What I Pack in My Travel Art Kit
One of the questions I’m asked most often before a retreat or workshop is this:
“What art supplies should I bring?”
As I prepare for upcoming journeys with The Blue Walk to Portugal and Paris, I’ve been gathering the small collection of materials I like to travel with when I’m creating vintage travel journals on the road.
Over the years I’ve learned that less is often more when it comes to a travel art kit. The goal isn’t to bring every supply you own — it’s to bring just enough to help you capture the moments that unfold along the way.
A small journal.
A handful of paints or pens.
A few tools that allow you to respond quickly when something catches your attention.
When I travel, my journal becomes a place to gather the story of the journey as it happens — the café receipt tucked into a page, a quick sketch of a street corner, a line written before the memory fades.
The supplies simply make that possible.
Since several guests joining me on these tours asked what I recommend bringing, I recorded a quick video walking through the art kit I pack for travel.
Fair warning: this was filmed in one take, with zero editing. It may be a little rough around the edges, but sometimes done really is better than perfect.
If you’re preparing for one of our upcoming retreats — or simply curious about how I keep my travel art kit light and simple — I hope this gives you a helpful starting point.
Want to know what art supplies I take along with me when I travel? It’s all in this video and you’ll be shocked how compact it packs down.
And remember: the most important thing you can bring with you isn’t a particular pen or brush.
It’s your curiosity.
If you’re curious…
…about what it’s like to travel and create with me, you can read about one of my recent retreats here.
You can download a copy of my travel supply list over here.
