Book Review: The Art of Travel With a Sketchbook
People who are new to sketch journaling sometimes fear they have years of practice ahead before creating worthy pages. Mari Le Glatin Keis would no doubt disagree. She has been leading travel sketching workshops for 13 years, helping those who have never done visual travel journaling t immediately enjoy the joys and rewards of recording their experiences. No wait or artistic training are required: anyone can jump right in.
Mari has written a delightful book, The Art of Travel With a Sketchbook, which describes her approach. She explains how to make deeper connections to places, cultures, and people with simple sketching and observation. It is what happens during the sketching and the memories preserved that are the reward, rather than any specific artistic result.
The large pages of this concise volume are bursting with color. Subtitled Six Tips to Get Started, these are in fact broad areas which Mari introduces and describes with a variety of tips. Each idea is also demonstrated with lots of work and commentary from the new journalers in her workshops. Their diverse pages feature simple sketches, collage, and colorful backgrounds. It is clear that many have been inspired and moved by Mari’s workshops.
This book would be a great introduction for those new to travel journaling or fun for anyone looking for a fresh outlook or a shot of inspiration. And, I have not taken Mari’s workshop, but it sounds like a lot of fun. In 2008 she will be leading trips in Oregon, France and Mexico.
Related Article: An Interview with Mari Le Glatin Keis
Related Topics: Book Reviews, Holidays, Travel Sketching, Workshop Reviews
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December 4th, 2007 at 10:46 pm
This was a wonderful book review! Thanks you, I will definitely look for it in the store so that I can consider it.
I also wanted to comment on your post about taking classes from Don Getz. I noticed that Phyllis mentioned it too. I took classes from Don at Cheap Joe’s and at Kanuga. Perhaps we have sketched together. His classes are fun and he is such an inviting and helpful instructor.
November 29th, 2007 at 10:25 pm
thank you for a wonderful link..this is a must have for me too. I agree with Deborah…you always have such creative and valuable information along with your beauriful art!
ronell
November 29th, 2007 at 9:39 pm
Thanks for the review! This is definitely a Christmas must-have. Thanks again!
November 29th, 2007 at 11:51 am
Great review. Looking forward to the interview. Very timely for me, I had just received an email from Mari about her ’08 workshops. I’ve been enjoying visiting your site and seeing your work for quite a while. Thanks for posting, it’s great.
November 26th, 2007 at 10:15 am
Ooh, now I know what to ask my husb to get me for Christmas. I love books that show how other people work.
BTW, I’ve been lurking lately, but I gotta say again I really like your style. It’s so ethereal and soft.
November 26th, 2007 at 10:06 am
I have ordered the book for my own library. Looking forward to reading it from cover to cover.
As always I appreciate and enjoy your sketches and comments. My husband and I will be rebinding a moleskine this week for the first time.
November 26th, 2007 at 12:00 am
Martha, You are a wonderful source of creativity and inspiration not to mention information. This is a wonderful review of Mari’s book. I can’t wait to read your interview with her. Thanks for including a link to my blog and all the great times we had in Provence with Mari.
Deborah