Art on the Go
Artistic and crafty assignments for travelers
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At Home Creative Adventures: Learn French and Make a Doodle Word Book
Doodle your way to learning a new language by making a mini-book filled with foreign words to learn. Think of all the possibilities! You could make one of these before each trip to familiarize yourself with foreign phrases. Or if you’ve always wanted to speak french, say, make a whole collection of these doodle word books. To start, follow the Make Your Own Mini-Journal/Sketchbook lesson to create a booklet. Next, pick a topic (say, around the house like this example) and start doodling! Below is a video to show the process of drawing the doodles. Here are some pictures of the final book. I added a border around each spread…
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How to Make a Mini-Journal or Sketchbook
I’m a huge fan of mini things– especially sketchbooks and journals. The big blank page staring in front of you becomes much less intimidating when it is smaller! Below is one of the most simple methods to creating your own mini-journal or sketchbook. The creative uses of these mini-wonders are endless, they can be used for art or journaling or if you are a budding story teller, you can even write your own book! Below is a printable worksheet you can use to create your own mini-journal or sketchbook. Here is a process video to show the details! Below are just a few samples of mini-journal/sketchbooks I have created. Be…
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At Home Creative Adventures: Take Out Sushi Collage
Celebrate your favorite take out food with this creative collage exercise! This may look a lot more complicated than it actually is, but don’t panic, it’s actually quite simple! First find a take out menu (or print one out from online if you don’t have any) and lay it out on a table. Use a variety of watercolors and place color blocks around the menu. Once dry begin to cut the shapes. For instance, for the nigiri, I first cut a “white” oblong shape, then cut a colored shape (salmon, or tuna perhaps?) Lastly I placed a green “seaweed” wrapper on top. Glue the shapes down on a piece of…
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At Home Creative Adventures: Pantry Raid
Our pantries offer us an unlimited number of things to draw, we just need to open them up and see what’s inside. Choose the most colorful item, your favorite food, or one with a playful pattern. Create a collection and hang them in your kitchen once complete! Below is a time lapse video of drawing the maple syrup can. Be sure to read the “More Creative Prompts” on the printable exercise to learn of ways to vary this exercise. And, as always, I’d love to see what you create! Feel free to tag me on @wanderlustdesigner on Instagram or Facebook or email me: betsy@wanderlustdesigner.com with your creations!
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At Home Creative Adventures: Shoe Stories
If only our shoes could talk, what would they say? They’ve been places with you and have stories to tell. This fun creative prompts looks at your life adventures through your shoes! Inspired by Andy Warhol’s shoe illustration series, head to your closet and pull out those random pair of shoes and tell their story! Here’s a process video of drawing my shoes. I used a fine point Micron pen (.005) for very light, loose lines. Definitely Google Andy Warhol’s shoe illustration series. They are very inspiring to say the least. Below is a screen shot from Google of just a few of his illustrations. Be sure to read the…
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At Home Creative Adventures: Floral Bouquet
To brighten up your environment, create a floral bouquet just for you! This creative prompt will get you outside looking for blooms, and inside creating a masterpiece. An impressionistic style is the best approach to making a colorful bouquet worthy to prop by your desk! Here are the blooms I found in my yard, inspiration for my bouquet. If you don’t have flowers in your yard, feel free to use mine as inspiration or head to the internet for more! Below is the time-lapse of me creating my bouquet. Notice the looseness of the lines, and watercolor. Also, the varied size interpretation of each bloom. The pansy bloom is actually…
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At Home Creative Adventure: 4 Objects, 1 Color
We can become easily immune to the colorful objects and items that fill our homes. Brighten your day with this creative color exercise and celebrate those items you may not see anymore! For this project, I picked my favorite turquoise blue shade and found: a small globe, a mini-house souvenir from Denmark, a candle and a santon figurine from Provence. They are an odd pairing of objects, yet still make for an interesting illustration. Below is the still life on my desk. Be sure to read the “More Creative Prompts” on the printable exercise to learn of ways to vary this exercise. And, as always, I’d love to see what…
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Creative Inspiration: Forget the Fish – Sketch the Signs at Pike Place Market in Seattle
There is a reason Pike Place Market is one of the top destinations when visiting Seattle. From discovering the food delicacies and handmade goods to listening to buskers and people watching, a local market is the best place to capture the feel of a locale. Pike Place Market has all that Seattle and the Pacific Northwest is known for – fresh fish (flying overhead!), ripe Rainier cherries, blooming flowers, and even Rachel the Pig. You can spend the better part of a morning just soaking it all in. But one aspect of the market that is frequently overlooked is all the incredible signage. Capture the Signs of Pike Place Market…
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Creative Inspiration: Go on a Rainbow Hunt in the Castro, San Francisco
The Castro is definitely one of the most colorful neighborhoods in all of San Francisco! The extra large rainbow flag, the defining landmark of the area, flies proudly over the intersection of Market and Castro Streets welcoming all to the inclusive neighborhood. A Rainbow Hunt Beyond the main flag, there is no shortage of more rainbows to spot in the Castro. Rainbow banners hang from light posts and there is a cross walk lined with rainbow colors. For an easy entertaining game while exploring, play “I Spy” with your friends and try to be the first to spot the rainbows you see. If you are looking for an even more…
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Summer Creative Adventure No.1 – It’s Picnic Time
This summer I’m determined to take the time to have some summer creative adventures. I plan to send out a weekly email with a free printable on a variety of creative ways to slow down, and enjoy the season. During the week I’ll be sure to post my adventures on social media. Join me and be sure to tag #summercreativeadventures so I can see what you are up to! Our first summer creative adventure is to head outdoors and enjoy a meal. Click on the image below, print it out and enjoy your picnics this summer!
