Whenever I go out for tea, go out of town, or out of the country, I bring another bag: my travel sketching materials. You may wonder what travel sketching and what to bring with you. I have listed down a number of art materials like waterproof pens, travel journals, brushes, collapsible cups, and of course paints.

But first, What is travel sketching? Travel Sketching is capturing a moment on the spot. You can use either mini travel journals or bring your loose watercolor papers and painting on site.

Unlike taking photos, travel sketching encourages you to look closer (and slower) at the elements and details of the picture you are making. I particularly liked travel sketching because of the instant gratification of seeing your quick sketch done after a few minutes (some I have painted for just 5 minutes) and translating what you see on to paper.

Let’s move on to packing before your trip. Remember, packing MUST be light but complete. Althought the list may be long, I took the time to choose my art purchases to serve its purpose while I am on the go. So I bring with me the following:

1. Sketchbook Journal with at least 200 gsm acid-free Watercolor paper
2. Sketchbook for drawing
3. My favorite brushes (Round, Flat, Japanese Hake, Rigger, Fan)
4. Loose watercolor papers
5. Water brushes (pen brushes that you can refill with water, you just have to squeeze to load the brush with water)
6. Watercolor paints in pans
7. White Gouache
8. Collapsible water pots
9. Small plates or palettes to mix paints (sometimes I use leaves to mix paints, why not? haha)
10. Pencil
11. Eraser (white and kneaded)
12. Permanent waterproof archival pens ( I like using Pigma Micron 05 and some permanent markers)
13. Mixing palette (I use the cover of my pot or I bring a small plate for mixing paints)
14. Extra water
15. Small Spritzer
16. Acrylic markers
17. Medicine Dropper
18. Clean rag or paper napkins
19. Bull clips to hold down pages if it is too breezy or to dry them out
20. Palette knife for scratching
21. Scissors
22. Masking tape

This might be a long list but you have to choose what is very important.

Tip in Travel Sketching: I have gone to other countries and places where I have to go through airport security. When flying to other countries, know their rules for checking in your baggage. For your hand-carry, make sure you don’t bring your cutter, metal palette knives (plastic palette knife is also available), or any liquid material more than 100ml. Allocate ample space for your travel sketching materials and probably take note of the X kilos you need for them. If not sure about baggage limitations, pack your materials well in your check-in luggage. When asked, be very courteous and identify yourself as an artist/painter and you are also painting when traveling.

Waiting makes me more impatient and I like to fill up my time with something to do. In sketching, 10 minutes of people-watching is transferred to a blank page. You can say that you have captured that moment.

The sketches below are the people I sketched from Bacolod City to Krabi Airport in Thailand in November 2017. 4 airports in 18 hours. Chop chop!

I also did the small painting below during a layover in Don Mueang Airport in Bangkok on my way to Chiang Mai. I was too early for the flight and got nothing else to do but wait. This is done in a 4 inches x 6 inches Arches 300 gsm 100% cotton watercolor paper.

I found this quaint cottage called the Pha Mon Pavilion in Phuping Palace gardens in Chiang Mai. The Phuping Palace is also known as the Royal winter palace of the Thai Royal Family. It has

The Pha Mon Pavilion is surrounded by different species of ferns, some are over 100 years old. It started to rain when I was halfway through and I needed to head back to my transport. I had to finish it at the lounge of our guesthouse.

We can always sketch wherever we like …

Inspiration comes from all places and things.

Just paint!