Specialization in Creative Travel Journals

Influences | Alicia Aradilla

Next, I am going to show you some of the artists and travelers who have influenced me the most when making my watercolor notebooks. You will see that they are very different, but that they have many things in common, such as the spontaneity of the technique or their passion for drawing in situ. I hope you like them too and they inspire you.

Influences | Infinitos Lugares

In this lesson I will tell you about my favorite artists and my inspirations to create. Above all, I want to share some references that give a vision of the act of saving and containing stories and experiences in a notebook.

Module 2

Step into the intimate world of travel journals with Aniko Villalba, where blank pages become a space for your thoughts, memories, and discoveries. Through simple yet powerful exercises in writing, observation, and scrapbooking, you'll learn to capture the essence of your journeys in a personal and creative way.

13 lessons (2h 34m)

Let's define "travel"

In this lesson we will give a broader meaning to the verb "travel" and we will see that it is not necessary to go to the other side of the world (or be an artist) to complete a travel notebook.

The magic of journaling: the notebook as a treasure chest

Now let's reflect. We will see why it is valuable that you take the time to document your trips and how the philosophy of slow travel can help you.

The materials

The notebook will be our most faithful companion on our trips. In this lesson I will explain how to choose a travel notebook adapted to your needs, what materials you can use to fill it out and where you can find them.

Tips for not abandoning your notebook

I know that staying consistent while traveling can be difficult. Therefore, in this lesson I will give you some recommendations so that you do not abandon your notebook in the middle of the trip.

Previous exercises: ideas to fill your notebook before leaving home 1

In this lesson I will give you some ideas so that you can start filling your notebook before you even leave your house. Remember, each trip and each person are different; I will propose exercises, but fill your notebook with your own style.

Previous exercises: ideas to fill your notebook before leaving home 2

We continue to see ideas to carry out before the trip. We start by creating lists of what we would like to do and see on the future trip.

In transit: ideas to record your days and your emotions 1

Now I will propose writing, observation, introspection and collecting exercises so that you fill your notebook while you travel.

In transit: ideas to record your days and your emotions 2

We continue to see other exercises and formats to complete your notebook during the trip.

In transit: ideas for documenting movement, the here and now, and the unexpected 1

Continue our way. In this lesson I will continue to give you creative ideas and exercises to fill your notebook while traveling. It's amazing to see how our notebook is taking shape!

In transit: ideas for documenting movement, the here and now, and the unexpected 2

Finally, I am going to talk to you about some last exercises and formats that you can use in your notebook while you know amazing places.

The return: ideas to finish your post-trip notebook 1

You've come home and you take the notebook out of the backpack... And now what? In this lesson I am going to give you ideas so that you can continue completing your notebook, even when you are back at home.

The return: ideas to finish your post-trip notebook 2

We continue to see some ideas to carry out in your notebook and that this becomes a souvenir of the trip from which you have just returned.

12m

What to do with notebooks

Finally, we are going to see what you can do with your travel notebook once you have finished completing it. There are several options, I explain them to you in this lesson.

Module 3

Let yourself be guided by Powerpaola on an adventure that transforms the everyday into art. You will learn to combine text and illustration to capture unique moments from your surroundings, from a corner of your neighborhood to the thoughts that cross your mind. An intimate journey where observing is creating, and each page comes to life.

9 lessons (1h 31m)

What Is a Travel Journal?

In this lesson I will tell you what a travel diary is and the possibilities they have, both the trip, the drawing and your own way of narrating.

It is time for you to decide what notebooks and materials you will use for your own trip. I will do the same!

Materials

Text and Image Ratio

I will show you some composition possibilities on your notebook page. Observe how the text and the image become symbiotic and form something new.

In this lesson you will lose your fear of drawing and writing. I will show you that it is only about practice and observation.

Drawing and Writing

Spaces, Buildings and Houses

Here I will show you how to draw architectures and spaces from observation, either in nature in the city or in a photograph.

Once the architecture is covered, I will teach you how to draw plants, leaves, and trees. From far and near. You can exercise your observation.

Plants and Flowers

Time to draw people. In this lesson, I will give you some tips to keep in mind.

People

Now, you are going to go over everything you drew page by page. I will retouch, add or erase what I consider necessary in the drawing or in the text.

Back to Travelling

12m

Reflecting and Sharing the Work

In this lesson I am going to tell you how some social networks helped me to show my work, to meet other artists that I admire and to share with people who have the same interests as me.

Module 4

With Iván Cruz as your travel companion, you will learn to turn your journeys into an illustrated collection of unforgettable moments. You’ll discover how to capture characters, landscapes, and scenes using accessible mixed techniques, playing with your linework and personal perspective. Everything you need fits in your backpack… or in your pocket.

13 lessons (1h 59m)

What is a travel log?

I will start by explaining the origin of the word blog and how it was used. From the marina where the captain was the only one authorized to touch and manipulate that book of memories, to the journey in art, it is important to recognize its history to know where the travel sketch comes from and where it goes.

Materials

In this lesson I will show you the materials that I recommend as travel companions. Ideally, they should be so portable that they fit in your pocket.

Basic exercises and mixed techniques 1

Almost everything is ready to start working on the blog, but first, I will show you some exercises to practice and I will give you some tips that will be useful when creating.

Basic exercises and mixed techniques 2

Join me to continue exploring some examples that I have done in my blogs. I will show you works done with rapidographs and watercolors, as well as a little known technique in drawing, done with nail polish!

How to approach the drawing?

We have all been afraid of the blank page, not knowing how to deal with it is a problem even for artists with more experience. In this lesson I will give you some tips to approach illustration from different starting points.

Plan the page

In the planning is the success of the final result, so, in this lesson, you will start by raising the double page. As you gain confidence in diagramming, I'll walk you through some tips to improve your structure.

Sketch, layout and structure

In this lesson you will start by laying out the page, this is an essential step to determine the points of interest and tension within the composition.

After defining the layout, I'll show you how I work the details in colored pencil or graphite. I will teach you to define the ideal color palette to maintain harmony in your work.

Conceptualization

Color palette, illustration, collage and techniques 1

We will begin to fix the graphic resources and I will teach you to apply mixed techniques to the original giving details, brightness and others.

14m

Color palette, illustration, collage and techniques 2

Here I will teach you how to develop your color palette with the chosen materials and I will give you my best tips to color your illustrations.

14m

Color palette, illustration, collage and techniques 3

I will finish by showing you the last steps in my illustrations, the techniques I use to deepen the details and how I make my blogs an exercise in self-knowledge as an artist.

In this lesson I will take several photos of the blog to show you how to make your own digital portfolio. I will give you some tips to use the lighting in your favor and to capture the best angle of your illustrations.

Final photograph

Publishing and Social Media

Finally, your project is finished and it's time to share it. In this lesson I want to share what has worked for me to publicize my work.

Module 5

Alicia Aradilla encourages you to transform your travel memories into vibrant illustrations. With her artistic and personal approach, you’ll discover how to use watercolor to bring color to your landscapes, emotions, and experiences, creating a first notebook page that captures the essence of your adventure from the very first stroke.

14 lessons (2h 14m)

About travel notebooks

In this lesson I want to tell you about my first experience with travel notebooks and everything I have learned along this path. I will also give you a series of very useful tips that will be useful not only to improve your technique as an urban draftsman, but also to enjoy the moment and give a new dimension to your travels.

Materials

What cannot be missing in my travel backpack when painting? Now I want to explain to you what are my basic tools for drawing in situ . In addition, I will show you several alternative materials so that you can choose the ones that best suit your way of illustrating and traveling.

Basic watercolor techniques

In this lesson I want to teach you the basic watercolor techniques and how we will apply them when making our drawing in the travel notebook. You will see later that with this base we will be able to create great things. Don't be afraid to stain the blank, I promise you this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

After seeing the basic techniques, it is time to let your imagination fly, and nothing better to start creating than knowing how to prepare beautiful color mixtures to give life to our pages. I always say that the line puts an object in space and the color in time. Or are some mixtures of blues and oranges not the best representation of a perfect sunset?

The color

What makes a drawing have a three-dimensional effect and appear to come out of paper? In this lesson we will see some very simple tricks that will make our illustration gain depth and, also, show what we see in an attractive and orderly way.

Framing and depth

Choose the reference image

Have you already thought about the story you want to tell on the first pages of your notebook? In this lesson I will help you choose the images that will be part of your final project. Go preparing the photo album because your illustrated journey begins here.

Page composition

Once the reference images have been chosen, we are going to see how we can organize them in our notebook so that we are able to tell a story. By now you will have realized that in a travel notebook the drawing technique is as important as knowing how to transmit a concept through it. Playing with the space we have on our sheet will help us achieve these goals.

Pencil drawing

In this lesson we are going to make the pencil sketch of our final project. Those first lines are very important, so don't forget to take your time and enjoy this part of the process as well. It is time to make mistakes as many times as necessary, with our pencil and eraser we will shape the foundations of our illustration.

First spots

Once the sketch is done, we are going to start applying the color. We dreamed of this moment since we began to imagine the notebook page in our mind, however, now we are not clear about where to start taking that first brushstroke. Do not worry, in this lesson I will guide you step by step so that you can safely go through each of those strokes.

Once we have the main spots of color, it is time to shape them through the details. In this lesson, in addition to watercolor, I will teach you how to use pen and ink to add depth and volume to your drawing. Let the magic begin!

Entering details

20m

Final touches

We are already at the final stretch. After the storm comes the calm and after the dark details come the highlights. With the white paint marker and gouache we are going to give this landscape a twist. I'm going to show you my best tricks so that your drawings make a difference.

Ideas to complete your page

What do we do now with those blank holes that have been left on our page? We are going to use them to continue telling stories, this time through pencil notes, handwritten texts and some other resources that I do not want to reveal to you until you see this lesson. Travel inspiration arriving in three, two, one ...

14m

Your personal style

If there is something that stands out about a travel notebook, it is that it is a unique and personal piece. In this lesson I give you some ideas on how you can give it that different touch and gradually find your own style.

The jump to social networks

Did you think this trip was over? We still have one more step to finish this adventure: the jump from paper to screen. In this lesson, I show you how to get the most out of the illustrations in your notebook through photography. Everything ready for the final photo?

In this lesson you will learn about travel logs, their use and their possibilities, and you will see some examples that will serve to inspire you and give you ideas.

Module 6

With the artistic sensitivity of Laura Bernal, you’ll discover how to turn paper, textures, and memories into a journal full of color and visual poetry. From French binding to the freest form of collage, you’ll explore ways to bring to life a notebook that tells your story and the paths you walk.

15 lessons (2h 59m)

Travel logs

Tools and materials

Next, I'll show you the tools and materials you'll need for this course. Also, I will give you ideas on how to replace them with everyday objects.

Mood board and planning

Now I will show you my process to create a mood board and plan the travel log. It is important to let yourself be carried away by creativity!

Introduction to French bookbinding

In this lesson I will talk about French binding. I will briefly tell you its history and you will see some examples of the creative possibilities it offers.

Bookbinding Lessons: Paper Preparation

The first step in the binding process is to prepare the paper: folding it and punching it for stitching. Here I will show you how to do it.

Bookbinding Lessons: Sewing 1

Now you will learn how to do the French seam. I will show you how to prepare the thread, arrange the booklets and sew the notebook. This part is very exciting! You will also see how to glue the spine to join all the booklets together and ensure the resistance of the structure.

16m

Bookbinding Lessons: Sewing 2

The next step is to glue the endpapers of the notebook, the sheets that connect the covers and the body of the notebook. It is usual to use only one guard, but here we will be a little creative and put two.

Bookbinding Lessons: The Covers 1

It's time to make the covers. I'll show you how to prepare the cartons and cover them. After applying the glue it is important to press the covers well and prevent the cardboard from deforming. I'll give you some tips!

18m

Bookbinding Lessons: The Covers 2

Next, I'll show you how to measure the spine of the notebook and how to attach it to the covers. Always remember to apply pressure after applying the glue to ensure a good pressing.

18m

Bookbinding Lessons: The Covers 3

With all the parts ready, we can now join the body of the notebook and the covers. This step may seem a bit complicated, but I will give you tips to do it correctly and easily.

Books to use for cutouts

In this lesson I will show you the Lugares Infinitos collage book archive. I will talk about obsolete books and I will tell you what to take into account to make your own collection.

12m

Working on your travel logbook 1

How to choose images from the collage file to update your logbook? I'll explain how to select the images to take advantage of the material in the best way. In addition, I will explain what to take into account to practice and lose the fear of working on your notebook.

18m

Working on your travel logbook 2

We will update our travel logbook using images and words, as well as collages. I'll show you how I apply the materials on the cover and endpages of my notebook. I hope it inspires you!

13m

Dies and windows

I will show you how you can make a die or a window that will give depth to your blog. I will also show you other examples to give you ideas.

Pockets for storing travel souvenirs

To keep memories of your trip you can add pockets to your log. I will show you some types of pockets and their possibilities.