In a mere eighteen days, I am going to be on my way to Italy! I can’t tell you how excited I am at the prospect. My sketching buddy, Suzie, and I will be housesitting for a friend for ten days in Vicenza, in northern Italy, then we’ll travel south for a taste of Tuscany and Florence before heading home. We’re looking forward to soaking up the beautiful scenery, learning about the culture, tasting the wine, and eating lots of gelato.
We’ll both be sketching like mad and keeping an illustrated travel journal of our adventures – everything from those first hours of waiting impatiently for the flight to leave JFK, to sipping an expresso at a sidewalk cafe in Venice. I can’t wait to get started!
Because I love travel sketching so much, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on Danny Gregory’s newest book, An Illustrated Journey: Inspiration from the Private Art Journals of Traveling Artists, Illustrators, and Designers. Reading about the unique approaches and styles of the various artists featured in the book gave me lots of great ideas for things I might want to try on my own illustrated journey.
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| Page from An Illustrated Journey by Danny Gregory |
One lucky person will win a brand-new copy of An Illustrated Journey. All you have to do to enter is leave a comment on this post.
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| Page from An Illustrated Journey by Danny Gregory |
I’d love to hear about where you’d like to vacation if you had the chance, or where you’re going this summer. Or just say hi, but be sure to enter!
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| Page from An Illustrated Journey by Danny Gregory |
I’ll announce the winner next Friday, March 22nd. Good luck!
46 Comments
How exciting for you and your friend Leslie! Can't wait to see all your drawings! Enjoy the trip !
🙂
Thanks for stopping by, Colleen!
I used to draw when I was young and lived at home. Now that I'm grown, other things have taken it's place. But seeing the wonderful stuff you do. makes me want to take it up again! My son (13) seems to have a knack for design and poetry. Have your watercolor Our Town 2009. Hope to meet you in person!! By the way have a safe and fun time in Italy!!
Oh, Crystal, do try it again! Don't pressure yourself to do anything momentous. Just have fun with it in the odd moments here and there. You'll be so glad you did.
I absolutely love Danny Gregory and didn't know he had a new book! Love your blog too! Awesome giveaway! My youngest son and I will be sketching our way through Disneyland in about a month, finding all the Hidden Mickeys! Can't WAIT!
That's so cool that you sketch with your son, Kari. What a wonderful bond for the two of you. Have fun at Disney!
I've been pining for An Illustrated Journey since Danny Gregory announced it last year. An Illustrated Life is a big reason I'm rediscovering my art and blogging about it. Thanks for sharing your art as well. I discovered your blog recently and love it. I'm learning you can travel around the block or around the world and it's a whole new experience when you're using a sketchbook instead of a camera!
An Illustrated Life is one of the main reasons I got back into sketching, too, Aggie. That book is so incredibly inspiring. And you're so right about how sketching enhances our experiences at home and while traveling. It's amazing how looking at a sketch done at some far-flung site can take me back to that moment with such clarity. I'm hoping that by sketching my way through Italy, it will always remain a part of me.
What a treat.Please enter me in this wonderful drawing. You have a beautiful blog. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for stopping by, and good luck!
Leslie you always inspire me! I'll be taking a Reboot Break late summer and heading to Ocracoke Island. Then to Baltimore for a week of couture school. Hoping to take along my sketchbook:) Pick me!
Couture school? That sounds interesting. Will you learn hands-on techniques? Clothing design? You're always into something new. Can't wait to hear about it, Linda.
I have been to Italy and you will just love it! When I went to Italy I was not sketching [I barely call my attempts at "drawing" sketching, but I keep plugging away] and to be able to see what you will do with your pencils, pens and paints is exciting for me! Thank you in advance for sharing your trip….you will have an unforgettable time! I admire all of your talents! I'm heading to Las Vegas next month and in June to Rockport and Glouster Maine!
Thanks for commenting, Fran. I'll be in Maine this summer, too. My mom and I will be in Acadia and Bar Harbor for a week in July, then join the rest of the family near Owl's Head for a week. Planning to do a lot of painting while I'm there. There's one problem with vacationing in Maine though – I always end up wanting to move there! Just can't get enough of it.
i like your blog and I'm follower from France.it's so inspired for me.good journey in Italie
Thanks for visiting, Isabelle.
Recently subscribed to your blog and I love reading about your adventures. Been doing artsy craftsy stuff forever, but started painting with watercolors last summer and soon after, discovered that I can draw. My 9 yr old grandson & 5 yr old granddaughter wanted sketchbook "journals" just like Grandma's for Christmas so now we all go out with our journals, watercolors & waterbrushes to paint & see the world differently. I would love to have the new book, "An Illustrated Journey", to inspire us. We have dreams of sketching in Italy & Ireland, the homes of our ancestors.
That's so special, Bobbi, to be able to share a love of sketching with your grandchildren. I hope you'll get to Italy and Ireland someday. My trip to Ireland in 2011 was the high point of my travels so far. I long to return.
Congratulations on such a wonderful trip! How thrilling! And especially nice that you are traveling with a sketch buddy–total freedom to sketch as long as you want. I am currently reading An Illustrated Journey (checked out from the library–in fact, the library bought 5 copies of this book because I requested it!), and I'm really enjoying it. I see you are using a Heritage/Mijello palette, do you enjoy it? I just purchased one, I was influenced by Brenda Swenson (I have her DVD), and it will arrive soon.
I've been using the Heritage palette for years and love it. It's perfect for travel sketching. I like having plenty of paint wells and lots of mixing space, so it serves me well. Brenda's DVD is a lot of fun, isn't it? Love being able to see her create her magic. I LOVE her style!
Yes, Brenda's DVD is great. I've been savoring it, watching it in segments and giving myself time to absorb it. I want to go through it again and actually work the demos while I watch.
I have had this book on my wish list ever since I first heard about it. How nice of you to offer it in a giveaway. Your trip to Italy sounds wonderful. I can't wait to see your travel sketches. I loved your sketches of Ireland. I hope to go to Greece someday, and when I do, I know I'll sketch too. Have a wonderful trip!
I think Greece might have to be next on my wish list. Can you imagine painting the color of the water? Delectable!
I follow the blogs of several of the artists in this book and have wanted one for a while! It's so fun to get fresh inspiration and ideas from sketchers through books like this. Will also enjoy keeping up with your lovely trip through your sketches. May the trip be all you dream and more!
You're so right about getting fresh inspiration from the book. The whole time I was reading it, I was thinking, "Oh, I should try doing a wash like that!" or "I love the quality of his lines. Maybe I could do that with my Pigma pen…" It's so much fun seeing other artists' work.
Good luck on the giveaway!
Oh how wonderful on house sitting in Italy and touring. I hope you will be blogging about it as you go. If you have internet. That is a wonderful book. I have it so don't put me in the hat to win it but I wanted to congratulate you on getting to go to Italy. The movie Under the Tuscan Sun, is one of my favorite movies due to the location.
I'll have internet when we're in Vicenza, so I'll try to post a bit while I'm there. But I'm not planning to spend too much time on the computer. After all, this is about escaping from reality!
I think I really should rent Under the Tuscan Sun to watch once again before I go. Thanks for reminding me.
What a lovely offer, thank you!
I've barely traveled 50 miles beyond my home area and the farthest real vacation was camping in the state park next town over (7 miles).
I love your blog, it's one of the very few I follow and I've had this book in my cart on amazon since its pre-order days!
Matter of fact, just today I was telling myself, order it NOW.
So, I'm thinking I might have a go at your drawing……woohoo!
There's much to be said for enjoying what we have close by. One of my favorite sketches is of my cat lying in the sunshine on the back of the couch.
Good luck in the giveaway, and if you don't win, go ahead and order the book. You'll love it! And thanks for following my blog. It's so nice to hear from you!
Susie, you need to get out more 🙂 And speaking of sketching on vacation, I wonder when Laure is going to start up her Imaginary Trips again. I did a lot more sketching while taking her classes!
Hi Leslie,
I go to church with your mom and she keeps us sort of updated on your artistic doings and even shows off your stuff sometimes.
Are you in this book?
Donna
No, I'm not in the book, Donna, but I can really appreciate all the different styles represented there. It's so interesting to see the amazing variety among the different artists.
I have been waiting for this book to come out. Please enter me in your giveaway,Leslie! I mostly sketch on camping trips. We'll be going to Eastman Lake in the foothills of the Sierras next month and to the coast of Oregon this summer. You're trip sounds great!
We camped for years when our kids were growing up. Wish I had been a sketcher then. I always did keep a journal though, and reading back through it is so much fun – all those funny little stories that I would have forgotten if I hadn't written them down.
Sounds like some wonderful vacation plans, Sue. I've only visited Oregon once, for a day or two. I'd love to have a chance to sketch along the coast sometime. Enjoy!
I'm going to be revisiting some old haunts in Central and Southeastern Kentucky this summer. My camera will have to serve as pen and ink on this trip.
Enjoy Italy!
Kentucky is beautiful in the summertime. So lush and green. Enjoy your trip!
Hi Leslie, I am glad to fine you! you have such a nice blog. I love your art of sketching. It is a inspiration to me. You can find my illustrations on my blog. Have a nice day! S.
Thanks for stopping by, Sonja, and for mentioing your blog. It's so happy and upbeat. Such charming illustrations
First off – how fun to be heading to Italy! I'd love to have the chance to win this book. I'm going to China in May of 2014 and have already been giving thought to putting together a journal with sketches. This would be perfect! thank you for the chance!
A trip to China – how exciting! What a different world you'll be seeing! At least you have a whole year to practice your quick sketching skills for your trip. Good luck with the drawing!
I Leslie. I've really enjoyed the book you did after your trip to Ireland with your mom and will look forward to this one, too. My dream trip is Ireland/England, but in the interim I love to visit the Acadia area of Maine. Take care and have a wonderful trip. Thank you for your beautiful blog and sharing with us. — Glenna K
I love Acadia, too, Glenna. I always feel like I'm in some sort of dream state when I'm in Maine. I'm relaxed and happy and inspired. There are gorgeous scenes around every bend in the road. I'll be going in July, so watch for some sketches on my blog then.
Glad to hear you enjoyed my Ireland journal. I keep daydreaming about page layouts and things I want to try on my Italy trip – only a week and a half until we leave!
Leslie, I just found your blog by way of Pintrest and love your art! I think I can learn alot from you so will be following.
Thank you for sharing.
I too need to lighten up as I always want to get too detailed. Seeing your art makes me think I can do it too.
Have a blessed day!
Sharon of Idaho
Hi Leslie,
Like the previous poster I just found your blog today by way of Pinterest. I look forward to exploring the blog fully as I am inspired by your talent. Hope you enjoy your trip to Italy.
I will share a pin to your blog on my own Pinterest art board. And, if you haven't already selected a winner in your giveaway . . . please count me in!
Ciao,
Carol
I'm sorry, but you're just a wee bit late for the drawing, Carol. Thanks for stopping by anyway. Doing this giveaway was so much fun, I know I'll be doing more of them.
Even though I'm late…. I still want to Congratulate you for being selected to be part of this amazing book! Congrats and keep sketching! Can't wait to see your images of Italy. Have a wonderful time.