Explore Your World Creatively

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  • Home
  • Art Classes
    • Events Calendar
    • Art Classes
    • Free Art Classes
    • Printable Lessons
    • Past Workshops
      • CWE: Mapping Your Life Journey
      • CWE: Storytelling in a Japanese Garden
      • CWE: A Camp-Inspired Morning
      • CWE: Illustrate Your Adventures
      • CWE: Storytelling on the Go Chinatown
  • Books
    • Anywhere, Anytime Art Illustration
    • Wanderlust Portland
    • Wanderlust Los Angeles
    • Wanderlust San Francisco
    • Wanderlust Seattle
  • Community
    • CWC Art School
    • CWC Creative Adventures
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    • CWC Events
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  • Shop
    • Creative Art Supplies
    • Books
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      • American Road Trip
      • Foods Across America
      • Route 66
      • Blue Ridge Parkway
      • North Carolina Coast
      • South Carolina Coast
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      • Florida’s 30A
    • Etsy Shop
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  • About
    • About Betsy
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  • 3 Secrets to a Creative Summer

    Summer is a season that represents optimism and boundless freedom. Although I’ve been out of school for several decades and work year round, I always associate this time of year with my childhood summer break from school. When school started in September it only took until about Halloween that I was already day dreaming about those precious 3 months of summer break. Who could I be? What would I do? What could I experience? With June upon us, it’s the perfect opportunity to ask ourselves those same questions, and dream up a summer time filled with creative experiences to fuel us through the long winter months. Let’s ask ourselves those…

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    Creative Art Lesson: Use Only ONE Color

    June 13, 2022

    Creative Wanderlust Prompt: Draw and Watercolor Mid Century Modern Motifs and Images Inspired by Palm Springs

    January 16, 2022
    Colorful Havana Cuba (Drawings and Story by Wanderlust Designer)

    On Location: The Dilapidated Grandeur of Old Havana

    June 8, 2016
  • Creative Art Lesson: Use Only ONE Color

    When choosing to do an art project, we sometimes can get overwhelmed or feel the necessity to use all the “crayons” in the box- or all the colors we can, since, well, they are there! For this creative exercise, I actually challenge you to do the opposite, and only use ONE color when doing a drawing. Given I decided to draw icons or doodles of summer, I chose the color yellow. I have to admit, it was very hard to not want to go in to the drawing an embellish with more colors. Also, it was hard for me to not want to draw my swimming pool in blue (not…

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    Creative Wanderlust Prompt: Draw a Vintage Suitcase and Vintage Trunk

    January 24, 2022

    Creative Prompt: Learn How to Draw and Watercolor Holiday Images

    December 22, 2021

    Creative Wanderlust Community Open House – April 2022

    March 30, 2022
  • Creative Wanderlust Prompt: Midtown Manhattan

    Midtown Manhattan. It’s definitely one of my favorite places in all of New York City, and the area I frequently stay when I visit. When I lived in New York City many moons ago, I rarely went to midtown. I was a student (in graduate school) and midtown catered to the working world. I did go to Grand Central Station frequently as I’d take the train out to Connecticut to visit my sister, but in general, I roamed all the other neighborhoods for my NYC energy, not midtown. Fast forward to today, and I can’t get enough of midtown Manhattan. It fuels me with energy. I’m convinced it’s because of…

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    Wanderlust Bookclub: The Year of Living Danishly (illustration by Wanderlust Designer)

    Wanderlust Bookclub: The Secret to Happiness in the Year of Living Danishly

    September 6, 2016
    Vintage Neon Signs at the Neon Museum in Las Vegas, Nevada (photo credit: The Neon Museum)

    On Location: Neon Heaven at the Neon Museum in Las Vegas, Nevada

    February 4, 2014
    A World of Flavors: Moroccan Spice Mix (illustration by Wanderlust Designer)

    Culture: A World of Flavors – Moroccan Spice Mix

    February 25, 2015
  • Let’s Build a Creative Community

    As many of you know, I’m passionate about building community. Whether in person or online, I couldn’t have made it through this last few years without community! The word community can be a loaded word and mean many things depending on context. For me, community is about people coming together and sharing experiences – and in particular in my case, creative experiences whether that be making art (drawing, painting, collaging) or through words and exploration (storytelling, learning new skills, trying new things and travel, of course!) Creativity is a very large umbrella in my mind and definitely doesn’t have to involve actually making art. I find, though, being with others…

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    Custom Illustrated Map of Napa Valley by Wanderlust Designer

    Illustration News: Custom Map of Napa Valley for the ACCP Conference

    September 26, 2017
    Portraits of Tucson, Arizona (watercolor by Wanderlust Designer)

    On Location: Portraits of Tucson, Arizona

    December 10, 2014
    Winding through Texas Hill Country by Wanderlust Designer

    On Location: Road Trip – Winding Through Texas Hill Country

    October 21, 2016
  • 5 Creative Ways to Celebrate the New Season – Spring Time is Here!

    It’s so easy to get wrapped up in our day to day or week to week activities that we often miss the most incredible natural occurrences happening right in front of our eyes – the transformation between seasons. On my daily walks, I do see blossoms beginning to bud on trees in spring, or colorful leaves on the ground in fall, but by the time I’m back home, inside and/or in front of my computer again, the fleeting moment is gone. It’s such a shame as I find there is so much creative energy a new season can provide. To become a little more mindful of the changing of the…

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    15 Minute Art Lesson: Learn How to Draw a Historic New Orleans Home

    March 1, 2022

    Welcome to the Wanderlust Designer!

    February 14, 2013
    An Irish Toast by Wanderlust Designer

    Type+Place: A Free Font Inspired by Ireland

    March 5, 2015
  • Whatever Medium You Choose – It’s All Creative

    This week while I was starting one of my art prompts, I realized I really wanted to draw digitally. I had a moment of hesitation, as for the most part, when doing my daily prompts I like using what most refer to as “traditional” mediums. I love my black pen, and crave the looseness I get with my watercolors. So I paused for a moment in a conundrum. When I wrote my weekly Creative Wanderlust Prompt list and put the words, “Paint,” “Draw” and “Write” did I inherently mean specifically paint with watercolor or draw with a pen? Absolutely not!  This musing instantly reminded me that I’m the one who emphatically believes what ever…

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    Creative Wanderlust Prompts: Add Creativity to Your Everyday

    January 6, 2022
    Ethiopian Berbere Spice Mix Illustrated Recipe by Wanderlust Designer

    Culture: A World of Flavors – Ethiopian Berbere Spice Mix

    January 18, 2017

    At Home Creative Adventures: Learn French and Make a Doodle Word Book

    March 24, 2020
  • Let Me Guide You to Lead a Creative Wanderlust Life

    I’ve been thinking long and hard about my business goals for this year, and have decided to double down on why I started this work to begin with! While thumbing through multiple journals from my past, I kept seeing ideas I had put down when I first started Wanderlust Designer 9 years ago after transitioning from my thriving party/stationery business to illustration & travel. Many of my ideas have come to fruition that I couldn’t be more proud of (authoring and illustrating 4 books, with 1 more on the way; countless illustrations licensed with big named companies; teaching numerous classes online and in real life) yet many more are just waiting…

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    5 Creative Ways to Celebrate the New Season – Spring Time is Here!

    March 22, 2022

    Travel Journal: Wandering San Francisco’s Chinatown

    February 21, 2019
    Geometric patterns in Redwood City, California

    Pattern+Place: Geometric Exploration in Redwood City

    February 14, 2013
  • 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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    Portraits of Tucson, Arizona (watercolor by Wanderlust Designer)

    On Location: Portraits of Tucson, Arizona

    December 10, 2014

    Creative Wanderlust Prompt: Globe

    January 8, 2022

    At Home Creative Adventures: Be a Naturalist for a Day (plus Free Printable Journal)

    March 31, 2020
  • I Am Creative

    I Am Creative – An Affirmation for All

    We live in a world where fears and anxieties can many times overwhelm our own creativity. How many times have you heard, “Oh, I’m just not creative…” or “I can’t seem to come up with any ideas, I must not be that creative…” Our own fears many times preclude us from being the creative person we want to be. Fear of being judged, failure, or not being able to come up with an ideas at all can many times stop us from even trying. It’s really too bad since inherently everyone of us is creative, brimming with ideas and imagination! I recently read a chapter in a book about creative…

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    Day One Peru, South America: A Rough Start Leads to a Little Piece of Heaven

    Travel Stories: Peru, South America, Map of Day One

    April 24, 2013
    Art on the Go: Art School Line Basics - Contour vs. Gestural vs. Implied by Wanderlust Designer

    Art on the Go: Art School Line Basics: Contour vs. Gestural vs. Implied

    January 6, 2015
    February Packing List: Romantic Getaway - Paris, France by Wanderlust Designer

    On Location: Dream Trips – Romantic Getaway Paris, France and Free February 2017 Wallpaper

    February 1, 2017

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Art Teacher, Author, Illustrator
🧑‍🎨 Explore Your World Creatively
🎨 Art Prompts, Tips & Tutorials
🧳 Community of Wanderlust Enthusiasts

Betsy Beier
My impression of our local Friday marché. I am so My impression of our local Friday marché. I am so happy to be playing with paint again. I have to admit, for me the process is perhaps more invigorating than the end product! I find I like the palette and the mess in the middle the most! 🖌️🎨🖍️💛.

#makingart #messinmiddle #palette #impression #marché #paris #anvers
I’ve been a little quiet here as I’ve been set I’ve been a little quiet here as I’ve been settling into our new city life and must admit- je suis tombée amoureuse de Paris !
 
I can’t believe it’s been a month already. So much has happened. In many ways this past month has been like an extended vacation, with lots of exploring and moving fast here and there, and seeing all sorts of new things. All of it incredibly exciting and energizing but I am definitely ready for slowing down and savoring each moment through art and creativity!

I have carved out a routine and am pretty much living my dream “semester” as I am taking 3 different classes, one French language, one fashion illustration (very different for me) and the third painting (my true ❤️). The classes are all in French and I’m working very hard on perfecting it as well as learning more and more everyday. 

I am absolutely loving the change in seasons and have already gotten out all my scarves and sweaters well before the cold has truly set in. Ha! 

I have loads to share and promise to get my routine going as I definitely want you along for there ride. There is so much to discover and learn! 

À bientôt

#lifeinparis #paris #expat #1month #semesterabroad #tomberamoureux #france
Another day of sketch walking in Paris… this cit Another day of sketch walking in Paris… this city could keep me and my sketchbook occupied for years! #flâneuseart #artonthego #paris #placesofparis #lifeinparis #sketchwalk #exploreyourworld #everydayadventures
Mornings in Paris… ☕️🥐🇫🇷 I have se Mornings in Paris… ☕️🥐🇫🇷

I have settled into a wonderful morning routine here in Paris. Coffee first of course, and then I wrote in my journal intime (in French!) I’m sure it’s riddled with errors, but it gets me starting the day thinking in French ! Then I move on to my daily to do list and my sketchbook/journal I am keeping. This one is all about collaging, photos, notes and quick sketches. My goal is to capture the daily experiences as they fly by. I will definitely share some pages as I continue. Then, it’s time for a little breakfast and my outing for the day. 

Do you have a morning routine? Doesn’t it ever change or evolve?

#morningroutine #journaling #morningjournaling #morningsinparis #journalintime #sketchbook #collage #miniphoto
A little tour of Parc des Buttes-Chaumont in the 1 A little tour of Parc des Buttes-Chaumont in the 19th from my walkabout yesterday. Loads of people out enjoying the weather- fall is definitely in the air!

#ptittour #paris #parcbutteschaumont #dimanche #sundaywalk #explore #alwayswalking #walkabout
Jules Chéret was born in Paris and lived from 183 Jules Chéret was born in Paris and lived from 1836-1932. He created iconic advertisement posters that were pasted on to walls, columns and much more throughout the city. 

Inspired by his work, I had fun creating this minisketchbook of faces seen in his posters. #inspiredby #juleschéret #minisketchbook #faces #facedrawings
The sketching of Paris has started! We spent the m The sketching of Paris has started! We spent the majority of last week setting up our apartment with a spattering of ultra touristy outings (aka the Louvre, a long walk along the Seine) and now with my husband back to work I’m figuring out my daily routine. It’s clear it will involve a lot of walking, museums, exploring, reading (in French of course) and ART! Soooo much to draw!!

Here are a few sketches from yesterday at le Jardin du Palais Royal, one of my favorite spots! What’s your favorite site in Paris? Let me know so I can create a draw-a-long video to share!
#art #paris #lifeinparis #artistinparis #sketchbook #jardindupalaisroyal #paradis #laviedartiste
Mon rêve est ici ! We’ve done it- we’ve moved Mon rêve est ici ! We’ve done it- we’ve moved to Paris. I can hardly believe I’m finally here after a few intense weeks/months of preparation, getting our house ready to rent in CA, packing, and dreaming of this moment! I’m ready to put my Wanderlust Designer mantra to the test - explore creatively- and I want you along with me. Let the adventure begin! (Photos are of my new Paris nest.) #paris #france #livinginparis #expat #dreamscometrue #wanderlust #adventure #explorecreatively
I've been quiet again over here as I've been spend I've been quiet again over here as I've been spending all my time packing up for our BIG MOVE TO PARIS and prepping our house to rent!! Who knew one could accumulate so much stuff- even when you clean and clear out your house seemingly on a regular basis. 15 years in one spot can do that, I guess. I have found that clearing out - essentially staging - is very liberating for the mind. I'm kinda thinking this should be my new look- a minimalist environment really has given me renewed creative energy! 

Has anyone else experienced this?

#packingup #packinguplife #bigmove #parisbound #declutter #creativity #openspace
Schlemiel! Schlimazel! Hasenpfeffer Incorporated Schlemiel! Schlimazel! Hasenpfeffer Incorporated

I just returned from an easygoing week exploring the cheese, brat and BEER loving midwest state of Wisconsin and visited MILWAUKEE for the first time. 

The question I asked myself before I left, was what are the best ways to explore a new city creatively? I came up with a list of 10 heuristics, but for this trip, I focused on one of my favorites- discover a city's personality - through its history.

You can start your investigation with a simple Google search, “the history of [cityname]” and see what you get. I do peruse Wikipedia, but also love browsing lesser known sites, blogs and/or content local to the area as I find the writing is honest and more insightful (especially when not sponsored by a brand!) It doesn’t take much reading, and in a few articles, I’m amazed at the overall sense of place you can feel through its historic past. With that knowledge, I then love to plan our trip, the neighborhoods and sites to see. My eventual list of possibilities inherently include touristic locations - monuments, famous buildings, etc. - but I always want to put in a few off the beaten path spots to try to see the everyday. 

Touring through any theme can become an entertaining scavenger hunt game. With the key historic points in mind (i.e., MKE = BEER), my creative lens is focused on all thing relating to that topic. So, as we walked around Milwaukee, I was always on the look out for references of the cities long beer brewing history - from street signs named after famous brewers, to beer references or images. It’s amazing how much more you will see when you have just a few historic facts in mind! 

Have you ever explored a city through a historic lens? I'd love to hear about it - let me know in the comments!

#MKE #Milwaukee #wisconsin #beer #brewery #schlitz #pabst #blatz #explorecreatively #creativewanderlustadventure
Bye bye Karl the Fog and hello to MKE via Chicago Bye bye Karl the Fog and hello to MKE via Chicago (no, not Nashville like the song says…)😂

Looking forward to exploring tomorrow. #sfo #ord #mke #milwaukee #wisconsin #explore #thunderstorm
Who's up for a little Creative Wanderlust Open Hou Who's up for a little Creative Wanderlust Open House - this THURSDAY, July 14th from 5:30-7pm, in San Carlos California.

Given my last post, I of course had to continue the French theme-- this month at the open house we will be celebrating by creating art with a little bleu, blanc et rouge + Matisse inspired theme! Come make art or just relax outdoors and enjoy the summer evening with friends!

DM or email me for details and directions. Hope to see you there!

#creativewanderlustcommunity #creativewanderlustlife #creativewanderlustliving #bastillday #france #bleublancrouge #openhouse
I just shared some BIG NEWS in my newsletter today I just shared some BIG NEWS in my newsletter today... it's really happening... I'm moving to PARIS!

My entire adult life I’ve wanted to live abroad. In college I sadly dismissed the opportunity as I did not want to double major in a language (present me doesn’t quite understand that choice, but as they say, education is wasted on the youth!) Throughout married life my husband and I have chatted many times about living abroad here or there with our kids, yet the timing has never clicked. Now, over 30 years since college, I’m finally getting my semester abroad! No, not with a college but with my husband. Our nest is empty and we are ready to FLY!

Starting September 1st we will officially have an apartment in Paris, France and begin our 6 month abroad adventure as Parisians! Yes, this is a dream come true. Of course I’ve heard the stories - it’s grey, it rains, people are not friendly, there is crime, it’s dirty, etc., etc. If you look at any location you can find negatives but I’m not that person. I am confident I will face challenges, but I am up for it all - the good, the bad, yet mostly the EXPERIENCE!

I can’t wait for all of you to JOIN ME on this adventure. In true Betsy style, my goals are to hit the streets of Paris creatively everyday - I want to stare at masterpieces in the Louvre and discover small wonders hidden in corners of my neighborhood. I want to embrace shopping on my local street for meals everyday, and sitting at the cafe people watching. I want to explore the same streets the masters (Matisse, Monet, Van Gogh, etc.) walked upon as well as take a dive deep into understanding the long history and culture of Paris. We of course have plenty of side trips we want to take. It’s clear we won’t have enough time, but again, seeing this as our diving board moment, it’s exciting to imagine what will come next.

I look forward to inspiring you to find these creative details in your own city or where ever you may roam. And, of course, if you happen to be in Paris this Fall and early Winter, please reach out! I’d love to see you in the City of Light!

#dream #paris #france #movingtoparis #creativewanderlustlife
Another day, another walk in the burbs. Being a ci Another day, another walk in the burbs. Being a city girl at heart, I’m always looking for something different… today I ventured out with a hand made view finder. I had trouble without my glasses (which I don’t wear walking 🤣) but otherwise enjoyed the experience. Next time I’m going to head to my downtown to capture a different view.  Give it a try in your neighborhood! I’d love to see what you find. #frameyourview #creativewalk #everydaycreativity #creativewanderlustadventure #theburbs
For over 30 years I’ve had a fascination with ca For over 30 years I’ve had a fascination with capturing water in my art. I spent much of my undergraduate fine art degree painting it in some way or another, and today I found myself once again trying to capture the nuisances, this time with watercolor. As I was painting this and getting more frustrated by the moment I recalled the advice my senior year thesis professor gave me in regards to capturing water—
He reminded me that much of what I wanted to capture had to do with the movement, the feeling and ultimately my impression. A photograph of water is a snapshot in time. Still and not moving. I inherently was more fascinated by the motion, thus I needed to let go of what a photo of water looks like and try to embrace the process… and the impression. Such sage advice that now 30+ years later I’m still needing! #advice #artadvice #impression #water #laketahoe #fascinationwithwater #artistlife
Sketching the scene from the dock with my fav blac Sketching the scene from the dock with my fav black pen and Caran D’Ache water soluble wax pastels. They are my absolute fav art supply these days!!🌈🖍🖌🎨
And the irony is I’m actually having a productiv And the irony is I’m actually having a productive day! Lake life does the mind some good…
My office this week….🚤🏔🛶🌲 My office this week….🚤🏔🛶🌲
Let's get creative inspiration from the sun! Here Let's get creative inspiration from the sun! Here are 3 simple activities to do today now that summer is here.

1. Get mesmerized by heat waves on the horizon. Find a cool vantage point and spend a few moments just watching the heat rise and create a distorted view of the world. How could you artistically capture this effect? A quick video? A wet-on-wet simple watercolor of wavy lines and colors bleeding together? 

2. Photograph your shadow. I always forget about shadow play-- remember making shadow animals when you were young with your hands and a flashlight. What other fun gestures and movement can you do to create interesting shadows on a sunny day? Start with abstract shapes, and then see what comes next.

3. Write as many quotes as you can think of that talk about the sun. Put them in a jar and save them for a grey day. There are so many song lyrics and sayings about the sun. Spend a few moments on a sunny afternoon, sitting on the grass and jotting down all that you know. Tear into little sheets and place in a jar to warm you up on a cold or grey day!

#creativeinspiration #creativeactivities #sun #sunactivities #creativeprompts #creativity #buildcreativity #artprompts #artideas #summerideas #summeractivities #wanderlustdesigner #creativewanderlustprompt
Does the sun give you creative energy? I can defin Does the sun give you creative energy? I can definitively say YES, it does for me. A sunny day fills me with loads of fuel - to explore, get outside, make things, and PLAY. This is not to say a grey day doesn't provide me creative energy it's just a different type, a different mood. So, now that summer is here, let's harness those rays and share our creative endeavors.

Happy Summer everyone!!

#summer #creativity #sun #creativeenergy #suninspiration #getcreative #maker #summersolstice
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Recent Stories

  • Creative Wanderlust Community Open House – July 2022 Recap: Bastille Day Collage
  • Explore a New City Creatively through History – Milwaukee, Wisconsin
  • I’m Moving to Paris!!!
  • 3 Secrets to a Creative Summer
  • Creative Art Lesson: Use Only ONE Color

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