life in the composition and suggest the three-dimensionality of the landscapes or buildings depicted. Those qualities are of great importance to me in my work as a wood engraver.

What should I have in my travel sketch kit?

My essential sketching kit comprises a bunch of sharpened HB pencils (preferably Staedtler) though I’ve also recently starting using a Pentel P205 0.5 mm HB propelling pencil, which is becoming indispensable too. I also use black fine line drawing pens: Uni Pin Fine Line with water-and fade-proof pigment ink, 0.1 and 0.2 nib size; and a Pilot G-TEC-C4 with a 0.4 nib size.

I also always carry a dilute solution of black Quink fountain-pen ink, about one-part black ink to at least six parts water – sometimes more dilute even than that. That provides my grey wash which can be applied in swift layers which dry fairly instantly – the darkest layers becoming a rather lovely blue-grey and the palest having a hint of yellow about them.

I also have four or five Pro Arte Prolene flat brushes for applying these washes, sizes 1/8” to 1/2”, a few Caran d’Ache watercolour pencils and a tin of Rembrandt watercolours.

How do I pick a subject to draw when travelling?

It’s difficult to analyse what draws me to a particular subject. It’s a combination of things. Strong contrasts of light and dark are important, as is a sense of drama – whether architectural or landscape. Sometimes it may be something as simple as a zigzag of sunlight on a flight of stone steps or the angle of light hitting the side of a building. Other times it may be a sense of sweeping panorama, so a drawing might start on one page and be able to sweep downwards or across to cover two pages with one long narrow drawing. Or I might just be struck by the beauty or the shape of a particular building and the way in which the sun sparkles on it.

There are also practical factors such as whether the view is something I feel I can do justice to in whatever time I have. That decision will factor in the sun as well because it’s much more comfortable to draw from a shady spot rather than in full sunlight when you’re liable to get too hot or even sunburnt.

What information do I need to get down first in a travel sketch?

It’s important to decide what you are most interested in about the view and ensure that particular bit gets included in the drawing. It’s very easy to start drawing one part of a view and then realise the bit you liked the best doesn’t now fit within the picture space because you haven’t correctly gauged the scale of your composition relative to the space on the page. So, ideally, it’s a good idea to decide, first, where to place the area of the composition that most interests you.

Another really important thing is to decide whether it’s a linear description that you’re trying to attain or a sense of light and dark. If the latter, then it’s important to try to get the essential elements of the composition laid down speedily so that you can get to work fairly rapidly on applying the wash, which defines the light and dark contrasts. You can always add more pen and pencil detail to the drawing later but, once the sun moves, the light will be in a different place.

How important is accurate colour mixing in travel sketchbooks?

I have never considered colour work to be my forte. When I was a student and made the earliest Greek drawings, they were made with Winsor & Newton coloured inks and watercolours . I think they were more impressionistic and quite playful with colour, but not necessarily especially accurate colour-wise.

However, with the latest Greek drawings, I found myself getting quite obsessive about trying to mix accurate colours that felt true to what I was actually seeing. I found that really difficult and challenging, though also really satisfying on pages where I felt I succeeded.

How do I choose what details to include or leave out?

I work fairly intuitively so I’m not sure quite how I choose what details to include or to leave out. My eyesight is less good now than it was 30 years ago and often I choose to sketch without wearing my prescription glasses because, although that means I can’t see some details, I get a stronger impression of the light and shade and the strength of a composition, overall – especially if I’m drawing trees, for example. Sometimes, having the benefit of perfect eyesight can be a handicap as it’s easy to get bogged down in tiny details and lose sight of the overall structure of what you’re drawing.

How much time should I spend on a travel sketch?

I don’t set myself time limits on sketches unless there are specific issues such as the sun will have moved in an hour or I have a ferry to catch. However long you spend, it is very important to stop when your concentration is flagging, because you tend to start improvising on a drawing rather than really looking at the subject matter – and the drawing always suffers if you do that.

What are the benefits of sketching rather than photographing a scene?

I do make photographs as additional reference material to my drawings, but I almost invariably find that the camera distorts or compresses a view so that the features that attract your eye – and which you try to convey in a drawing – are much less apparent in the photographs.

Light, too, is captured very differently by a camera lens than by the human eye and hand. Both photographs and drawings have their very useful places, but I don’t find either one a satisfactory substitute for the other. Over the years, some of my wood engravings have been created from photographs rather than from drawings but, overall, I would say that the use of light I employ in my engravings and the way in which they are composed is informed more by my drawings.

Should I note exact locations in a travel sketchbook?

My sketchbook drawings form an important visual diary and personal celebration of some of the places I’ve visited so it’s important to me that they are dated and the locations noted down. In one or two of my sketchbooks, over the last 30-odd years, I haven’t systematically added that information and, looking back on them now, that’s incredibly frustrating.

How has your travel drawing technique and focus changed over time?

My technique and focus changed considerably when I was a Rome Scholar at the British School at Rome for a year in 1989-’90. It was there that I became interested in the play of light on architecture rather than so much in landscape or portraiture, which had previously engaged me. It was then, too, that I began to sketch, primarily, in pencil and grey wash.

What should I record if I want to turn my travel sketch into a larger artwork?

I don’t generally sketch with a view to turning any particular subject or drawing into a specific print or collage. I work fairly intuitively, responding to what attracts my eye at the time, which I will sketch and photograph. Back in my studio, I will look at the drawings and photographs to choose what to work up into a new work. But sometimes I may select something from a decades-old sketchbook and sometimes something freshly drawn. I have no hard and fast rules about this. The drawings are very much ends in themselves, and may or may not be used for other purposes.

What practical advice do you have for creating a travel sketchbook?

I’ve found it helpful to carry very tiny sketchbooks – A6 or smaller – because they’re very portable and, if you work quickly, you’ll fill the pages very fast, which can be satisfying, and if, like me, you’re a slow worker, the page size is small enough to not feel intimidating.

It’s important only to sketch things that interest you and not to feel you have to draw this, that or the other because of some sense of what sketches ‘ought to’ be of. For instance, I know a wonderful artist, Peter S Smith, who makes gorgeous sketches of his shadow on train platforms, pavements, at bus stops and so on, yet it may well be that some of these were drawn within sight of famous monuments – St Paul’s Cathedral, for instance. A student might feel this “ought to be” the chosen subject matter if one is within sight of it, but in fact you need to draw what most interests you because the amount of interest you’ve got in a subject is always clearly represented in the drawing you make of it.

It’s also helpful to try to make at least one drawing per day on your travels (weather permitting, if outdoors) as you get better at it and it gets more fun the more of it you do.

• 5 top tips for sketching your travels
• 8 creative ways to fill a sketchbook
• Painting outdoors in mixed media

Find out more about Anne Desmet or for a monthly dose of art advice and inspiration delivered directly to you, subscribe to Artists & Illustrators magazine .

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Travel sketching: how to capture a place with paper and pencil

Apr 29, 2019 • 5 min read

Tired of snapping hundreds of photos, applying filters, and looking for your next wi-fi connection? You're not alone. Particularly while traveling, the endless cycle of shooting and sharing can be exhausting – not to mention that screen time pulls you out of the moment (and the place).

Luckily, there's another meaningful way to document your adventures. On your next trip, give your phone a break and bring a notebook. Not only will you enjoy any destination more when you're fully present, but you'll find that you have to truly observe a place in order to sketch it – whether you're trying to draw a picture of Machu Picchu or record the details of the unforgettable dinner you had last night in Paris.

The case for going analog

Back in 2008, when I went on my first research trip as a Lonely Planet author (destination: Patagonia ), Instagram didn’t even exist. I took photos of whales and glaciers, but they were for my own pleasure and personal record. I wrote everything down in a notebook – not only the information I was collecting for the guidebook, but also the details of what I ate, a funny conversation I overheard on the bus, snippets of interesting information from the indigenous museum in Tierra del Fuego , the ingredients of my favorite Chilean seafood stew.

A few years later, social media was in full swing. Like everyone else, I was snapping and sharing photos right and left; unlike most people, I was a travel writer, and my job took me to dazzlingly photogenic places on a regular basis. My Instagram feed was a colorful showcase of international destinations: waterfalls in Brazil , mysterious pyramids in Mexico , a castle in Spain , a crater lake in Nicaragua . After a while, finding the right angles and perfect lighting made me weary. I was burned out on all of the beautiful images – my own, and everyone else’s, too.

An experiment in Morocco turned it all around. Determined to get back to my writerly roots, I took a notebook and wrote down my observations. I started sketching things that were difficult to describe in words: the silhouette of a minaret, the shape of a doorway, an unusual pattern of zellige tiles. I was thinking again, not just snapping photos. And at the end of the trip, I had a unique and richly layered document of my experience.

My sketching experiment took on a life of its own. Now I make watercolor postcards, maps, and illustrations all the time – the process helps me to slow down, look around, and think. Here are some of my favorite ways to capture a travel experience with paper, pencil, and paint. Other media are optional. So is sharing on social media. The point isn’t to share it: the point is to make it in the first place, and to have it for yourself.

Make a map of the place

Sketching a map of the place you’re visiting – or a larger travel itinerary, if you have one – is a great way to familiarize yourself with a destination before you leave home. From a practical perspective, it’s also an excellent way to put together a travel plan, considering the distances between points A, B, and C, and the stops or detours you could make along the way.

The map could be relatively detailed, like this map of my itinerary on a Lonely Planet assignment that sent me to Grand Canyon National Park and parts of southern Utah, or simpler, like this watercolor map I painted quickly during my recent honeymoon in Spain.

Draw pictures of what you ate and drank

Who wouldn’t want to remember all the delicious dishes you tried on vacation? There’s an appealing bonus built in: if you choose to draw or paint pictures of food and drink, you’ll avoid being that mildly irritating person at a café or restaurant who’s overly focused on photo ops.

During a recent trip to Basque Country , I recorded the dishes we tried with a travel watercolor set. I’m glad I did: I’m sure I would have forgotten some of these details already.

Illustrate something you learned about a culture

Think of this option as an infographic that could serve as a how-to for other travelers. This format is ideal for practical or cultural challenges you managed to figure out – how to navigate the public baths of Budapest , how to behave at a milonga in Buenos Aires , how to order at a coffee bar in Rome .

Sketch an architectural or natural monument

Spend some time really looking at your subject before you get started. You can do this sketch in real time, or take a quick photo and base your drawing on the photo. I like to take a photo of my postcard in front of the monument (as I did here, at the base of the hike to San Juan de Gaztelugatxe ), but these work well as standalone sketches, too.

Choose a few details you love about a place

Think of all the little details of your travels – and how many of them are lost to time. This is a perfect way to remember the minutiae. Needless to say, it’s best to make this kind of drawing while you’re still in the place (or as soon as you return), while the specifics are fresh in your mind.

Capture scenes from the street

Another method for capturing subtleties that you might otherwise forget. The quirkier the details, the better. I drew this picture one day after a long walk through Buenos Aires.

Make a postcard series

This works especially well if you’re returning from a long trip with many destinations on your itinerary. You could also use the postcard format to record separate trips you’ve taken over the years.

Bonus for family travel: get kids involved

Either before, during, or after a trip, break out some art supplies and get the whole family involved in travel sketching. I frequently make maps with the kids in my life: in this case, ahead of a trip to Chile, I sketched a map of the country and my niece Isidora filled in details like the ocean and the mountains. We had fun – and we both learned a few things while working on it together.

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70 Easy Drawings You Can Do in 5 Minutes or Less

Do you want to learn how to draw but don’t have much time? Or maybe you’re an experienced artist who wants some easy drawings to do on the side. Either way, this blog post is for you! 

We’ve collected the best easy drawings you can complete in 5 minutes or less, perfect for beginners and experienced artists alike.

Ready to give easy drawings a try? Grab your pencils and paper, find yourself an easy drawing idea , and let’s get started!

Choosing Your Pencils and Paper

The first step in the drawing process is choosing the right tools. 

A standard No. 2 pencil and drawing paper will work just fine, but you can also use colored pencils or markers to add some extra flair to your drawings.

If you’re a beginner, we recommend starting with simple black-and-white easy sketches before moving on to more complex colored drawings. That way, you can practice the basics and gain confidence in your drawing skills before adding color.

Finding Easy Drawings

Now that you have your pencils and paper, it’s time to find easy drawing ideas. There are plenty of online resources with easy drawings for beginners, including YouTube drawing videos and art blogs. 

We’ve also included a few easy drawing ideas below that you can print out or draw directly from the screen.

You can also explore easy drawings in nature, like simple shapes and patterns found in plants and animals. Again, start with easy sketches before adding color to make sure you’re comfortable with your tools and techniques.

1. Spaceship

Less than five minutes?! Yes, it’s possible! You don’t have to be an artist to draw a spaceship, and they look even better with color. 

Start by drawing a simple shape for your rocket ship’s hull. Then add details like engine exhaust, windows, wings, stars, and asteroids to make it more interesting.

If you want to learn how to draw the zombie in Plants vs. Zombies, here’s an easy video tutorial.

Drawing a zombie may seem intimidating, but with the right techniques, you can create a scary-looking creature in only 5 minutes. 

Start by sketching out the overall shape of the head and body. Then add details such as eyes, teeth, and hair to give your zombie a unique look. 

If you want to take it one step further, you can add a few rips and tears to the clothing, giving your zombie more of an undead look.

Pikachu is one of the most recognizable and beloved characters in the world of Pokémon. Drawing Pikachu can be a fun and quick way to pass a few minutes while also honing your drawing skills.

Start by sketching out the basic shape, starting with the iconic ears, eyes, and mouth. Then add details like fur and whiskers to bring your drawing to life!

With a few strokes of your pencil, you’ll have an adorable Pikachu drawing in no time.

4. Doraemon

Doraemon is a beloved Japanese anime character and an easy drawing activity for people of all ages. 

Start by sketching a circle for the face with his signature ears and nose, then add details like whiskers or glasses to make him look more like the real thing. Give your creation life by adding color!

5. Laughing Santa

Recreating a laughing Santa is the perfect way to channel your inner child.

Begin by sketching Santa’s face, then add details like rosy red cheeks or twinkling eyes to make him look more cheerful. Finally, color it in for an extra-fun result!

6. Christmas Tree

What better way to get into the holiday spirit than drawing a Christmas tree ?

Start with the tree’s shape, then add details like ornaments and candy canes for an extra fun look. Coloring in your design will give it a festive look.

7. Gingerbread Man

What could be more fun than creating your little gingerbread friend? Begin by sketching the gingerbread man’s outline, then add details like buttons and eyes. Once you’re finished drawing out your design, it’s time to bring it to life with color.

8. Christmas Penguin

Adding a Christmas penguin drawing to your décor is an excellent way to spread holiday cheer! Sketch the penguin’s body, then add details like a Santa hat or festive scarf for extra holiday spirit. For even more fun, color it in shades of black and white.

9. Candy Cane

You’ll have a blast drawing a candy cane! To start, capture the classic shape of the cane with your pencil, then add stripes or other designs to make it look more lifelike. You could even color it in for an extra-sweet result!

It doesn’t matter whether you use black-and-white or color to draw a wolf—it will look great either way. 

Start by drawing the wolf’s face with pointed ears, then add details like fur and eyes to finish it off. Consider shading and adding texture to give your easy drawing a sense of depth.

11. Baby Shark

Baby shark is a charming, easy-to-follow sketch that features a smiling shark with big eyes, a wide grin, and a friendly fin. 

This drawing looks great in both black-and-white and color, so it’s easy to customize and make your own!

12. Cute Dress

Here’s a video tutorial on drawing a cute girly dress.

If you like fashion drawings, this easy dress sketch is perfect for you. It features a simple silhouette with some interesting details like pleats and ruffles. 

Just draw the outline of a dress with a few lines and curves, then add some extra details to make it your own.

13. Cute Girl

Here’s another easy-to-follow sketch featuring a cute girl with big eyes and an adorable expression. 

This one looks great in both black-and-white and color – just draw the basic shape of the girl, then add some extra details to make your drawing unique.

14. Lollipop

Here’s a video of how to draw an easy lollipop.

Another easy drawing idea is this lollipop sketch. 

Draw a curved line for the stick and an oval shape for the candy. Then, add some swirls and other details to make it your own. If you’re feeling creative, you can add color to your design.

15. Mickey Mouse

Here’s a classic drawing idea for Disney fans – Mickey Mouse! 

Draw circles for his head and ears, then add details like eyes, nose, and mouth to finish it off. This one looks great in black and white or with a few colorful touches.

You can also follow this easy tutorial: 

16. Anime Eyes

If you’re looking for easy anime drawings, this is a great place to start. Simply draw two circles and add some details like eyelashes and pupils to make it your own. If you’re feeling creative, go ahead and color it in!

Here’s a guide on how to color anime eyes:

Drawing a UFO is simple and enjoyable. Start by drawing the round shape of the UFO, then add details like stars or aliens to make it more interesting. You can also color it for an extra-cool result.

18. Camping Area

Here’s another great idea for your next drawing – a camping scene! 

You can draw the outline of a tent, trees, and stars in the night sky. Add some extra details, like people around the campfire or animal drawings walking by, to make it more interesting.

If you’re looking for drawing ideas for beginners , this simple nose sketch is perfect. 

Once you’ve got your basic shape, start adding shading to give the nose a three-dimensional effect. Use hatching or crosshatching techniques to create shadows and highlights on your drawing.

20. Diamond

Here’s a quick but fabulous drawing idea – a diamond! Just draw four shapes and connect them together, then add some extra details to make it your own. You can also paint it to make it look more glamorous.

21. Easter Bunny

Why not try this adorable Easter bunny drawing idea? Draw two big ears, then add eyes, whiskers, and a fluffy tail to finish it off. If you’re feeling extra festive, bring out the coloring supplies and have at it!

22. Cute Cat

If you’re looking for an easy drawing idea, why not try a cat? Draw the cat with two ears and eyes, then add details like whiskers, fur tufts, and claws to make it your own. You can also color it if you want to add some extra flair.

Roses have been used to symbolize love, beauty, and admiration for centuries, so creating your version of this classic flower is sure to make any art project special.

Simply draw the petals, then add some details like leaves and buds. Not only can you color it to create a lovely piece of art, but you can also frame it and hang it up for all to see!

Drawing a braid is easy and fun! Draw a curved line with some loops, then add details like beads or flowers to make it more interesting. Coloring your braid drawing is a great way to give it extra personality.

25. Eifel Tower

Do you want to draw an iconic structure in less than 5 minutes? Then the Eiffel Tower could be your perfect choice! 

Start by sketching a rough outline of the tower and then add details like windows and balconies. You can also add details like plants or people at the foot of the tower for added dimension.

26. Tiny Penguin

Did you know that penguins are one of the easiest animal drawings? 

Sketch the penguin with two flippers, then add some details like eyes, beak, and feathers. If you want to make your design even cuter, color it in!

27. Sea Turtle

This cute little guy is a breeze to draw and will only take about five minutes of your time! 

Start with the long oval body, then add rounder shapes for the flippers and head. Outline it in black ink and finish off with some scales and details. You can use colorful markers to create a fun pattern on the turtle’s shell.

Here’s another easy way to draw a turtle:

28. Baby Alligator

This super-easy drawing can be done in minutes and is a great place to start for beginner artists. 

Begin by drawing the shape of an alligator’s head, followed by the neck. Then draw two parallel curved lines at the bottom to make the legs. Finish it with two small circles on its back for eyes, and you’re done!

29. Planets

Drawing planets can be a great way to show off your artistic skills! Use colors like blues and greens or vibrant shades for a fun look. 

Outline the planets’ round shapes, then add details like stars and asteroids. You can even use different shades of color to give your planet depth and texture.

Here’s how to draw our solar system:

30. Little Mermaid

If you’re looking for a cute and easy drawing idea that only takes 5 minutes or less, why not try the Little Mermaid? 

Start by sketching a rough outline of the mermaid’s body. Make sure to include her long flowing hair, then add details like eyes, nose, and lips. Finish off the drawing with a tail and a seashell necklace. 

Not only is drawing hands easy, but it’s also therapeutic. Just draw circles for the joints, then add lines for the fingers to finish it off. Alternatively, you can add shadows to give it more depth.

Draw a simple mouth with teeth in five minutes or less! 

Sketch the outline of the lips, then draw several small curved lines to create a set of teeth. You can also add other elements like tongue if you want.

Anyone can have fun drawing dice, regardless of skill level! Just draw simple lines and slight curves, then add details like numbers to make it more interesting. You can also color it in for a vibrant look.

34. Ballerina Shoes

You don’t have to be a professional artist to draw beautiful ballerina shoes that look amazing in any color scheme. 

All you need are simple shapes for the shoe’s sole, heel, and straps, and then add details like ribbons, buckles, or bows. Once you’ve got your shoes down, try experimenting with different colors and textures to give your drawing a unique twist.

35. Woman’s Face

In less than 5 minutes, you can draw a woman’s face with some realistic features. Start by sketching out the shapes and then add facial features like eyes, nose, ears, and mouth. 

You can also add details like hair and eyebrows to make it lifelike. To finish your masterpiece, use shading and color to bring out the different elements of your drawing.

36. Head in the Clouds

This timeless design can be recreated in five minutes or less – perfect for when you only have a little time to spare! 

Draw an oval shape for the head, then add details like stars or birds to make it more interesting. When you daydream, it’s easy to let your mind wander and feel at ease.

37. Astronaut

Children will love this easy step-by-step drawing of an astronaut. Draw a space suit with a helmet, then add details like stars and planets to make it more exciting.

Here’s another way to do it:

38. Elephant

Drawing an elephant can be fun and easy, taking only 3 to 5 minutes of your time.

Start by drawing the head and trunk of the elephant. From there, fill in details like eyes, legs, tail, tusks, and other features that give it its unique charm. Once satisfied with your drawing, you can add color to make it more lively and interesting.

You can have an elephant drawing session with kids by following this tutorial:

39. Message in a Bottle

Drawing a message in a bottle is an easy and fun way to express your creativity. Just draw a bottle, then add details like stars or messages to make it more interesting. Or, you can color it in for an even more magical look.

40. Nature in a Triangle

Incorporating nature into your drawings is easy and will make them look great. Start with a triangle, then add details like trees, mountains, or birds to make it more interesting. For an even more beautiful look, color it in!

41. Unicorn

Drawing unicorns is one of the most popular doodles out there! It’s not only fun to draw but also quite simple. 

Start by outlining a unicorn, then use your pencil to draw horns from the highest point of its head. Give your unicorn some ears, eyes, and a mouth. If you want, you can color it for a truly magical result!

Here’s another easy way to do it:

42. Octopus

Who doesn’t love drawing an octopus? You can have a great-looking octopus with just a few simple lines. 

First, draw the head and body of the octopus using curved lines. Then add eight tentacles and some suction cups. Finish by drawing the eyes, and you’ll have an amazing drawing in less than five minutes!

43. Hedgehog

Draw a cute and simple hedgehog that kids will love with this easy step-by-step guide! Start by drawing an oval shape for the body, then add details like spines and a nose to finish it off.

You can also follow this video:

This easy drawing idea of a whale is perfect for beginners and looks great in any color palette. 

Just draw an oval shape for the whale’s body, then add details like eyes and fins. Voila! You now have a cute whale swimming in the ocean. Not bad for 5 minutes of drawing time!

Another easy drawing idea you can do in five minutes or less! Owls are a popular subject for many artists, and with good reason – they have wide eyes, big wings, and intricate feathers. 

Drawing an owl is easier than it looks. To get started, lightly sketch the shape of the head and body of the owl using a pencil. Then, add details like the eyes and wings, ensuring correct proportions.

Here’s a clever and easy way to draw an owl using the Number 22:

No matter your skill level, you can draw a cute panda in less than 5 minutes! Start by drawing a circle for the head and body, then add two circles for the eyes and black patches for the paws.

Here’s a quick guide on how to draw a panda:

A duck is one of the easiest animal drawings and a classic choice for kids. Draw its simple shape – an oval for its head with a curved bill, then add details like wings and feathers.

Finally, add some feet to your duck with a few curved lines! With these easy steps, you can draw an adorable duck in just 5 minutes or less.

Here’s how to draw a realistic duck using the Number 2 as a guide:

48. Sleeping Moon

The moon is one of the easiest things to draw, and it can be quite calming. 

Just draw a crescent moon, then add details like stars or clouds to make it more interesting. You can also color it in with different shades of blue and gray for an extra-magical look.

49. Smiling Sun

Drawing a sun is an easy way to satisfy your creative urges. First, draw a circle with beams of light, then add extras like clouds or planets to make it more captivating. For an even sunnier result, color it yellow and orange.

50. Dragonfly

Kids will love drawing a dragonfly! To begin, sketch the body of the insect on your paper. You can draw an oval shape for the head and two attached wings. 

Then, draw four thin legs extending from each side of the body. Finally, add a few details like eyes and antennas to make it look more lifelike.

51. Band-aid

This simple drawing only takes a few minutes to complete, and it looks great! Begin by sketching the outline of a band-aid with curved sides. Then have some fun and go wild by adding extras like stars or hearts.

52. Stegosaurus

Stegosaurus is one of the easiest dinosaurs to try out if you’re just starting with drawing. Its recognizable shapes make it a good subject for even novice artists.

Start by sketching the body and the triangular plates down the back of the dinosaur. Then, add triangular spikes on the end of its tail. Finally, draw four legs and a head with two eyes to complete your stegosaurus drawing!

53. Eye Glasses

Sketching glasses are a great way to spend your extra time. To start, establish the outline of the glasses by drawing the frame and a bridge. After that, add authentic details like lenses. Fill your design with color for an extra-cool look.

54. Ice Cream

Ice cream is delicious, and drawing it can be a fun way to show off your artistic skills. Begin by sketching a scoop of ice cream cone, then add details like sprinkles or chocolate syrup for a delicious look. For a tasty finish, paint it with various colors!

55. Tea Cup

Drawing a tea cup is an easy and creative way to practice your drawing skills. Start by sketching the cup’s shape, making sure you pay attention to the details like its handle and saucer. 

You can add more elements, such as steam or patterns around the cup. Finally, give it some dimension by adding colors and shadows.

56. Cute Cake

Designing a cake with pencil and paper is simple and fun. Draw a circle or oval shape for the cake with frosting, then add details like candles and sprinkles to give it that special touch. For more fun, color it with different shades for a vibrant finish.

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to draw a BTS cake:

57. Cute Lipstick

Drawing cute lipstick is an easy and fun idea for anyone looking to create a quick sketch. 

Start by lightly drawing an oval shape in the center of the page. From there, draw two small circles at the bottom of the oval for the base of the lipstick tube. Create details like ridges along the tube or swirls on the cap.

58. Cupcake

Draw a cupcake in under 5 minutes! All you need is some paper, pencils and your imagination. 

Sketch a simple circle for the base of the cupcake and some curved lines. After that, add details like sprinkles or icing. To finish it off, use multiple colors to make it look extra sweet.

59. Rainbow Cloud

With this easy tutorial, you’ll be drawing a rainbow cloud in no time! 

Start by sketching the basic shapes of clouds with a rainbow in between, then add details like raindrops to make it look more lifelike. For extra color and charm, paint it with shades of yellow, pink, and blue.

60. Cute Shooting Star

This is another easy drawing idea you can complete in less than 5 minutes. Begin by outlining the star, then add details like streaks or sparkles. And that’s it! 

You now have a cute shooting star drawing that you can color with shades of yellow and pink for a magical finish.

61. Apple Watch

Drawing an Apple Watch is not only easy but also a fun way to bring technology to life. 

Sketch the shape of the watch and its iconic buttons, then add details like bands or stickers for a more realistic look. Color it in with shades of white and silver for an extra-enjoyable result!

62. Cute Watermelon

This cute watermelon drawing is super easy to create and can be done in under 5 minutes! 

Draw the large oval shape of the watermelon. Don’t forget to add seeds, texture, and color using just a few simple lines. Draw stripes along the sides of your watermelon to give it its unique look.

63. Yummy Pizza

Try your hand at drawing a delicious-looking pizza in just 5 minutes or less. With some creativity and helpful tips from us, you can have a great-looking pizza drawing in no time.

Start by sketching out a round pizza shape with your pencil. Then, draw fun details like pepperoni, olives, mushrooms, or cheese – whatever looks best to you!

64. Cute Basketball

Anyone can channel their inner athlete by drawing a cute basketball. Draw a circle for the ball, then add details like stars or stripes for a more playful look. Finally, color it in with different shades of orange and yellow for an extra-fun result!

65. Chimney

Drawing a chimney is a great way to express creativity in a short amount of time. Once the shapes are down, feel free to customize your chimney however you’d like! 

Add some smoke coming out of the top, or make it look more elaborate with extra decorations. You can even combine different types of bricks for an interesting effect.

66. Pumpkin

Pumpkins are a classic drawing idea, and this one is easy to do in minutes. 

Just draw an oval shape with a few lines for the stem and leaves, then you’re done! You can also add some details like eyes, teeth, or vines if you want to make it more complex.

67. Spooky Ghost

Use your artistic skills to create a spooky ghost! 

First, sketch the shape of a ghost. Then add eyes, arms, or any other details you want. Finally, use shades of white and grey for the color scheme to make it look extra creepy.

Who doesn’t love a donut? Draw one with this easy tutorial! 

Begin by sketching two circles for the donut, then add details like sprinkles or frosting. To finish it off, color it in with shades of pink and brown for an extra-delicious result!

Try your hand at being creative by sketching a monkey. First, draw the monkey’s face, then add features such as fur or a mouth. Make it extra fun by coloring it with shades of brown and yellow.

70. Hello Kitty

Drawing Hello Kitty is a fantastic way to widen your creativity and imagination. Start by sketching a bow and a circle for her head, then add details like whiskers for an extra-cute look. For even more fun, color it in shades of pink and white.

There you have it! We hope you had fun practicing your skills and found easy drawing ideas that inspire you to create something unique . 

Whether you’re an aspiring artist or a seasoned pro, easy things to draw are a great way to practice and improve your skills. Enjoy!

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10 Artists to Inspire Your Travel Illustration Journal

• by @amy.mcgregor

Find out how to bring a destination to life through travel illustration and the top artists to inspire your work

Travel. There’s nothing quite like it. The chance to experience new sights, sounds, and smells, to wander off the beaten track and make new discoveries, or simply kick back and relax for a week on a sun-drenched beach.

When we imagine the far-flung places we’d like to visit, reminisce about past adventures, or indeed, advertise a location to others, we turn to photos as the most powerful medium to capture the essence of a place.

But there is another, equally effective and arguably more creative way to bring a destination to life: travel illustration.

Alex Green ( @algreen_1 ) has been an illustrator for over 25 years and specializes in the art of travel illustration . He has worked in many areas including design, fashion, editorial, murals, websites, and live events, with a varied and enviable list of clients including Airbnb, the BBC, Emirates Airlines, Pfizer, The Guardian , The Financial Times , and Oxfam.

In his Domestika course, he demonstrates how to create travel illustrations that have a sense of place and atmosphere from photographic references of a location, and explains how to apply personal experiences to your illustrations to create pieces with your own vision and interpretation.

What is travel illustration?

Travel illustration is simply the art of drawing a place instead of photographing it. You can use a photo as a reference point, draw inspirational settings in real time as you travel, or recall them from memory.

The aim is not necessarily to copy the location exactly as you see it, but to give it your own interpretation and tell a story by focusing on conveying a particular emotion, theme, or atmosphere.

What are the benefits of travel illustration?

Aside from being a great way to practice your creative skills, illustrating a place allows for more freedom of expression and interpretation, giving you the opportunity to explore the limits of your imagination for a truly unique and personalized result.

It may require more time and patience to complete, but illustration also allows you to really connect with a place, bringing it to life through your drawings and recapturing those precious moments you spent there.

10 Artists to Inspire Your Travel Illustration Pieces

Although using your own photos as a point of departure usually means you have a greater connection with your reference, there is no reason why you can’t choose other images of locations you would like to visit. They could be photographs taken by someone else, or something you have found on the internet, as long as they spark your imagination.

Of course, all artists look to other artists for inspiration and Alex is no different. In this Domestika blog, he shares with us the top 10 artists who inspire his work, providing an invaluable tool that can help you begin thinking about how to develop your style, techniques, and give you ideas for your illustrations.

Miroslav Sasek

@miroslavsasek

The Czech artist is both illustrator and author of the This is series of children’s travel books, which bring to life key destinations around the world including New York, Rome, London, and Paris.

Abstract and representational elements contrast in his illustrations, making for a beautifully original take on seemingly-familiar places.

Katsushika Hokusai

@katsushikahokusai

Katsushika Hokusai was a Japanese artist, printmaker, and painter who lived from 1760 to 1849. He is most recognized for his woodblock print series Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji , made in response to a domestic travel boom in Japan.

From this collection, one piece in particular stood out among the rest. The Great Wave Off Kanagawa is arguably the most iconic piece of work in Japanese art, and went on to inspire many 19th-century European painters.

Evan Hecox is a multidisciplinary artist and designer based in Colorado, whose work often takes inspiration from travel.

He has a particular talent for capturing the mood and feeling of a place or moment in time, as well as giving new life and beauty to objects that are often overlooked or dismissed as mundane.

Tom Haugomat

@tomhaugomat

The Paris-based illustrator and director has had his work featured in Air France Magazine, Revue XXI, and Le Monde. His illustrations have a distinctly cinematic quality, perhaps as a result of his background making short films.

Perhaps the most interesting element of his work is that his characters have no facial features, although he is still able to convey depth and emotion through his use of color and negative space.

Josh Cochran

@joshcochran

This Grammy-nominated, Brooklyn-based illustrator has clients including Adidas, Apple, and The New Yorker , and he currently teaches at the School of Visual Arts in NYC.

He is known for his bold colors, humorous drawings, and urban murals.

Bruno Mangyoku

@brunomangyoku

Bruno Mangyoku has worked as an illustrator and animation director who is greatly influenced by American graphic novelists such as Daniel Clowes and Charles Burns.

He uses a limited, yet highly contrasting color palette, focusing primarily on character design and silhouettes.

Hokyoung Kim

@hokyoungkim_

The South-Korean artist and illustrator lists clients including The New Yorker , The Washington Post , Apple, and Disney.

She finds inspiration in the Japanese comics and animations she grew up watching, and her work focuses on transmitting a strong sense of mood and atmosphere.

STRAUTNIEKAS

@strautniekas

The freelance illustrator studied at the Fine Arts Academy in Vilnius, before working in advertisement, animation and graphic design, with clients including the Royal Mail, The Independent , Penguin Random House.

His retro style, with soft colors and lines, lend him his unique style.

Christoph Niemann

@abstractsunday

Christoph Niemann is an illustrator, graphic designer, and children’s book author most known for his Sunday Sketches , quirky and humorous illustrations that take everyday objects and turn them into something unexpected.

Jon McNaught

This London-based cartoonist, illustrator, and printmaker has clients including Penguin Books, Faber, The New York Times , and The Wall Street Journal .

His skill lies in taking the mundane and everyday and turning them into works of art, using simple shapes and a limited color palette.

If you enjoyed this references and want to know more about travel illustration, don't miss Alex Green's course Travel Illustration: Recreate your favorite place and learn digital illustration techniques with a splash of acrylic paint to create artwork inspired by a photograph of a place you love.

You may also like:

- What Is an Illustrated Life Journal and How to Start One? - Create a Travel Sketchbook Without Leaving Your House, with Powerpaola - What Is an Inspiration Board and How to Create One for Your Bullet Journal - Exploratory Sketchbook: Find Your Drawing Style , a course Sarah van Dongen - Lifestyle and Travel Photography , a course by Julia Nimke

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Travel Sketching: Tips for Keeping an Art Journal

From 2015 to 2018, Ivan Chow made trips to and around Istanbul, Turkey, sketching many scenes along the way. In this excerpt from his upcoming book, “ Travel Sketching: Drawing Insights from Istanbul ,” he shares one of his favorite formats for drawing on location.

BY IVAN CHOW

Travel sketching, an ancestor of sorts to Instagram, has changed the way I observe the world. I have discovered that the act and art of converting visual observation into graphic representation has far surpassed the benefits afforded by digital photography. What I have learned and enjoyed from the practice of travel sketching has enriched my travel experiences as well as deepened my appreciation of different cultures and peoples.

A Fresh Approach to Travel Sketching

One of the most invigorating formats for travel sketching is one I have recently become more intentional about, and which has been received with a great deal of enthusiasm, especially when posted on social media in audio-visual form. On platforms such as Facebook or Instagram, posts of travel photos depicting scenes or people accompanied by captions attempting to describe said experiences are fairly typical. Posting travel sketches, however, is still unique and arguably more interesting. Adding written captions or commentary makes this approach of sharing travel experiences even richer and more memorable.

Enter the travel art journal. While not necessarily a new genre or form of expression, it has become for me a fresh approach to sharing experiences in an otherwise digitally saturated world. A travel art journal has the potential to transform travel sketching into a unique mode of expression, combining drawing with handwriting and composition to create a new “voice.” My forays into developing art journal sequences have been thoroughly rewarding, as I can combine my drawing skills with an interest in writing to communicate much more than either discipline can on its own. That’s probably why comic books and graphic novels have such appeal and why skillful cartooning can be so influential.

A travel art journal can be formatted in as many ways as there are personalities. My favorite format is an A5 size journal (about 5.5” x 8.5”), either in landscape or portrait mode, with sufficiently thick paper to stand up to waterproof ink lines and light washes. (80 lb. minimum, 140 lb. preferred) As with sketchbooks, an elastic closure strap and inside back cover pocket can be helpful. In addition to the usual array of tools I might have on hand for travel sketching, I would add a few choice writing instruments, such as a chisel-nib calligraphy pen or fountain pen.

As the name implies, a journal is a regular log of activities and events that occur roughly in chronological order. A travel journal might memorialize the daily travel schedule, places visited, people met, cuisine enjoyed, and souvenirs acquired. A travel art journal adds the element of artwork in the form of sketches, doodles, graphic illustrations, even glued-on collages using torn excerpts from brochures, tickets, receipts, and labels. I have found this last exercise quite a satisfying way of closing out a busy day of touring.

Travel-art journal entries are unique compositional challenges. In its simplest form, each page might contain a few sketch vignettes describing the activities of the day. Arranging the sketches on the page may require some foresight, consideration of the size, scope, and subject of each vignette and how they might tell the story of the day. Each entry becomes a graphic design exercise involving the layout of sketches, diagrams, titles, and text.

The addition of handwritten text to a composition of sketches is both an enriching enhancement and a potentially stressful endeavor. It is enriching because it adds information, flavor, and specificity to a sketch. Potentially stressful because, unlike the editability afforded by computer software programs, each phrase or caption needs to be somewhat thought through and composed before being physically written within the space available.

I love to write by hand and am constantly experimenting with different writing instruments with different tips, nibs, and inks. It’s almost an obsession with me, and I am easily disappointed when my writing falters. Having said that, I highly enjoy narrow, flat-nosed calligraphy pens for travel art journaling, especially used in a generally cursive lettering style. However, most fountain pen type writing instruments with reservoirs have no tolerance for waterproof ink, which tends to clog the fins and feed tubes. This often leaves me with little choice but to use the waterproof ink felt-tipped pens I used to sketch with for lettering as well. A real calligraphic treat is to use Speedball dip nibs with bottled India ink, although both have proven not to travel well.

This summertime sketch of the renowned Taksim Square (above) was completed in one sitting but from multiple positions. I had begun sketching seated on the pavement in front of the Taksim Mosque facing the square. Within 10 minutes, the local constabulary approached, ordering me to move. I continued the sketch while standing about 50 feet to one side, which required walking to and from my original position for reference, and back to the “safe zone” to continue sketching, clutching my watercolor kit and sketchbook in one hand, pages flapping in the breeze; brush in the other hand, pinky finger trying to hold down the page.

I ended up crossing the street into the square proper and finishing the 45-minute sketch seated on a low rail around the Republic Monument. Even under these conditions, I was pleased by how the sketch reflected the windy conditions, the movement of people and the “life” of this symbolic gathering place.

This interior sketch (above) was made while standing within the cavernous expanse of a 1,500 year-old Byzantine monument to Ottoman architecture and culture. The contrast from the warmth and bustle of the exterior to the hushed coolness of the inside almost mandated reverence.

This is where my Winsor & Newton professional watercolor travel kit came in handy, albeit restrictive. Being able to clutch both watercolor kit and sketchbook in one hand is a cultivated skill and immensely useful for situations like this. It was important to limit the scope of the sketches knowing that I would likely not be able to stand in place for much longer than 20 minutes at a time.

Do you keep a travel sketchbook or art journal? Tell us about it in the comments below!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Ivan Chow is an architect, author and award-winning artist. He was born in England, grew up in Southeast Asia, and has worked in the United States and around the world as an architect, educator and artist for almost four decades. He has practiced in design firms of various sizes; managed a private real estate company; worked in academia as a department chair and dean; and served as artist-in-residence at Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater. He has degrees in architecture from Harvard and Berkeley and a degree in theological studies from Gordon Conwell.

Facebook: @ivanchowsketches Instagram @qkkdraw

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13 comments.

Your lines are lovely! I carry a 6×8 WC book and fine line pens as well as a travel WC set. A film can (remember those?) half filled with water is all I need to complete hasty or slow drawings and paintings wherever I go. In a ziplock, it fits under a car seat or in an airplane carryon. The water is small enough to pass security. Thanks for posting your images. I consider my pages suitable to be Urbansketches.

Hello Kath, please excuse my 5-month tardiness in replying, but I very much appreciate your comment. I still have a couple of film cans around! Have you tried posting on Instagram? (I am @qkkdraw) I learn so much from following other artists around the world.

I love travel sketching! I use the same size book you do, and I’ve found Lamy Safari sketching fountain pens to work wonderfully with waterproof ink. I have a small (Altoids tin) travel palette, and often use a water brush to add a little paint to a small ink sketch.

Leslie, I’m only now realizing there were comments to this September 2020 article! Sorry about the delay in response. The Altoids tine palette is such a good idea. Although I have a handful of water brushes, I tend to get annoyed and how the colors get muddles when I forget to rinse properly.

I have 2 types of travel journals. The first is done strictly with sepia Micron Pigma pens in a Moleskine journal. I do line drawings on the spot, or later in my hotel room from photos on my phone. I annotate the day with text. These pages allow me to look back and remember details of my trip. The second book is done strictly with watercolor. I use a Moleskine or HandBook watercolor journal. These paintings are always done plein air and without text. I love keeping travel journals and they have become treasured keepsakes.

Hi Marian, thanks for your comment; my response is unforgivably tardy, but hopefully still relevant. Interesting idea to keep two travel journals concurrent; I never thought of doing that. Makes sense though – almost like mood-based entries. I’ll try that on my next trip, assuming Covid gets dampened(!)

I started travel journal sketching on a 3 week trip through England. London, to western most area near Penzance and with to the Lizard. Then up to Bath, followed by a week in the Lake District. Now, I take it whenever we travel — though there’s been damn little of that lately!

KL, sorry about this delayed response. I really miss traveling; we used to make any excuse to visit our family all around the US and internationally but now stuck looking at the world through a laptop… I spent some time in the Lake District decades ago, before I took up travel sketching, and aim to go back some day armed with my weapons of art!

I have notebooks that I kept while serving in Germany where I sketched various church steeples as I took various bus tours. Every two weeks tours after joining reserves, I sketched and took photos

Hi Dixie. Thanks for sharing and please excuse my tardy response. Have you posted your steeple sketches on FB or IG! I learn so much from following what other urban sketchers are doing.

Ivan thanks for sharing the details. I have several different sketch books but need to start using one and go through it day by day . I usually try to sit down so I can put my watercolor pallet on the ground and bring a spritz bottle to keep them wet.

Hi Bruce, thanks for your response; there are no excuses for my super tardy one. The thing about these plein air experiences is that every one seems to be accompanied by lasting memories: the sounds, smells, hapticity of the moment. And the need to come up with inventive ways of setting the right ambience for each little sketch can be such an annoying yet rewarding travel experience.

Hi Ivan, great sketches and tips. I’ve kept illustrated travelogues and journals for a few decades now. Smaller sizes work best for me. It keeps the sketching from being too detailed, they are quick and leave just enough space for minor remarks. They are also discrete cause I don’t like to make a show. Check out my IG-feed @ivanseymus or visit my portfolio on http://www.ivanseymus.com . Good luck and take care! Ivan (yes, that’s my name too!)

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Museum Exhibition Explores the Landscape in “Expressions of Place”

Enjoy an eagle’s view: the pleinair salon monthly winner, the story behind przewodek’s pleinair salon win.

Hiking Drawing (easy)

Embark on a delightful artistic journey as we guide young creators through simple steps to create an easy hiking drawing! Tailored for kids, this step-by-step tutorial promises an engaging and enjoyable experience. Whether your little one is a budding artist or simply looking to explore drawing, this easy hiking lesson is the perfect starting point.

All the drawing steps are presented here for a fun and educational adventure. Anticipate a 30-minute creative process, but feel free to extend it as you add a colorful background to complement the subject matter. Let your creativity shine as you craft a lively hiking drawing, and be sure to infuse it with your unique touch. Don’t miss the opportunity to grab our free PDF guide for further inspiration on this exciting artistic venture.

• Drawing Paper
• Crayons or Colored Pencils
• Black Marker (optional)
• Hiking Drawing (easy) Printable PDF (see bottom of lesson)

This post will teach you how to draw a person hiking through the forest. We will pay attention to the shapes of each part and types of outlines drawn so that the artwork looks right.

Time Needed: 30 minutes

Draw The Head

Start by drawing a U-shaped line with a small bump to outline the head. Next, add two circles for the eyes. Then, add the brows, nose, and mouth by drawing short curved lines.

Add The Hair

Add the bumpy outline of the hiker’s hair.

Form The Arms

Draw curved lines to outline the sleeves. Then, form the folded shape of his arms similar to the illustration.

Draw The Torso

Now, outline the upright shape of the torso. Then, add a small curved line for the collar.

Outline The Pants

Next, form the shape of his pants below the torso.

Add The Shoes

Outline the shoes attached to the ends of the pants. Then, draw a curved line near the base of the shoes to add the soles.

Attach The Backpack

Start by drawing the large cylinder outline of the sleeping bag. Next, add the straps of the backpack. Then, draw a long line below the sleeping bag to outline the main body of the bag. Make sure to erase any overlapping lines!

Add The Mountainview Background

Start by creating the path by drawing wavy lines. Next, add the pointy outline of tall pine trees. Then, add a horizontal line in the background to form the mountains farther in the background.

Complete The Hiking Drawing

Let’s add some color to our hiking drawing! First, color the skin with a peach crayon, and the eyes with a black crayon. Next, fill in the hair with a yellow crayon. Now, shade the shirt with an orange crayon, and the pants with a blue crayon. Now, use a dark brown crayon for the shoes. Then, color the rolled-up sleeping bag with a blue crayon, and the backpack with a brown crayon. Finally, use a green crayon for the trees, light brown crayon for the ground, and a light blue crayon for the sky.

Hiking Drawing (easy) PDF Download

Click the link below to view or download this drawing lesson. The PDF is a printable drawing lesson for Hiking Drawing (easy) . The last page of the downloadable PDF includes a coloring book page with just the outlines and an extension exercise for prompting kids to get creative!

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• Current Events

35+ Travel Sketching Ideas to Overcome Your Creative Blocks

Photo caption: Your travel sketching adventures can take you from Athens, Georgia to the streets of New York City. Photo by Ketut Subiyanto from Pexels.

Student sketchbooks may count as one of the most underrated tools that art students have at their disposal for overcoming creative blocks .

Within their pages, students attending any of the art schools in Georgia can try out their must-have drawing supplies for travel sketching and for developing ideas for school art and design projects.

However, students who aren’t used to keeping a sketchbook are sometimes heard lamenting: “I don’t know what to draw!”

At Milan Art Institute, we actually offer students a solution for overcoming creative blocks. As school founder and co-owner, Elli Milan, says: Always have something to paint (or draw).

More specifically, Elli recommends that art students at the Milan Art Institute have at least 20 sources ready to paint or draw at all times. 

Artists who take this advice never wonder what to paint or draw. They always have 20 pieces on the ready.

The MAI one-year professional certificate program, the Mastery Program , teaches students how to create all the painting and drawing sources they’ll need to work as professional artists.

That doesn’t mean, however, that art students who aren’t yet in the Mastery Program are out of luck. 

These aspiring art students can parlay their love of travel sketching into a sketchbook filled with an abundance of drawing and painting prompts. These prompts can inspire visions of amazing works of art that have the power to change them and to change the world.

Drawing Prompts for Your Travel Sketching

The good news is, you don’t even have to travel out of town to fill up your student sketchbooks. Places like Oconee Forest Park delight the senses in the fall. And they’re close by. 

These Athens, Georgia beauty spots are also filled with drawing prompts from the natural world. It’s the perfect place to practice some plein air painting and drawing.

Just a note to the students in our online art classes or who don’t attend a Georgia art school: These drawing prompts should help you fill your student sketchbooks, too, even if you don’t live in Athens. It just requires a bit of ingenuity and tenacity. 

There’s more on that later...

You can also do this exercise in more than one place. For example, start in a national forest or park and then continue the exercise in town or even at the local pumpkin patch. 

We do recommend that you draw anything that catches your eye while you’re out on your travel sketching adventure. The idea behind filling your sketchbooks with images from the natural world is to get you into the habit of really seeing the world around you. 

It’s also important for you to notice the images that tug at your heart strings. These represent the things you care about and are one of the key components to developing your artistic voice. 

If you do this, you’ll overcome your creative blocks and even have an overflow of ideas that you can turn into future art projects. 

However, to help you out in case you’re really stuck, we provide you with a list of prompts for your travel sketching. 

Traveling Sketching: Let’s Go on an Art Scavenger Hunt 

Let’s call this activity an art scavenger hunt to make it even more fun. Basically, we’ve created a list of items you’re likely to find in the fall of the year. 

The more of these items you find, the closer you are to fulfilling the requirements of the art scavenger hunt. 

When you find them, spend a few minutes drawing these items in your student sketchbook. If you want to create a special travel sketchbook or journal to capture the memories of your autumn scavenger hunt in Athens, Georgia, that’s great, too!

Ideally, this exercise will give you so many fall drawing prompt ideas that you eventually fill more than one travel sketch journal. If you do, you’ll never run out of ideas for your class or professional art projects again. 

Autumn Art Scavenger Hunt: Sketchbook Drawing Ideas List

Here’s a list of some suggested fall travel journal prompts for this exercise.

A List of Must-Have Art Supplies for Your Travel Sketching Adventure 

Anyone who attends an art school in Georgia - well, anywhere, really - should have the opportunity to try out a variety of art supplies. Every medium handles differently and produces a different effect. 

Anothing element that makes an artist’s voice unique is the art materials that a particular artist uses. The more you know about your supplies, the better chance you have at developing your voice.

We bring all of this up, because we’d like to recommend a must-have art supplies list for you to take on your adventures in travel sketching. Travel sketching gives you an opportunity to try new supplies in a fun, adventurous kind of way. 

We tapped one of our amazing art coaches and mentors, Esther Franchuk , to get a list of art supplies. Esther’s list includes sketchbook recommendations, as well as drawing materials suggestions. 

• Hand-book journal co. - WATERCOLOR SQUARE 8.25x8.25
• Talens Art Creation Sketchbook - Pocket size
• Paul Rubens Artist Watercolor Paints - Glitter Solid Colors
• Watercolor White Nights paint set, St.Petersburg, Russia
• Royal Talens C902 - ArtCreation Gouache set
• Refillable watercolor brush pens

If you can’t find brands above, just keep in mind that you might generally like to bring along:

• Pencils, erasers and other dry drawing media
• Watercolor pencils
• Colored pencils
• Watercolor paint brushes
• Sketchbooks made with watercolor paper
• Anything that’s easy to use in all kinds of weather
• Portable chair

One final note about your must-have travel sketching supplies: You may want to experiment with these materials in your student sketchbooks before you go out. 

It’s likely that you’ll gravitate toward some supplies more than others. Knowing what those are allows you to eliminate some of your art materials from your art travel pack. 

This keeps things light. It also reduces the number of supplies you’ll have to carry around with you when you’re out sketching on location. 

If you’re still not certain about what should go into your travel sketchbook or journal, this video that Elli and Dimitra Milan did about drawing and painting on location may help you. 

Photo caption: A trip to the museum fills your travel sketchbook and gives you a foundation in art history. Image by OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay.

Art Scavenger Hunt Ideas If You Get Rained Out…

Sometimes, our best efforts get rained or snowed out. That’s okay. The fall art scavenger hunt is adaptable. Some urban sketchers take their travel sketchbooks to coffee shops and sketch the streets outside the windows. 

Really, you can set up your portable art studio in any building that has big windows. You may have to move around a lot if you want to try to get everything on the list into your books. 

(Remember, we also encourage you to find your own sources from the drawing prompts that nature provides for you, so it’s okay to abandon the list above. As long as you’re putting ideas into your sketchbooks, you’re golden.)

Finally, there is a creative alternative that you’ll probably like. 

Art museums are known for their scavenger hunts in some cities. Museum scavenger hunts encourage people to look closely at art, because museum participants are given a list, like the one above. 

As art scavenger hunt players wander through the art museum, they are encouraged to find items on the list in the paintings. 

You as art students can take this one step further by drawing the work of art (or portions of it) you found your scavenger hunt item in. They don’t have to even be full-blown drawings. Small sketches are fine to get you started. 

This activity does a couple of things. First, it allows you to put powerful and inspiring images in your student sketchbooks that can inspire works of art down the road. 

Second, it allows you to get some art history lessons in. Exceptional artists understand their place in art history. The artists that were and are most notable in history are culture warriors and influencers. 

Looking at and sketching these works allows you to peer into their creative processes and adopt a new way of seeing. By immersing yourself in their virtuosity, you subconsciously develop your sense of taste and ultimately improve your art.  

Third, seeing great art elevates your taste levels, which in turn, motivates you to continue to create art that has the potential to change the world.

Many museums allow art students to come in and sketch. However, it’s always best to find out ahead of time if you can come in and sketch. Always be sure to ask permission to bring your art supplies into the museum with you before you set out on your travel sketching trip.

Urban Sketching: Another Variation of Travel Sketching

The general gist of this blog post has concentrated on filling your student sketchbooks with images from the natural world. That said, you are not limited to staying on the hiking trails as you go on your art scavenger hunt. 

Urban sketching, that is drawing on location, often in the city, has increased in popularity of late. 

Here’s what the urban sketchers’ website had to say about the characteristics of urban sketching:

• It’s done on location and its purpose is to draw from direct observation.
• Urban sketchers can draw inside or out.
• Through drawing, urban sketching strives to tell the story of the places people live, where they travel and even about their surroundings closer to home.
• Each urban sketch captures a moment in time and is a truthful visual account of the scenes that the sketcher witnesses.
• Artists interested in urban sketching can use any kind of media: Individual drawing styles are celebrated!
• They share their work online, with the purpose of showing the world, “one drawing at a time.”
• Urban sketchers draw together and support one another in these efforts. 
• While you can sketch alone, taking up urban sketching is a great way to sketch on location with other people. If you’re interested in finding a local chapter of urban sketchers, check out the urban sketchers’ chapter finder . Or check out their website to find out if there are any urban sketching workshops near you.

Final Words on Travel Sketching for Art Students

As an art school in Georgia that embraces traditional, as well as modern art techniques, we believe it’s important that art students learn to draw from life. 

One easy way to develop this habit is to fill their student sketchbooks with images from cities, forests and even their own backyard. This practice sharpens art students’ technical skills. 

But more than that, student or travel sketchbooks filled with visual prompts from the forest, the streets of Paris or even the local coffee shop can become stunning works of art down the road. 

These images are powerful ways to help you get motivated and to push your drawing skills to the next level. 

For More Drawing Tips, Check out the Articles and Courses Below:

If you want to learn to draw quickly, check out the Drawing Essentials class or the Beginner Art Program .

How To Draw a Self Portrait

Milan Art Institute

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An old way to see new: How travel sketching can improve your trips

See the world anew through travel sketching.

When I used to see people out travel sketching or examples from history, I had two responses:

1) That is so cool! and 2) I could never do that.

I was half right.

Travel sketching is meaningful because you capture a very personal view of what you saw. More importantly, you actually perceive the world around you in a whole new way.

To my second response, let me paraphrase Chef Auguste Gusteau in the film Ratatouille :

Anyone can draw.

You did it as a kid. You can do it again. But you have to try and you have to practice. The good news is that with travel sketching, you get to practice in some pretty remarkable places.

You just have to take that first step

Awhile back, I completed a trip to China where I practiced travel sketching each day in a travel journal. What got me over the “I can’t draw” hurdle was seeing my son do it and reading Danny Gregory’s, The Illustrated Journey where he profiles various artists and their travel journals. Major inspiration. Plus, when I first picked up one of Gregory’s books, I thought, “Wait a second. His drawings aren’t perfect. And he doesn’t care.” Nope. And neither should you.

Your goal with travel sketching isn’t to render perfect replications of what you see. Your camera can do that. Your goal is to have more fun and experience your trip  in a new way. Here’s how travel sketching can help.

The benefits of travel sketching

• You see things better . Much better. You appreciate the details and understand how various elements relate. You discover small visual treasures you’d otherwise miss if you weren’t travel sketching.

• You slow down. Travel sketching forces you to stop. And look. And look again. You not only perceive your subject in a new way, you get to know the place better because you experience it over a longer period of time.

• You meet people easier . They approach you. Everyone loves to see what you’re drawing. No one cares if it doesn’t look exactly like the scene before you. At least you’re trying. They’re not. You both know it. And that can lead to wonderful conversations.

• You get to choose what you draw . I am a rank beginner when it comes to drawing or travel sketching. But it doesn’t matter. I journeyed through China with my son who is a graphic designer and artist. He’d be tackling some complex building or—gasp—a person, and I’d settle for drawing the trash can. It didn’t matter. I liked that trash can. And I knew it wouldn’t be as hard as what Leonardo there was sketching. We both walked away satisfied.

• You improve other creative areas. I’m a better photographer because of sketching since now I’m more intentional about what I shoot. Plus, I can draw during the bright mid-day hours when the light isn’t as great for photos. I think I write better too because I notice more details.

• You experience a place on a deeper level . I now see things I never would have before,  plus I look for things I never would have previously. Every place is now a visual scavenger hunt. I see a completely new dimension of a place as a result. It’s like the artist’s trick of drawing negative space: to draw the chair, for example, draw the empty spaces between the legs and back slats and you’ll actually draw the chair as a result. You begin to see the “negative spaces” of life that before were invisible. And in that is an entire world of wonder.

• You learn there is no wrong way. Stop the self-judging. There are no bad drawings. Everything is a chance to practice and learn. Sure, the kangaroo I drew from a photo in the in-flight magazine looks psychopathic. And yes, that large round flower pot I drew in the Suzhou garden looks like a fallen cake. But so what? As an art professor once told my son, “You’ve got 2,000 bad drawings in you that you need to get out.” 1998 to go…

Not yet convinced?

Here are some other tips, resources for inspiration, drawing ideas and suggestions for how to get started with your own travel sketching.

To get started, just start playing with different media. Here I didn’t even sketch the outline first in pencil. I just started painting. Is it great? No. Was it fun? Yes. And that’s what matters.

• Find a style you like . Maybe one out of ten books I’ve read on drawing work for me. And I can tell by looking at a few pages. Most are too complex or photo-realistic. Others are too fussy. Still others are too messy. You’ve got to be like Goldilocks and find learning resources — books, online courses, websites or even classes — that work for you. Otherwise, I guarantee you want stick with it or likely, even get started.

I saw a pin of this image on Pinterest and re-created it. It would be blatant copying except that I am only using it to practice.

More recreations, this time from a Matthew Rice book using pencil with watercolor. It’s good to simply enjoy making the sketch and not worry if it is perfect. But it’s also helpful to learn from each one. For example, with the top castle, I really like the building on the right but the one on the left got a little wonky.

I’ve recently started using ink instead of watercolor since I still can’t make watercolor sketches quite the way I want. Ink reduces the learning to only dealing with shades, not colors

Here’s a very different style using pen and ink instead of pencil and ink. I think I like pencil better, but I still have a lot of practice ahead of me before I figure out my preferred style. So why not try both?

• Find resources that fit your needs . Just like finding a style you like, finding the right learning resources is a matter of evaluating a lot and choosing a very few. Start online with courses or tutorials. Or go to the library and look through all the options there. But you’ll know you’ve found the right one when it inspires you to want to try. If it doesn’t, keep looking. Here are some that have worked for me:

This is typical of the majority of my travel sketches where I make it quickly in ink alone, not worrying about so-called mistakes. As one artist put it, they aren’t mistakes. They are evidence of your personal style!

Sketches don’t have to be big to be enjoyable. I re-created these little people from a book on watercolors but now, I can make similar ones from real people because I understand the technique.

• Art Before Breakfast – While focused on being more creative, the emphasis here is on getting started doing daily drawing by providing drawing ideas and other creative activities you try so you form the habit sketching or doing something creative every day.
• The Creative License which teaches you how to be more creative in anything.

One thing I learned from Danny Gregory is that you’re never without subjects. A trip around the block will reveal all kinds of things to sketch.

• Keys to Drawing — It’s over two decades old but still one of the best for providing drawing ideas, getting started and progressing.
• Drawing with the Imagination —This is great if you want to learn to draw on your own without a subject before you. I’d start with Keys to Drawing first and then progress to this book. But check this one out just for the inspiration.

Anything can be a source of a practice drawing, even a photo of Betty Edwards on the back of her book. This is one of the few times I took more time to draw something more detailed in pencil.

• Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain
• Explorers’ Sketchbooks 
• The Sea Journal: Seafarers’ Sketchbooks  

If you’re making your travel sketchbook just for you, you can fill in blank (or smudged) areas even after a trip with, I don’t know, maybe Baby Yoda? As long as you date each entry, it doesn’t really matter the order of them.

You can see other examples and resources in my article on travel journals .

Sometimes you sketch things over and over just to understand what you’re doing. After that, your practice is both more fun and productive.

And in case you’re wondering about the sketches shown above, the older ones up to the “Not yet convinced?” section come either from the Smithsonian’s recent release of over 2.8 million images to the public domain or the New York Public Library’s digital collection which is also in the public domain. Both are great resources for old images. The newer ones are all mine just to show that anyone can do this.

Need more inspiration?

Here are some wonderful examples I’ve come across of different styles and approaches for your inspiration.

Why sketch a city you see when you can just make up your own ?

You can draw whatever you love. Especially food.

This will expand your perspective on using the medium of pastel.

Here’s a good overview of some specific sketchbook tips.

Finally, here’s a wealth of various travel sketchbook examples on a few different Pinterest boards. With Pinterest, it helps to search by boards because then you can get a sense of people who have similar taste to you. Or you can just search on pins and see a wider variety. These are four boards I enjoy (click on the image to go to the board), but your taste may differ, so go hunt down some boards that inspire you:

Wow! Fascinating read, and actually quite encouraging to those of us who are artistically-challenged to give it a whirl!

Thanks, Rick. I’m glad it is encouraging. I was going to say I expect to see some masterpieces from you. But that would defeat the point of this post. So how about this: I expect to see some great efforts soon.

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How to Draw a Camper

Learn how to draw a great looking Camper with easy, step-by-step drawing instructions, and video tutorial.

By following the simple steps, you too can easily draw a perfect Camper.

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Step-by-Step Instructions for Drawing a Camper

How to Draw a Great Looking Camper for Kids and Beginners - Step 1

1. Begin the outline by drawing its rectangular shape. Notice that one corner is rounded and that the rectangle has a rounded notch out of the bottom. Then, draw rectangles along the top and side, and a curved rectangle along the rounded corner.

Easy Camper Drawing - Step 2

2. Continue to detail the RV, erasing as necessary. Replace the upper corner with a curved "L" shape. Draw a rounded square at the bottom corner of the trailer, and connect it to the "L" with a straight line. Enclose a rounded rectangle with two small ovals along the side of the camper.

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Easy Camper Drawing - Step 3

3. Draw several rectangles with different dimensions along the side of the camper. Draw or shade small circles within them. Then, draw a horizontal straight line along the bottom of the camper.

Easy Camper Drawing - Step 4

4. Draw the door and window of the cartoon RV. Use rounded rectangles for each. Draw parallel, horizontal lines across the window and the side of the trailer.

Draw a rounded rectangle within the door to form a window, and a curved triangle within a triangle to form the door handle. Below the door , enclose narrow, horizontal rectangles with rounded corners, and connect them with sets of short lines. These are the stairs.

Easy Camper Drawing - Step 5

5. Draw four successively smaller circles within the notch, forming the tire and wheel. Texture the wheel with short lines. At the front of the camper, extend a pair of lines and draw a small semicircle at the end. This is a support strut.

MORE DRAWING TUTORIALS:

How to draw a key and lock.

How to Draw a Lamp

How to Draw a Tent

Easy Camper Drawing - Step 6

6. Draw a rectangle at the front of the camper. On top of it, draw a semicircle, circle, and a series of irregular rectangles that form the propane fuel tank.

Easy Camper Drawing - Step 7

7. Draw the scenery around the camper . Use curved lines that meet at jagged points to form the grass, and enclose the cloudlike shape of a shrub using a series of curved lines.

Add More Details to Your Camper Picture - Step 8

8. Draw a tree in the background. Use curved lines to sketch the trunk, branch, and leafy crown.

How to Draw a Race car

How to Draw a Motorcycle

How to Draw an Easy Train

Complete the Outline of Your Camper Drawing - Step 9

9. Complete your outline by finishing the crown of the tree. Use a series of curved lines, some of which meet at points, to enclose the cloudlike shape.

Color Your Camper Drawing

Color your cartoon camper trailer. We've given ours a traditional cream and red paint job, but you can get creative!

Click HERE to save the tutorial to Pinterest!

Watch 'How to Draw a Camper' Video Tutorial

Learn more about the camper drawing.

Would you like to explore the great outdoors? You can learn how to draw a camper and start going on your own outdoor adventures!

A camper, caravan , RV, tourer, or travel trailer - whatever you call it, recreational vehicles can be found around the world.

Furnished travel trailers were first produced commercially in the late 1880s. At that time, they were pulled by horses! By the early 1900s, camping was becoming a popular sport.

Today, campers come in all shapes and sizes, from tiny teardrop trailers and repurposed vans to plush RVs with as much square footage as a small house.

Scroll down for a downloadable PDF of this tutorial.

Some are used for " glamping " - camping outdoors in luxury rather than "roughing it."

How can you put this RV trailer cartoon outline to good use? Here are some fun drawing ideas:

• Create a camper for your dolls or action figures. Paste your drawing to a cardboard shoebox and cut around the door on three sides. Decorate the interior of the shoebox camper with items like a box of supplies , a radio , or a hearty meal .
• Invite someone to go camping with you! Place this camper cartoon on the front of the invitation. Put together a scrapbook or memory book page celebrating a family camping trip.

If you liked this drawing tutorial, see also the following guides: Tent drawing , Barbeque Grill drawing , and Car Front View drawing .

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Easy Things to Draw: Ideas for Beginners

You may need some doodling inspiration to fill your sketchbook, or you might want to find some easy things to draw to practice and improve your skills. In this list, find 30+ easy drawing ideas for beginners. The drawings may be easy, but they look impressive!

All you need is a pencil and some paper to get started, so grab your supplies and draw whatever you like. I’ve included steps so you can complete each one. These drawings are simple, with a realistic style, but incredibly fun to do!

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An eye is fairly easy to draw. So it is a great place for beginners who are interested in portrait drawing to start. To achieve accurate proportions with the eye, start by measuring. Draw a circle for the iris, then mark the top, bottom, inner corner and outer corner of the eye. Draw a guide to show the angle of the eye, from the inner corner to the outer corner. This makes drawing the outline easier, as it’s a case of joining up the markers.

If you’re not as confident with shading , start with the darkest areas first. The darkest areas are the pupil, the outer edge of the iris and the eyelashes. It’s helpful to get some different drawing tools to help with shading like softer graphite pencils (6B or 8B). Soft pencils will enable you to achieve a greater tonal range in your drawings. So you can draw those dark shadows.

Make sure to sharpen your graphite pencil when drawing the eyelashes! Another tip is to use a kneaded eraser or a Tombow Mono Zero eraser to lift highlight details for the finishing touches.

Draw a super easy cupcake with a large swirl of icing. Start by drawing curved line for the base of the cupcake. Then, add two lines for the sides of the cake. Next, draw a big spiral for the icing. Finally, add some sprinkles on top! Get your colouring pencils out and shade the icing whatever colour you like!

You can draw a dog starting from just three circles! Use the circles as guides to measure the proportions of the head, torso and feet. Then, add in some details, like fur, the eyes, a collar and a nose. You could keep it as a contour drawing like this, or you could do some shading. Check out our guide on drawing techniques for some tips.

Pumpkins are fun to draw, especially around autumn time when spooky season is just around the corner. Draw this with markers , pencil or ink pen. Start by drawing a oval shape for the pumpkin. Then, add the segments and stem. If you’re drawing this for Halloween, draw triangles for eyes and a wide mouth to create the decoration. To finish it off, colour in your pumpkin orange.

Another great and easy thing to draw is a cat. Just like with the dog drawing, start with three circles to guide you. Then draw over the guides, making the head more defined, drawing the ears, back, tail and paws. Don’t forget to draw some texture on the outline for fur.

When it comes to drawing details, these can feel tricky at first, but spend some time mapping out where they will go. You can always create markers for where the eyes and nose go, then rub these out once you’re sure of the placement. The most important thing when you’re getting started with drawing is practice ! So if you don’t like how your first drawing turned out, grab a sketchbook and try again.

Lips are definitely one of the easiest things to draw. Start by sketching a curved line for the top lip. Then, add another curved line below it for the bottom lip. To finish it off, use a red pencil to colour in your lips. Now you’ve had a go at drawing eyes and lips, you can try to draw a face or a head !

Pandas are cute, round and easy to draw! Their shape is mainly made up circles that you can edit and refine to create a more detailed drawing. Start by drawing the circle guides lightly with a pencil. It also helps to divide the face into half then half again for the eyes and the nose. Then sketch the details, paying attention to where the contours of the outline is located in relation to the circular guides. Pandas are black and white, so get your graphite pencil , or charcoal pencil and colour in the eyes, ears, nose, arms and legs. If you’re drawing with charcoal instead of graphite, we have a blog on charcoal drawing ideas so you can find some more inspiration.

This easy cherry drawing is perfect for beginners! Start by sketching a small circle for the cherry. Then, add two curved lines on either side to form the stem. Colour the fruit in red and use a green pencil to colour in the stem.

An umbrella

Umbrellas are a fun thing to draw or doodle in your sketchbook, colour it in with bright colours, or draw it as part of a larger scene. Although the shape looks complex at first glance, it’s pretty simple when broken into its basic shapes. Draw a triangle as a guide and a line coming down the middle for the handle. Then, turn the triangle into a dome shape and create several smaller domes and tips of the canopy.

Colour the umbrella with whatever medium you like! Whether that’s coloured pencils or marker pens !

Draw your favourite type of cactus. Botanical drawings are perfect for beginners as they’re easy to do and you can add as much or as little detail as you like. Start by drawing a long, cylindrical shape for the cactus. Then, add small lines coming off it to create the spines. To finish it off, colour everything in green. If you want, draw flowers on the top of the cactus.

A daisy is one of the easiest flowers to draw. This is because the petals are all similar in shape and size. You can start with two circles and an organic shaped line for the stem. You don’t have to be too precise when drawing your guides, as daisies are not perfectly symmetrical. When drawing the petals, make them similar in size and make them overlap slightly. As always, a splash of colour can bring a drawing to life, colour your artworks with coloured pencils , markers , watercolours or whatever art medium you like using. Or you can leave it as a sketch if you don’t have the extra materials to hand.

Butterflies are the perfect subject for drawing, with symmetrical and colourful wings. They’re actually really easy! The trickiest bit is getting the wings to look symmetrical. In this butterfly drawing tutorial , I show you how to create guides to achieve the symmetrical wings and patterns. If you’re interested in coloured pencil drawing, Polychromos pencils are fantastic for building colour layers and blending. I used Polychromos pencils on Pastelmat paper to create the drawing.

Mountain and lake

Mountains are easy things to draw, the rock shapes are organic and don’t have to be perfect. Simply outline your mountain, then fill in some details, like ripples on the lake, or trees in the foreground. You can even use ink pen and use some interesting shading techniques like hatching or stippling to fill in the shadow tones. When drawing landscapes, the success of the drawing relies on the composition of the piece and the way that elements are spaced and arranged. If you’re planning on spending some time on your final piece, plan the composition first with a few composition sketches to test the arrangement of different elements.

Faces are fairly complex to draw, but once you break the process down into steps, it can feel less intimidating. First, measure the proportions. This is the most important step, as it will determine how the rest of your drawing looks. Then, start with the eyes and work your way down to the nose and mouth. Finally, add the ears, hair and any other details. Remember to take your time with this one!

If you want to learn how to construct a head from scratch , use the Loomis Method . Read our guide about how to draw a side profile too, so you can master drawing a portrait at any angle!

This is a great drawing idea for a spread of succulents and cacti. Draw as many as you can fit into your sketchbook page. Start by drawing a rectangle to measure the size of the pot, then create markers for the height and width of the plant. Use these markers when drawing the pot and leaves. The trickiest parts are getting the pot symmetrical and getting the height and angle of the leaves right, it might take a few tries to draw it perfectly. Succulents and plants in general are fun things to draw, because you can shade the pots with interesting designs and colours. If you’re using coloured pencil to colour your drawings, make sure to use the blending technique to achieve smooth and realistic transitions between colours.

Follow along with the video and draw this owl step by step. Start with the eyes and beak, then draw the feathers on the face of this great horned owl. Finish the drawing off by drawing a branch for your owl to perch on and by detailing the feathers on the body and wings.

Draw a simple but impressive palm tree. You don’t have to be too precise with the drawing, but make sure that the leaf area is roughly the same height as the tree trunk. Create this drawing as an illustration on its own, or draw it as part of a beachy landscape scene.

If you’re interested in learning how to create more detailed landscape drawings, check out these landscape drawing classes on Skillshare ! Use charcoal, ink or graphite to draw any kind of landscape you can dream up!

Water droplet

This drawing will test your shading skills. It’s easy to create a realistic looking water droplet, that looks as if it’s dripping off the page! Just make sure that you get the values right in the highlights and the shadows. For the highlights at the end, you could even use a white gel pen , to make the water droplet look more contrasted and realistic.

Tent and campfire

This one is for those who love camping. Draw an easy tent with a campfire. This drawing idea is great for beginners, as the shapes are fairly simple. If you want, give it a pop of colour once you’ve finished the outline. You could even take the drawing further by drawing some trees or mountains surrounding the tent, a moon and stars in the night sky.

Draw a majestic lion with pencil. Use a softer pencil , like a B or 2B so you can shade the drawing once you’ve finished the outline. When drawing the guides to measure the proportions, make sure to sketch lightly so you can easily erase the lines afterwards. A kneaded eraser is a great drawing tool for lifting pencil lines without damaging the paper. The great thing about this drawing tutorial, is that you can watch and follow along with it in real time, so you can see each step individually.

Draw a doughnut and grab some coloured pencils to detail the sprinkles. Make your doughnut any colour you like, make sure to use bright colours for the highlights on the icing and the sprinkles to create definition in your drawing.

Cameras look tricky to draw, but you can break it down into simple shapes. Draw four circles for the lens and a rectangle for the body, then work on refining the features and adding details. Draw it with an ink pen, like in this tutorial, or start with a pencil drawing so that you can erase lines if you make a mistake.

Cup of coffee

This is another great easy illustration to add to your sketchbook. When colouring the drawing, make sure to blend the shadows into the midtones to create a smooth appearance on the cup.

This is a fantastic drawing to complete with charcoal , this is because it blends easily, so you can create reflections in the water. The most difficult part of this drawing is getting the angles and perspective right, so pay attention when drawing the outline. Draw the outline lightly with a hard graphite pencil, so that the lines are easier to erase. To blend pencil on the water reflections, get a tortillion and smooth the lines.

Continuous line drawing

Try completing a continuous line drawing —this is more of a drawing exercise but it’s a fun idea to practice in the sketchbook . To complete a continuous line drawing, look at your reference , you could use this reference of two hands as a starting point. Then try to complete your drawing using one line, without taking your pen or pencil off of the paper. This will exercise your skills in precision, as well as observation. Plus, the results look unique and striking.

This drawing is a little more complex than some of the others on the list, but it’s a rewarding one! But once you’ve practiced some of the other easier drawings in this guide, you might feel ready to tackle something more challenging.

The first step in this drawing is establishing the perspective of the viewer. This means drawing a horizon line and a vanishing point, for this one point perspective drawing. The roof and base of the structure should all point towards the vanishing point.

This perspective will give your drawing a realistic look. When it comes to shading the drawing, make sure that you’ve established a lightsource, in the case of this tutorial, the lightsource is coming from the right hand side. If you’re not confident with trying a more complex drawing, you could start small. Smaller drawings tend to feel easier, so get a sketchbook and practice, then scale it up when you feel ready.

Hot air balloon

Hot air balloons are easy to draw and look bright and colourful on the page. This will exercise your skills at drawing spherical shapes and curved lines. Make sure to determine a light source when colouring the drawing in and rendering the highlights and shadows on the balloon to give it that realistic look. If you want to simplify the drawing even more, you could leave out the segments on the balloon section.

Create a realistic pear drawing. Whether you’re practising for a larger still life, or just want to draw some simple fruit shapes, this is an excellent lesson in shading. Look at the way the light bounces off the form and reflects from the surface. You don’t have to be too precise with the outline in this drawing, it’s the shading and contrast that makes this drawing stand out.

Figure drawing

This is one approach to creating an easy figure drawing, by starting with a gesture drawing. This involves measuring the height of the figure, then drawing the line of action to determine the body’s positioning. Then draw horizontal lines to show the angles of the joints of the figure. Once you’ve established the proportions and angles of the body, you can join it all up with an outline. This provides a fantastic base for a more complex figure drawing. If you’re interested in portraiture, give our gesture drawing guide a read, so you can try it for yourself. It’s an excellent introduction to academic drawing styles.

Draw a rose complete with thorns and leaves. Start with the inner leaves and work your way outwards, drawing where they fold over. When it comes to shading, either colour the rose in with a bright red pencil , using a deeper red for the shadows beneath where the petals fold over, or use a graphite pencil .

Draw a cartoon portrait

Create your own character and draw a cartoon portrait. Alternatively you could draw your favourite popular cartoon or game character. Cartoons are easier to draw than realistic portraits, as the features are often simplified. If you’re interested in comic art, or character design, filling a sketchbook with your own character drawings can be a fun way to practice.

Create flower doodles

Now you know step by step how to create a daisy and a rose, but what about creating some more flower drawings. These simple doodles can dress up any sketchbook page. Draw with a liner pen, or a fountain pen to create clean line drawings .

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This Summer in Paris: More ‘Open’ Signs, Thanks to the Olympics

With millions of visitors expected in the city, restaurant and shop owners are hoping they made the right decision to forgo their cherished annual vacations.

By Lindsey Tramuta

Anyone who’s visited Paris in late July and August knows the word “fermé.” It adorns the darkened windows of chic indie boutiques and cozy bistros whose owners, along with other locals, have fled the city on their annual vacations.

This summer, with Paris expected to draw nearly 15 million visitors between July 26 and Sept. 8 for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, that ritual is anything but certain. Many shopkeepers, bakers, restaurateurs and tour guides — citing patriotism as well as profit — say they’re planning to stay open.

It’s a decision that comes with unpredictability. The 2012 London Olympics have cast a long shadow in Paris. Before those Games, warnings of overcrowded roads, congested transit and security concerns emptied out much of the popular city center and the West End, causing a tourism slump in those areas. Small-business owners in Paris are hoping history does not repeat itself.

The French capital is in a better position than the British capital was, insisted Pierre Rabadan, Paris’s deputy mayor for sports . Most of the events in London were held in one section of the city, he said, while in Paris, they’re taking place all over. “So when businesses have asked if they should stay open,” he explained, “we tell them we’re trying to create the conditions for this to be a real opportunity and for the city to function normally.”

With streets restricted, Metro stations closed and public transportation likely to be jammed, “normally” might be a stretch. But if you’re traveling to Paris for the Olympics or Paralympics, you will most likely find more dining and shopping options than you would otherwise see at that time of year. Here’s what to expect.

Preparations and a few disruptions

“If you want to have your ‘Emily in Paris’ trip to Paris this summer, you absolutely can,” said Olivia Grégoire, France’s minister in charge of tourism . Most popular attractions will remain open as normal, but a few closures could complicate plans.

The Place de la Concorde was set to be blocked off, even to pedestrians and cyclists, as of June 1, and three nearby Metro stations will close until Sept. 21.

The Eiffel Tower will remain open except for the eve and day of the opening ceremony, on July 26. The region’s airspace will also be closed for six hours before and during that event. And because the opening ceremony is set to take place on the Seine, river cruises, among the city’s most popular sightseeing experiences, will stop seven days before the ceremony and resume on July 27 at noon.

Owners of businesses that focus on tours and cultural experiences are banking on early-summer visitors to soften the blow that might come from a drop-off during the Games, after the Paris Tourist Office reported that participation in cultural activities was down 15 percent during the London Olympics.

Fat Tire Tours , a leading bike tour company, will run special Olympics-themed tours in early summer, then pivot to bike rentals during the Games to compensate for an expected drop in tour bookings.

Jane Bertch, a co-owner of La Cuisine Paris cooking school, which offers English-language classes in a location near City Hall, said she had noticed a sharp drop in bookings for late summer, but will “run as many classes as possible.”

Rising to the challenge

The Olympic crowds will bring appetites for Paris’s renowned cuisine, but for months, restaurateurs worried that restrictions on motorized vehicles in security zones around the city’s 25 competition venues could curtail deliveries. City officials have calmed some of those nerves.

“We don’t want restaurants to close during this monumental event because they’re worried about deliveries,” said Grégoire Ambroselli, a co-founder of the food logistics start-up Choco , during an Olympics-related conference in March.

Now, armed with more clarity on how to adapt to delivery challenges, most restaurants and bakeries report they will stay open during the Games, with one big caveat: Many plan to take a break between the closing ceremony, on Aug. 11, and the start of the Paralympics, on Aug. 28.

Maslow , a soaring, centrally located vegetarian restaurant facing the Seine, wouldn’t dream of closing, given its proximity to the Olympic action. But that decision comes with some unease. “We’re staying positive because the energy will be incredible, but we’re a bit worried about how hard it will be for our staff to get to work,” said the executive chef, Mehdi Favri, who is also a co-owner.

Commuting has ranked high among businesses’ concerns. However, locals have faced similar hurdles getting to work before. In 2019, trains across France and public transport in Paris were severely disrupted for nearly two months during a nationwide pension reform strike, forcing workers to walk or cycle long distances.

André Terrail, the owner of the Michelin-starred restaurant La Tour d’Argent , which overlooks the Seine, doesn’t think the Olympic commutes will be quite that complex but admits such challenges, in general, are the price of doing business in Paris. “It’s going to be complicated. We’re all going to be running around. But it’s also going to be amazing,” he said. “If other host cities have found solutions, so will we.”

Etheliya Hananova, a co-owner and sommelier at the contemporary French restaurant Comice , is perhaps the most enthusiastic about the summer ahead — enough to remain open seven days a week for three weeks through Aug. 10. “It’s one of the biggest events in the history of Paris. We’re here to be part of the welcoming committee,” she said.

The scaling-back of the opening ceremony on the Seine has given the antique booksellers, or “bouquinistes,” that line its banks a reprieve, and many plan to stay open. Shoppers will also be able to browse in department stores such as Galeries Lafayette , Printemps and Le Bon Marché . For those seeking something unconventional, the St.-Ouen flea market will sprawl out as usual, offering antiques, vintage clothing and more.

Outside the tourist areas, popular restaurants and bars like Holybelly , Folderol , Kubri , Abricot Le Mary Celeste and Fulgurances aim to draw visitors seeking a break from the crowds. “We’ve decided to open more — six days a week,” said Rebecca Asthalter, a co-owner of Fulgurances . Likewise, independent boutiques such as Landline , which sells home goods in a residential neighborhood east of the Bastille, are hoping travelers branch out to calmer parts of the city.

Back in the thick of the action, Marin Montagut, an artist and illustrator who sells hand-painted table accessories, stationery, silk scarves and candles from an apothecary-style boutique near the Luxembourg Gardens, is planning a Paris-inspired display of his wares. “I’m looking at this like it’s the World’s Fair. I want to honor the city and be open to all,” he said. “If I’m not optimistic during this period, when will I be?”

Amy Virshup contributed reporting.

Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram and sign up for our weekly Travel Dispatch newsletter to get expert tips on traveling smarter and inspiration for your next vacation. Dreaming up a future getaway or just armchair traveling? Check out our 52 Places to Go in 2024 .

Inside the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics

News and Analysis

Seeking to undermine the Paris Olympics, Russian propagandists  are spoofing broadcasters and mimicking French and U.S. intelligence agencies to stoke fear about security at the Games.

Ahead of the Olympics, the global agency tasked with policing doping in sports is facing a growing crisis  as it fends off allegations it helped cover up the positive tests of elite Chinese swimmers .

Undocumented workers played a larger and more dangerous role  in delivering the Games than the Macron administration acknowledges.

A Guide to the Games

More ‘Open’ Signs: With millions of visitors expected in Paris, many shopkeepers, bakers and restaurateurs are forgoing their annual summer vacations .

A New Gastronomic Course: In the Olympic dining hall near Paris, carbon imprint will outweigh cassoulet as chefs consider the environmental impact of French cuisine. There won’t even be French fries .

Escaping the Games: Even if you’re visiting France for the Games, you may want to take a cultural break like a local. Here are some suggestions .

The best and worst airports to have a layover, according to a travel expert who flies 200,000 miles a year

• Connecting flights add travel time and a higher risk of delays or cancellations.
• Flight expert Gilbert Ott says some airports are better for layovers than others.
• The best have nice lounges, a variety of food, and are easy to navigate.

Nonstop flights are better than connecting ones — obviously. A trip with a layover adds travel time that would be better spent at a destination and opportunities for things to go wrong, from delays to cancellations.

Flight expert Gilbert Ott agrees, but sometimes, a layover is the only option.

"I try to avoid them, but a lot of the best places worth going to these days do not have direct flights from faraway places," Ott, who flies about 200,000 miles a year and shares his insights on his blog, God Save the Points , told Business Insider.

In Ott's experience, some layovers are more bearable than others based on where you connect.

In general, Ott says it's best to have a layover in an airline's hub airport in case of delays and cancellations.

"In any case, you want to be in a place where the airline has a strong presence because you're going to have layers of support," he said. "And if I miss a connecting flight , there's probably another flight because it's a hub."

But when it comes to killing time, navigating terminals, and minimizing chances of delays, some airports offer a better layover experience than others.

These are the best and worst airlines to have a layover in, according to Ott.

A variety of upscale lounges and an on-site hotel make Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport one of the best for layovers.

Ott said Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) is one of the best for layovers because there are many premium lounges .

"It's one of those places where if you do have a layover and you really need to kill time, there are both top-notch lounges and an airport hotel directly in the terminal," Ott said.

Ott said one of his favorite lounges in the US is DFW's Capital One lounge . Amex Centurion and Delta Sky Club also have lounges in Dallas, and a Chase Sapphire Lounge is set to open there in the future.

Meanwhile, Blue Grass Airport in Lexington, Kentucky, is small, and there's not much to do there.

According to Ott, smaller airports are generally the worst for layovers.

"I think there's a just inherent advantage to being a big airport because big airports can attract retail," he said.

For example, Ott told BI he often has layovers at Blue Grass Airport in Lexington, Kentucky .

"I've been there a lot. It's not a fun place to wait for flights," he said. "You have nothing to do."

In 2019, BI's Katie Warren reported that the Kentucky airport was the smallest she'd ever been to, with just two runways.

However, travelers with a tight layover may appreciate that Blue Grass Airport has the shortest walk to the gate in the US at just 0.11 miles.

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport is ideal for shopping between flights.

"I like Seattle-Tacoma Airport because they've done a really good job of cultivating more local stores and Seattle-centric things," Ott said. "If you've got an hour and 45 minutes, it's easy to kill time there."

Ott added that he's enjoyed sifting through records at a music store during layovers and sampling Washington state wines at a bar.

Business Insider previously reported that the airport's shops reflect the Pacific Northwest experience, with stores like Show Pony, Made in Washington, and Discover Puget Sound.

"It doesn't feel as sterile and generic as some airports. You actually get a sense of Seattle. It's not just an airport somewhere," Ott said.

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport has many amenities, but it can be brutal for layovers due to frequent weather-related delays and cancellations.

No one wants to put their trip on pause over delays and cancellations — especially in a connecting airport.

According to Ott, this may be more likely to happen when flying out of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in Georgia due to frequent storms. And the fact that it's the busiest airport in the world probably doesn't help. BI previously reported that the airport has had mass cancellations in summers and winters due to storms.

"I've had hellacious experiences in Atlanta because of the weather," Ott said. "It's a good airport in the sense that there are lots of flights and places to kill time. It's a bad airport in the sense that it's caught up in more storms than most airports."

Ott added that the airport has plenty of amenities but can be overwhelming to navigate.

"There are so many terminals, and you're taking a tram everywhere. They have some nice stuff in them, but it's a hike," he said.

Los Angeles International Airport is among the best for connecting flights because it offers easy access to upgraded terminals.

According to Ott, some airports don't allow passengers to travel between terminals they're not departing from.

Since many travelers don't leave the airport between connecting flights, waiting to board can be a drag for those flying out of terminals with few shops, restaurants, and amenities. Ott told BI that international terminals typically have better amenities than domestic ones.

But the terminals are connected at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), which is why it's one of Ott's favorite airports for layovers.

"If you're domestic itinerary, you can still go to the international terminal, which has better food, shops, and lounges," he said. "You can kill time at LAX for hours."

LAX's Tom Bradley International Terminal (Terminal B) was updated in 2023. BI previously reported that the terminal has comfy seating — each with its own power ports — a range of food and bar options, and an exceptional Sky Club.

The upgrade included adding a walkway connecting Terminal 3, which also received an upgrade, to Terminal B. The walk takes five to 20 minutes, so there's no need to catch a bus. This is an especially useful perk for those catching an international connecting flight.

But London Heathrow Airport may be the worst place in the world to have a layover because it's challenging to travel between terminals.

" London Heathrow Airport is an atrocious airport for connections — one of the worst in the world, by far," Ott said. Why? Getting from one terminal to another is a journey in itself.

"Some terminals are miles apart, and there is no tram that runs between all of them," he said.

For example, Ott said if you land in Terminal 3 with British Airways, you may connect in Terminal 5.

"You have to go through Terminal 3 and take a bus, which can take up to 30 minutes to arrive. Then, you'll take a long bus ride all around the airport to the other side," he said. "And then you may still end up with another tram or bus ride because Terminal 5 has three terminals within it — A, B, and C. It's an impossible airport for short connections."

According to the airline's website , traveling from one terminal to another can take up to 40 minutes or longer, depending on where you're headed.

Singapore Changi Airport is the best place to spend a layover. It offers local food, on-site hotels, and a ton of activities.

"For best, Singapore Changi Airport is just untouchable," Ott said.

Ott added that the airport has multiple hotels, local art shops, and no shortage of things to do, see, and eat.

"Some of the best local food is at the airport because the famous places in Singapore set up locations there," he said.

There's a movie theater, a pool, a butterfly garden, and a wide range of shops.

But the real spectacle is probably the Jewel . The retail and entertainment complex, connected to Terminal 1, is home to activities like a ropes course, hedge maze, and topiary walk. The centerpiece is the Rain Vortex — the world's largest indoor waterfall spanning seven stories.

"You can spend an hour just looking at that," Ott said of the Rain Vortex. "I would have a layover there any day."

• Main content

Predators aren't waiting to eat you in Tasmania: 7 things travelers should know

• Tasmania is an island off the southern coast of Australia.
• The island is known for its pristine wilderness, rugged coastlines and captivating wildlife.
• American travelers will find themselves instantly at ease in Tasmania, but don't be fooled – the island's allure lies in its ability to surprise and inspire with breathtaking sights.

The U.S. is teeming with beautiful landscapes, but there's something to be said about experiencing the power of nature halfway across the world.

Embarking on a journey to Tasmania, Australia, is like stepping into a realm where the familiar meets the extraordinary. For first-time visitors looking to start ticking bucket list destinations, Tasmania offers a unique blend of comfort and adventure – with a welcoming g'day. Nestled off the southern coast of the mainland, Tasmania boasts pristine wilderness, rugged coastlines and captivating wildlife.

Move over Hawaii, The Azores Islands also bring vibrant beauty (with fewer crowds)

With English as the primary language and a culture of warmth and hospitality, American travelers will find themselves instantly at ease. But don't be fooled, the island's allure lies in its breathtaking sights.

From exploring ancient rainforests to indulging in culinary surprises, Tasmania promises an unforgettable escape. I visited the island for the first time in May, the start of Australia's winter, and my jaw was on the floor most of the time there. Here's what you need to know before planning your own trip to Tassie.

1. The flights are exactly what you'd expect

There are no direct flights from the U.S. to Tasmania. You'll have to connect through Sydney or Melbourne to Launceston or Hobart. I went from Washington, D.C., to San Francisco to Melbourne to Launceston. It was terrible, I'm not going to lie. Next time I go, I'll spend a day on the West Coast before taking the U.S.-Australia 14-hour flight.

My recommendation is to take a red-eye flight to Australia and use it to sleep and switch over time zones.

Flight availability from the U.S. to Melbourne and Sydney (to transfer to Tasmania) is plentiful, with several major airlines offering regular routes. Travelers can choose from direct flights departing from major U.S. cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco, Houston, Dallas and even New York (with direct service to Auckland). Airlines such as United, American, Delta, Hawaiian, Qantas and Air New Zealand provide nonstop services.

(New direct service from Dallas to Brisbane via American Airlines is expected to launch in October, and from Los Angeles to Brisbane via Delta in December.)

How to visit Australia without flying: Holland America launches new Grand Voyage

2. Americans need a visa to enter the country

American travelers should be aware of the visa requirements before heading down under.

U.S. citizens need an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) or an eVisitor visa, which can be easily obtained online before departure.

The process is straightforward, typically requiring basic personal information and a valid passport. Once approved, the visa allows for multiple entries into Australia for up to 90 days at a time over a 12-month period. I downloaded the Australian ETA app ( iOS and Android ), filled out a quick application, and my visa was granted in less than an hour.

3. Don't fret about the time zone difference

There's a 14-hour time difference from the U.S. East Coast. It sounds complicated but just embrace it.

The unique advantage of Tasmania’s 14-hour time difference is that you can truly disconnect and savor your vacation. The time zones down under can offer the perfect balance of relaxation and connectivity. Travelers can immerse themselves in the serene landscapes and vibrant culture during the day while still having a few hours in the morning and evening to connect with loved ones back home. It’s the ideal scenario for those seeking to unwind without completely losing touch.

4. Connection with nature

Travelers can immerse themselves in Tasmania's breathtaking nature through a variety of experiences.

At Cradle Mountain in Lake St. Clair National Park, visitors can hike rugged trails and take in stunning alpine views. If you visit at night, you can enjoy a view of cute wildlife with McDermotts Coaches .

But it's OK if you don't enjoy hiking. For a unique adventure, truffle hunting with The Truffle Farm in Deloraine offers another way to explore the island's culinary practices. Wine enthusiasts can savor the flavors of Tasmania at the Clover Hill winery in Lebrina, known for its exquisite sparkling wines and picturesque vineyards.

Whether it's trekking through pristine landscapes, foraging for gourmet treats, or indulging in fine wines, Tasmania offers something for every nature lover.

5. Nothing is likely to kill you

We've all seen social media videos of Australians battling snakes or large spiders, but you can relax.

Fear of wildlife often looms large for travelers, but Tasmania is free of large predators, making it a haven for nature enthusiasts. Here, you can explore lush forests and pristine coastlines without the fear of being eaten.

Tasmania’s unique ecosystem is home to creatures like Tasmanian devils (which are incredibly rare to spot – I also didn't), puggles, platypuses, pademelons, wombats and wallabies, ensuring a safe and enriching experience for all visitors.

There are three kinds of snakes in Tasmania and while two of them can be dangerous to humans, it is extremely rare to encounter them, according to Tourism Australia.

6. The food scene has something for everyone

You will not go hungry in Tasmania. Far from it.

Tasmania's food scene is a vibrant tapestry of flavors, reflecting the island's culinary influences. From fresh seafood caught in pristine waters to farm-to-table produce, there's something for every palate. Influences from British, Mediterranean, and Asian cuisines converge, creating a unique gastronomic experience. Visitors can savor everything from gourmet dining in Hobart’s top restaurants to artisanal cheese and local wine in countryside eateries.

The coffee scene deserves a special mention. The great people of Melbourne will claim they have the best coffee in the world, but Tasmania is right there with them.

Make a stop at Tatler Lane by Sweetbrew in Launceston for a perfect cup, delicious food and a great ambiance.

7. Easy access to a different side of the world

Once in Australia, travelers can take advantage of affordable flights to explore the continent and beyond.

Budget airlines offer frequent, low-cost flights to other Australian cities. This opens up opportunities for reasonably priced trips to exciting neighboring destinations such as Bali, Japan, Fiji or New Zealand. These nearby countries are just a few hours away by plane, so you can expand your adventure without breaking the bank.

Embrace the chance to explore more of the Asia-Pacific region with convenient and cost-effective travel options.

The reporter on this story received access to this event from Tourism Australia. USA TODAY maintains editorial control of content.  

The Key Points at the top of this article were created with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and reviewed by a journalist before publication. No other parts of the article were generated using AI. Learn more .