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Art & Photography / Living Well / Travel & Places

TRAVEL SKETCHBOOK A Sign of Your Time?

I busted out an old travel sketchbook recently and sighed audibly as I relived those moments in time when I sat, stared, sketched, and took it all in. But then I quickly realized: oh dear, these sketches are over 10 years old! That’s a problem. I’m not sure why my travel in the past decade has prevented me from keeping up my sketchbook — am I too much on the go? Do I try to squeeze too much in? Am I traveling to the wrong types of places? Or is it more of a sign of the times (ahem, Instagram)? Regardless, I promised myself, I resolve to do at least one sketch per trip for the next year…

I’m off to Napa Valley for Thanksgiving this month, and Art Basel in Miami next month, to start. Who knows what 2014 will bring and where I’ll go next, but I’ll have my sketchbook (and my handy bucket list “Now or Never” notebook) by my side. If you happen to see me oddly staring into space and being — God forbid! — seemingly unproductive, just know, there’s good reason: I’m making the most of my time.

Sketch, photo & styling by Erika Brechtel

Erika Brechtel

Erika's passion for guiding women to "Style Your Biz, Your Home, Your Self, Your Life" led her create 'The E List' (formerly the Small Shop blog) in 2010. Since, she's expanded globally into speaking, mentoring, course offerings, angel investing, and social entrepreneurship through the Élanoura Collective for women founders.

Reader Interactions

The Comments

  1. Alison says

    November 6, 2013 at 7:29 am

    You are so talented! I can’t wait to see a sketch from Napa!

  2. Nina: Anything et Everything says

    November 6, 2013 at 8:20 am

    I wish I could sketch that well! We’re off to Australia end of this month (yay!) to enjoy the vineyards and water. Such great sceneries for sketching, but since it’s not my forte, I’ll stick with photographs :) Enjoy Napa & Miami x

  3. Erin | Holtwood Hipster says

    November 6, 2013 at 9:14 am

    Just returned from a trip abroad and I remember seeing people sitting on bridges and steps, sketching what I was frantically snapping with my iPhone. It honestly made me pause and consider that they were probably getting more out of their time there than I was. I think we think we’re capturing more with our camera, but I would bet the great artists of the past all hoped we all would sit, study and admire details that sometimes took decades to complete- something certainly achieved when capturing your own perspective on them in a sketchbook. Pick it back up and keep it handy so you can take it all in.

  4. Tanja Ayesha says

    November 6, 2013 at 10:47 am

    you are very talented. I just found my own sketch book after reading this post and put it in my bag, so I can start sketching on the tube on my way to and from work every day:)

  5. Albertina || Mimosa Lane says

    November 6, 2013 at 11:37 am

    I used to sketch so much as well!! And write poetry during my travels and write long letters to my friends about what I had done that day…..and now life is so hectic that I don’t have much time for all this….I think its also about having a child and traveling is just different now……hmm….glad you will retake it again. You are talented! that sketch is beautiful!

  6. Albertina || Mimosa Lane says

    November 6, 2013 at 11:39 am

    oh and I love the winged Nike of Somathrace! I remember as if it were yesterday the first time I saw it!

  7. Kate says

    November 6, 2013 at 12:06 pm

    If I had any ounce of drawing ability this would be a GREAT way to slow down and be more mindful during travel.

  8. Andi of My Beautiful Adventures says

    November 6, 2013 at 5:27 pm

    Oh my you are sooo talented!!! Napa and Miami? Two AWESOME places!

  9. johari says

    November 25, 2013 at 2:44 pm

    hello! thanks for the motivation to keep up my calligraphy sketches!

    may i ask where you got that lovely brass pencil holder? i’d love to have it in my life.

    thanks!
    jh.

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