Watercolor For Travelers
What is a watercolor journal?
A watercolor travel journal is a creative, fun and unique way to document your travels through sketches and watercolor paintings. Instead of just writing about experiences, you use the journal to capture moments visually—such as landscapes, architecture, people, or special details from your journey. These journals often blend written notes, thoughts, or observations alongside the artwork, making them a personal, vibrant record of the trip.
Watercolor travel journals are typically portable, with small, sturdy sketchbooks and travel-sized watercolor sets. They allow you to reflect creatively, practice practice sketching, and painting, and preserve memories in a more immersive and sensory way than traditional journaling.
Why watercolor journaling?
When we travel, we often do it to immerse ourselves in experiences and create lasting memories. We usually take pictures to remember an event but have you heard of the photo-taking impairment effect?
In a study conducted by Linda A Henkel (2014), participants who took photographs of objects during a museum tour were less likely to remember details of the objects than participants who simply observed them. The study described it as a “photo-taking-impairment effect.”
When you take the time to observe deeply to paint or sketch you will etch the memory of the object, art, or scene more deeply into your memory and recall It better than you would have If you had just taken a photo.
6 Reasons To Keep A Watercolor Journal While Traveling
Keeping a watercolor journal offers a wide range of benefits, both practical and personal, which can be appealing to artists and non-artists alike:
1. Creative Expression and Growth
Enhances artistic skills: Regularly painting in a watercolor journal helps improve sketching, painting, and observation abilities.
Unique form of self-expression: It offers a medium to express feelings, thoughts, and impressions through colors, shapes, and images, beyond words.
2. Mindfulness and Relaxation
Encourages mindfulness: The process of slowing down to observe and paint details fosters a sense of presence and attentiveness to your surroundings.
Reduces stress: Engaging with art can be a calming, meditative activity that promotes relaxation, making it a great tool for stress relief.
3. Personal Reflection and Memory Preservation
Captures moments vividly: Visual journaling allows for a deeper, more personal record of experiences compared to photos or text alone. Each painting can evoke specific emotions and memories.
Combines writing and art: People can pair short notes or reflections with their artwork, creating a richer, multi-dimensional diary of their life or travels.
4. Connection to Nature and Environment
Strengthens observational skills: By focusing on the details of a scene—such as light, texture, and color—watercolor journaling deepens your connection to your surroundings.
Promotes outdoor exploration: Keeping a watercolor journal can motivate people to spend time in nature or explore new places more closely.
5. Travel Companion and Storytelling Tool
Portable and personal: It's a lightweight, compact way to capture experiences on the go, whether traveling abroad or simply walking through a local park.
Creates a personal narrative: Over time, a watercolor journal becomes a story of your experiences and artistic journey, filled with memories that are meaningful and uniquely yours.
6. Encourages Playfulness and Experimentation
No pressure for perfection: Unlike a finished painting, a watercolor journal is often informal and personal, giving the freedom to experiment with new techniques, styles, or ideas. Fun creative outlet: It allows people to enjoy the process of creating without the need for a polished result, which can inspire joy and playfulness.
How to paint your surroundings while traveling: Use the Plein Air Technique
Tips for Beginners:
Be kind and compassionate towards yourself this is about the process
If others are also watercoloring with you, don’t compare your work.
Be flexible: Nature changes quickly, so stay flexible. If the light or weather changes, adjust accordingly.
Work quickly: Plein air painting is often about capturing fleeting moments, so don’t worry about perfection.
Enjoy the process: The goal is to have fun and learn, so embrace imperfections and focus on the experience.
1. Gather Essential Materials
Travel-friendly watercolor set: A compact palette with essential colors, ideally portable for outdoor use.
Water brush or small brushes: Water brushes come with a built-in water reservoir, making them easier to use while traveling.
Watercolor sketchbook: Use a small, high-quality sketchbook with thick, watercolor-friendly paper.
Water container: If not using a water brush, a collapsible cup or small jar will work.
Pencil and eraser: For light sketching.
Paper towel, napkin or cloth: To blot excess water or paint from your brush.
2. Choose Your Scene
Look for a simple composition: As a beginner, it’s best to choose a scene that isn’t overly complex. Focus on one main subject, like a tree, building, or landscape.
Take a Picture of what you see to help you get perspective and add details later.
Consider lighting and shadow: Plein air painting is all about capturing the light and atmosphere of a moment. Morning or late afternoon often provide softer, more dynamic lighting.
3. Start with a Light Sketch
Lightly pencil the scene: Use simple shapes to block out the composition. Sketch only the major elements (horizon, trees, buildings, etc.), keeping the details minimal.
Define the perspective: If painting buildings or complex landscapes, lightly outline the horizon line and vanishing points to maintain perspective.
Keep it loose: Don’t worry too much about accuracy. The sketch is just a guide for your painting.
4. Establish a Light Wash (Underpainting)
Wet the paper: Lightly wet the areas you plan to paint with a water brush or damp brush.
Apply light washes: Start with a thin, transparent layer of your lightest colors. For example, if painting a sky, use a light wash of blue. Leave areas that are white or very light untouched.
Work from light to dark: This is a key principle in watercolor painting. Light colors are laid down first, and darker shades are gradually added.
5. Build Layers of Color
Layer medium tones: Once the first wash is dry, begin adding more saturated colors to build up the depth of your painting. For example, paint the mid-tones of trees, buildings, or shadows.
Keep edges soft: When painting outdoors, try using soft edges to blend colors together. Wet the area before applying the next color for smooth transitions.
Use quick, confident strokes: Plein air painting is about capturing the essence of a scene, so try to avoid overworking details. Use simple brushstrokes for texture and form.
6. Add Details and Darker Values
Use darker colors for contrast: Focus on the areas with deep shadows, defining the structure of the scene. You might add dark green to trees, or a deeper blue to the sky where shadows fall.
Detail sparingly: Instead of trying to paint every small detail, suggest textures (like leaves or bricks) with quick, loose marks. For example, stipple small dots for foliage rather than painting each leaf.
Refine edges where necessary: For important elements, like the focal point of your scene, sharpen up the edges by applying more concentrated color.
7. Refine and Evaluate Your Work
Assess overall balance: Step back and see if the painting feels balanced in terms of color, light, and composition. If something looks off, make small adjustments.
Avoid overworking: Remember that the charm of plein air watercolor lies in its freshness and spontaneity, so try not to fuss too much with details.
8. Let it Dry and Finish
Allow your painting to dry: Once your piece is complete, let it dry fully before closing your sketchbook or packing up.
Add final touches: Once dry, you can go back with a few details using a pen or darker paint, but keep it minimal.