I have really been into painting and sketching recently and I decided to make a scrapbook to document my holiday this summer.
 |
| Sketching by the pool |
I spent a week with my friend Mel in Mountain View, San Francisco which was awesome! Rather than just relying on holiday photographs I took time out every day for sketching, painting and collaging my holiday experiences. Art equipment I packed for the trip were sketching pencils, Windsor and Newton watercolours, Chromacolour watercolour pencils, a few black pro-markers, scissors, a glue-stick, acrylic paint markers and a range of brushes.
 |
| Sketching on Mel's sofa |
It was the most relaxing and enjoyable time and I pretty much sketched / painted everywhere starting out in the airport lounge and on the flight over to the USA. The most indulgent was next to the pool, on the sofa at Mel's house and finally on a train ride to my next holiday destination in Wales last week.
Things I included in my journal were maps, leaflets, tickets and receipts of my adventures alongside traditional sketches and watercolour studies plein air of food, city scenes and landscapes. I chose an A5 Seawhite concertina sketchbook which comes with a rather cool hardboard case. It is not quite finished yet but here are a few little snippets for you to enjoy.
 |
| Painting on the train to Wales last week |
 |
| The many cool California signs found around Mountain View |
 |
| Sushi and Santana Row a beautiful palm tree lined shopping street |
 |
| Mushroom and leek omelette home cooking, film night on the sofa and the lovely Steven's Creek Trail walk |
 |
| Ice lolly pool inflatable and the amazing graffiti of Clarion Alley in the Mission, San Francisco |
 |
| Mel standing in front of a Frank Stella painting at the SF MoMA |
 |
| Dusk at Pier 39 and Pier 23 neon sign from Fisherman's Wharf, San Fransisco |
 |
| The concertina sketchbook laid out next to the pool before my return to the UK |
I am enjoying putting the finishing touches to my journal and hope to finish it before my return to work in September. I also want to include my mini break to Wales in the remaining pages of the book.
What have you been doing this summer to relax and unwind?
