Art on the Go
Artistic and crafty assignments for travelers
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Art School: How to Draw a Taco
Who doesn’t love a good taco? I make them every week on Tuesday (yes, my weekly meal plan is pretty repetitive) and still never tire of them! There are just so many taco options- beef, chicken, pork, fish, vegetarian– they are all so good. In celebration of this tasty food, I’ve created a simple taco tutorial! Enjoy.
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Art School: Create a Toile Pattern Inspired by Ireland
Here’s a peek at one of the projects in my book Anywhere, Anytime Art: Illustration. This project was inspired by a trip to Ireland! Follow along and create a quaint, Irish toile pattern with me! Enjoy. For more information about the book and where to order, see my Anywhere, Anytime Art: Illustration page.
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Art School: How to Draw an A Frame Cabin
I love the coziness of an A frame cabin in the woods! I can’t think of a better place to be snowed in than a small A frame with a small living room, kitchen and bath on the bottom floor and a loft bedroom up a ladder. With plenty of food and fire wood, I would enjoy spending hours reading and sketching with a nap somewhere in between! Here’s a simple drawing tutorial to create your own A frame cabin in the winter. Here’s a process video to watch the drawing in action.
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Digital Travel Journal: A Trip to the Coast
I feel so lucky to live so close to the coast yet don’t seem to get there nearly enough. In only 10 minutes, I can be on a rural road heading over the hills that separate the SF Bay Area with the Pacific Ocean. The 2 lane highway starts along serene Crystal Springs Reservoir, the water source for San Francisco and much of the Bay Area. It’s only a short way up the winding road through a magical cypress grove until you hit the summit at Skyline Boulevard. A large cemetery is at the top, where one can see heavenly views to the ocean on a clear day! Heading down…
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Art School: How to Draw a Mask
Masks are a part of many celebrations around the world, namely Carnevale in Venice, Italy; Carnaval do Brazil; and Mardi Gras in New Orleans. Some believe masks were a pagan practice to ward off evil spirits, but now they are more worn for anonymity and decoration. Enjoy this tutorial and have fun designing your own decorative mask for any occasion.
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Art School: How to Draw a Historic Home – Betsy Ross’s House, Philadelphia
If you are ever in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, a visit to the House of Betsy Ross, famed seamstress of the first American flag is a must see. Located on Arch Street in Old Town Philadelphia just a few blocks from Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell, the house is a classic Pennsylvania colonial style. Historians still debate is this is the actual home where she resided, but even if it is not, it is still a gorgeously maintained example of a home from early American history, 1740. Vary the details of the house slightly and draw several in a row to create your own colonial street scene.
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Creative Inspiration from Sara Midda
I’ve been a huge fan of Sara Midda and her gorgeous art for many years. I first came across her work when my parents lived in St. Remy de Provence, France in the mid-90’s. Her book, South of France, A Sketchbook, is dreamy journal of her own experience of living a year in Provence. Her journal is filled with tiny thumbnail drawings of her moments. She has a spread of postage stamp sized loose watercolor paintings of mas’ (Provencal farm houses) and typical Provençal buildings in golden hues. She paints snapshots of everyday activities like an evening in the park playing pétanque. She discusses (and paints) the fruits and vegetables…
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Art School: How to Draw a Box of Chocolates
When did a box of chocolates become synonymous with Valentine’s Day? Valentine’s Day has a long history, yet it wasn’t until the mid-1800’s when British chocolatier Richard Cadbury was trying to perfect his drinking chocolate when he inadvertently created what he called “eating chocolate.” He cleverly put his new found confection in a decorated box that he himself designed, and seized the holiday with his treats! Enjoy this “how to draw a box of chocolates” tutorial and Happy Valentine’s Day!
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Art School: How to Draw a Lantern
I absolutely love lanterns. Whether zig zagging across a street in San Francisco’s famed Chinatown, or softly illuminating the front doorway to homes in Gion, Kyoto, lanterns are simply festive! Here is a simple tutorial on how to draw a lantern. Below is a time lapse video to watch the process of drawing a lantern. Be sure to tag your drawing with #everydaycreativeadventures so I can see your festive lantern!
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Travel Journal: An Afternoon in Woodside, CA
One afternoon I was in desperate need for an outing and headed to the quaint town of Woodside, CA. Just 10 minutes from my house, Woodside feels like a whole other place. Hilly, wooded and rural, yet minutes from Silicon Valley, it’s no wonder it’s a haven for high tech magnets. Yet, even with the mansions, there’s a down-home feel to the town. The windy roads are dotted with horse back riders, bikers and hikers enjoying their area. The first site that greets you as you drive into Woodside is the historic Pioneer Hotel (c. 1885), a classic saloon from the straight out of a Western movie. We headed to…
