Creativity on the Road...

Holiday season is here which means we are all busy and keeping an art practice  going can be challenging. It also means some traveling for us as not all of our family is close by. Here are some tips for keeping some creative momentum going during the holidays...

Bring a sketchbook... I find if I don't - that's the day I want to have it. Sketchbook drawing on the road, for me, is an exercise in visual note-taking - quick gestural sketches of the landscapes we pass (I love rolling hills of farms where you can see the patterns made by plow lines). Its also a good time to reflect on what you've gathered thus far in previous pages maybe sparking new ideas for when you're back in your studio.

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Catch up on your favorite Art Podcasts... Our family is seven hours away so we have plenty of time to fit in at least a few (Or as many as my husband will tolerate ;) .  A few of my fav's: Art for Your Ear, The Savvy Painter, The Unmistakable Creative, the Laura Horn Art Podcast, and The Creativity Habit.

Hunt & Gather inspiration...
Go for a wander and snap some pictures of interesting finds. Our family we visit lives a block from the beach. I love to walk there, no matter how cold and breathe in the salt air - I find it instantaneously recharges my energy. Its a wealth of inspiration as well.

Snip color palette inspirations from magazines...
When visiting my mom there's always a big pile of magazines she's already read through - I love perusing the pages and gathering colors that catch my eye.  I bring washi tape and put them in my sketchbook.

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Clean up studio before leaving so you’re ready to go when you come home! Nothing inspires me more than a workspace that is de-cluttered and ready to go! The goal while I'm away is to keep some creative momentum going and gather visual tidbits that might spark inspiration when I'm back home.