Travel Sketches - Alaska Cruise

I spent 5 days at 2 different Zentangle retreats last week, plus the better part of a day waiting in the Atlanta airport. Since I have a water brush, Sakura Koi field kit, and a small sketchbook, I can work just about anywhere.  When I got tired of tangling, I painted.  I don't love all of the sketches, but I am tickled pink that I got 10 pages done.  

 

 

 

 

Happy Paint Party Friday!

 

Long Enough to Have a Baby

I knew it's been a long time since I partied with the Paint Party Friday people, but I was shocked when I noticed it's been over 8 months. That's long enough to have a baby!  I guess you can say I did, in a way, since I have published a book since the last time I posted anything for PPF.  It felt so great to have a paintbrush  in my hand instead of just pen and pencil.  

Here are the first 3 sketches from my travel sketchbook of our Alaska cruise last August. 

Happy PPF everyone!

Packing Light

I love my travel sketchbook.  I've only been keeping it since January 2011, but we've gone to many places since them and it brings back such fond memories whenever I get it out.

But when we were in New Mexico, I was so busy working on the Sketchbook Project that I only did one sketch.  And we're leaving for the beach on Sunday!  Catching up on my travel sketchbook is high on the priority list.  Right up there with packing :-) Luckily, I pack light.  Especially my art supplies.  My Zentangle supplies fit in a box the size of a paperback with room for my paints.

Here are all of my travel sketchbook supplies.  

Sometimes, I think I'd like to get something better, but this little $5 special holds my pencil, eraser, and water brush, while still acting as a palette and fitting in the pocket of my travel skirt.

So, while Birdie was at her 4H meeting tonight, I sat in the car and started a sketch of sunrise in Ruidoso, NM.  Mountains are a challenge to me, living her in the flat lands, but I am improving.

Steering wheel holding the iPad, painting on my lap.  

The best thing was that when I showed Birdie, she knew exactly where it was.  That makes me happy.

Happy PPF.  Hope your painting makes you happy, too.

Travel Journal Tangle

We had the perfect day at the beach: saw the sunrise, played in the waves, collected shells, ate good good, did art, and celebrated Maria's birthday :-) Here is the tangle I did to put in my travel journal to represent that wonderful day.

I used the gel pen to draw the texture on the shells, then used chalk, and finished up with a watercolor wash. This is the first time I tried that technique and I love how the shells turned out. Hope you do, tool.

Beachy Tangles

Birdie and I just got back from a "tangled trip" to Myrtle Beach for spring break.  Went to Michigan (4+ hours driving) and saw 2 brothers-in-law then flew from Detroit to SC to Yiayia's place.  Spent 2 days with one set of cousins then they left and brother #2 came with his family. It was cold and rainy, but that didn't dampen our spirits (much.)  Did only one travel journal page, but I got lots of tangles, some colored pencil, and even Haiku.

Of course, I had to use Mist and Rain. I used Onomato and Ennies for the flying gull. (All official tangles)  I used Urchin and a water pattern from Totally Tangled.  The gull tracks are what I observed from the beach.

Has anyone claimed the pattern I used for the ocean?  It seems so simple that I'd be surprised if no one else has.  If not, I'd call it Wavez.