Dibujo en México*
We stayed in Puerto Vallarta which is a touristy place with a huge Walmart and we spent a fair amount of our vacation sunbathing and reading trashy novels and eating from buffets and avoiding the horrors of New York in December and the transit strike.
I spent a grim evening at the bullfights watching four innocent creatures being tortured to death in front of several hundred tourists fresh off the big cruise ships., I went in the spirit of seeking out new adventures when possible but left feeling nauseated and vegetarian.
From a drawing perspective, this trip certainly didn't have the immersive qualities of trips I've taken to Rome or Jerusalem or Paris. However I think that even a daytrip to Dayton is made richer by drawing and writing about one's travels and so I thought I'd set down some things I've discovered about travel journaling:
I like to travel fairly light. I carry a smallish shoulder bag with my journal, pens, watercolors. I like NiJi waterbrushes because you can load them with water in the morning and they will carry you through the whole day without needing to carry water jars that could spill. I recommend some sort of folding stool. You can buy them light and inexpensively at camping stores and they let you set up where you want to without having to worry about being in the way or finding an empty bench.
Be prepared but not overly so. Make sure you have enough of your favorite pens but if you pass a local art supply store, always check it out. You may make some wonderful new discoveries. Don't shlep more than would be comfortable. Improvise. I sometimes rub local soil and leaves onto my drawings for color. I've used pasta sauce as paint in Tuscany.
Don't just draw postcards. It's fine to sketch monuments and tourist spots but also try to capture local color and everyday life. Draw your meals, travel on public transportation, use art to immerse yourself in a different way of life.
Be bold. I've great characters in Roman catacombs, Death Valley bordellos, San Franciscan homeless shelters, and Yorkshire flea markets, all through drawing. Talk to people and don;t be embarrassed to show your work. Most people are impressed that you are even doing it and won't judge your art as harshly as you do.
Let your art be your tour guide. Every minute you're lying in your hotel bed could be spent drawing. The more pages you fill, the richer your memories will be. I still remember the sights and sounds of street corners from years ago just because I spent twenty minutes drawing somewhere. The memories are so much more intense than if I'd just been seeing the sights through a tour bus window.
Jot down notes as you draw, not just recording the where and when but conversations you overhear, thoughts and associations you make, smells and sounds specific to the place. Show how travel broadens your mind.
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*Translated by Google. Apologies if it's garbled.
A record of my exploration into all aspects of drawing, illustrated journaling, creativity, and the inspiring aspects of art. By the author of "Everyday Matters," "The Creative License", and "An Illustrated Life" and other books.
Comments
Wonderful sketches -- rich in memories, colors - like the bright, hot Mexican sun...always a delight!
Posted by: Lin | December 28, 2005 02:18 PM
i lucked out and found a copy of "the creative license" at the bookstore last week and gave it to my boyfriend for christmas. we can't get enough of it. amazing stuff.
Posted by: kelly | December 28, 2005 02:26 PM
Danny...
Welcome back! Great job as usual...I love your travel features, and your tips on journaling/drawing while vacationing are immensely helpful. I wish I could see your handwriting a little easier in these pages.
Anyway, thanks for sharing all that you do during the year. And have a happy new year!
By the way, what are you using for sketchbooks these days, and how do they hold up to the watercolors? You mentioned Canson a few posts ago...
Posted by: Paul V | December 28, 2005 02:41 PM
Danny, I think the pre-painted backgrounds on these journal pages from Mexico really look cool and really work well with the subject matter. Creates a sense of warmth! And I loved the shadows in your opening street scene. I feel I've been on a little vacation now. Thanks.
Roz
Posted by: Roz | December 28, 2005 02:47 PM
Glad you're back and had such a fabulous time! I too am very inspired with your painted pages before drawing on them. It's also a bit intimidating because you can't make mistakes!
I have your new book and read it from cover to cover in 2 days! I was sad when I finished reading it. Now I need to find a copy of 'Everyday Matters'.
Happy New Year!
Bonny
Posted by: Bonny | December 28, 2005 03:20 PM
Hi Danny... Great place to spend Christmas...and very nice to see your take on it... you speak about niji water brushes?.. what are they?.. do you get them in Chinatown or an artsupply shop? Is there a standard size? I'm curious
Rhonda
Posted by: Rhonda | December 28, 2005 05:38 PM
Rhonda:
Check 'em out:
http://www.jerrysartarama.com/art-supply-stores/online/2930
Your pal,
Danny
Posted by: Danny | December 28, 2005 06:07 PM
I have to agree with Roz that the paper really adds to the drawings, and provides additional atmosphere. Looks like agreat time was had by one and all.
Posted by: Detlef | December 28, 2005 08:06 PM
Hi Danny, Wonderful wonders in your journal pages... you took us to Mexico with you. I especially love the sketch of the fore-shortened woman sun bathing - hand wrapped around the edge of her chaise, and toes aimed at the sun. Thanks for the reminder to Draw-Everywhere. Vitamins for the soul, and a great reminder to start the New Year with Art in mind. Thank you.
Belinda
Posted by: Belinda | December 28, 2005 09:28 PM
I, too, love these colors! Looks like you worked on watercolor paper this time? Your tips on travel drawing are always helpful. I need to be constantly prodded and pushed to "just do it" all the time...I certainly WANT to, but am always hurrying to accomplish everything and art slips back. Thanks for sharing...
Posted by: Rita Cleary | December 28, 2005 09:41 PM
I love Mexico, and you just took me there for a quick visit with your sketches! The splashy painted background is perfect. Thanks for being such an inspiration all this past year.
Posted by: Linda | December 29, 2005 06:55 AM
Had to tell you how much I am enjoying your new book. I picked it up a week or so ago and love it. I have been a "drawer" all my life and this just made me so happy to see someone glorify it!!
Posted by: Lu | December 29, 2005 09:32 AM
I am an absolute beginner and I'm loving your website. I saw some of the water brushes in an art store yesterday and I was wondering: How do you get the paint off the brush in order to change to a different color if you don't have a jar of water nearby? I like the idea of a water brush, but I guess I don't see exactly how you use them.
Posted by: judylynn | December 29, 2005 01:54 PM
Judy Lynn:
I give the brush a squeeze to fill the bristles with water, then wipe it off on an old Welsh pub towel I carry. No towel? Then I use my hairy arm to wipe it off. It's just watercolor.
Your pal,
Danny
Posted by: danny | December 29, 2005 02:00 PM
Beautiful, that you stay with your coloured backgrounds for a while!!! The drawings fit so much into the "flawless" shapes of colour - so inspiring that I have question, too: there is no texture on the paper, did you work with watercolours and regular strong paper? I also did not find any hints on Roz's site ;-)
No matter the technique: beautiful!
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December 29, 2005 05:42 PM
Thanks so much for your book!!! I'm stuck on page 22 because I haven't done all of the four drawings yet! One left! I got sick with the flu/cold and just can't draw. I was very surprised at how large the book is! Somehow I thought it would be small. There are so many words and drawings in there! It looks as if it is everything I could possibly want in a book like this! Excellent job!!! Thanks tons!
Posted by: Karenann Young | December 30, 2005 12:00 PM
Ouch. "...even in Dayton..."? Danny, my love, you don't know what Dayton has to offer! (I am assuming you mean Dayton, OH.) I'll admit that the weather stinks most of the time, but Dayton is actually a pretty cool place, even if we do have the usual overload of Wally Worlds and malls. We have a terrific art museum, several wonderful dance companies, a beautiful new performing arts center, an outstanding community college, a reconstructed prehistoric Indian village, four lovely rivers, and parks out the wazoo. The Cox arboretum is a jewel, as are the rest of the Dayton Metroparks. We have a fountain on the river, and a terrific scenic bike trail. We may be getting a whitewater kayak course on the river in a year or two. Downtown Dayton is struggling to renew itself, but it has a big boost with the Schuster Center (the performing arts center), and our minor-league ball team, the Dayton Dragons. Historic areas of downtown are being renovated and rented by cafes, boutiques and art galleries. You need to visit us sometime. You can hit McAllister's Art Supply--it's full of mouth-watering art stuff. Then you can go eat at El Meson, our best Latino restaurant (they make a killer Margarita!) After that, hang out any one of the Metroparks for a nature drawing session. You won't be disappointed, especially if you come in autumn! Then you can spend the evening making the rounds of the clubs and cafes that offer music and poetry readings.
You realize, of course, that I'm not really offended by what you said, but I thought I would take a moment to try to polish the somewhat tarnished image of Dayton as a fuddy-duddy boring Midwestern town.
BTW, I just bought your new book about an hour ago. Haven't had a chance to read it thoroughly, but can't wait to get home from work and pull out my dusty art supplies and try again. Thanks for being such a creative inspiration. I think most people in the world are shriveling up and dying because they have lost touch with their creative selves. Blame Nintendo. And the networks. They cause brain rot.
Posted by: Lisa | December 30, 2005 01:00 PM
Lisa:
They even sell my book in Dayton?! Wow!
Just joshing. I have been to Dayton when I addressed the annual national Hamvention of amateur radio enthusiasts a couple of years ago and it seemed quite lovely. Actually I should have said Columbus where I often have to go for brief business day trips. Ugh.
Enjoy the book!
Your pal,
Danny
Posted by: danny | December 30, 2005 02:11 PM
I really enjoyed seeing the rich, warm backgrounds you prepped ahead of time--great idea. I may try this on a few pages when I go to Tampa this week, though I doubt my colors will be as rich as yours, for I'm planning on using a regular Moleskine. I think I have a weakness for travel journals. Your pages are delightful Danny!
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January 4, 2006 04:45 PM
Great post! I love your blog, I just came here for the first time today via How NMag and I think I'll come again!
Posted by: Soo | August 6, 2006 12:21 PM