Okay, so today I wanted to try something new, something I’ve been seeing all over my Pinterest feed: “trip drawing.” Basically, you draw your journey, not just the destination. It sounded fun, and honestly, my usual doodles were getting a bit boring.
Getting Started
First, I grabbed my sketchbook – the one with the slightly thicker paper, because I was thinking maybe watercolors? Then, I gathered my usual pens: a fine-liner, a slightly thicker one, and my favorite brush pen. I also dug out my old watercolor set, the one I haven’t touched in ages, and a couple of different-sized brushes. Just in case, you know?
The Trip (and the Drawing!)
My “trip” was just a walk to my local coffee shop. It’s not exactly the Himalayas, but hey, gotta start somewhere, right? I started by lightly sketching the street layout. Super rough, just basic shapes to get the proportions right. Nothing fancy.
- First Block: Mostly houses. I tried to capture the different rooflines, some pointy, some flat. Added a few quick squiggles for trees.
- The Corner Store: I spent a little more time here, drawing the awning and the little display of flowers they always have outside.
- Crossing the Street: This was tricky! I attempted to get the perspective of the crosswalk lines, but it ended up looking a bit wonky. Oh well.
- Coffee Shop Ahoy!: Finally! I drew the big windows and the sign, and even tried to get the little tables and chairs inside.
After the basic sketch, I went over it with the fine-liner, adding details like window panes and brickwork (very roughly, I’m no architect!). I used the thicker pen for the outlines of the buildings, to make them stand out a bit.
Adding Some Color (and Mess!)
This is where things got interesting… and messy. I decided to be brave and try the watercolors. I started with a light wash of blue for the sky – easy enough. Then I added some greens for the trees, trying to make them look a little bit… leafy. The buildings got a mix of browns and grays. I even tried to add some shadows, but I think I overdid it a bit. It looks a little muddy in places.
The Final Result
Honestly, it’s not a masterpiece. The perspective is off, the watercolors are a bit splotchy, and my “detailed” drawings are pretty basic. But… I actually really enjoyed it! It made me look at my everyday surroundings in a completely different way. I noticed details I’d never seen before, like the little carvings above the doorways and the way the light hits the leaves on the trees.
So, yeah, I’d definitely recommend giving “trip drawing” a try. Even if you’re not an artist (and I’m clearly not!), it’s a fun way to be more present and appreciate the little things. And who knows, you might even surprise yourself with what you create!