Travel Log Illustration – Gutapé

Travel Log Illustration with Mixed Techniques.
I picked the location of Gutapé – a town in Antioquía, Colombia with vibrant colors and a lot of decorations in the streets.

– Sakura Journal 13x21cm 140 gr
– Faber Castell Artist Pens Grey
– Mechanical pencils 0,35 - 0,7 Graphite blue and red
– Graphite pen
– Watercolour pencils
– Scalpel
– Eraser
– Glue stick
– Sharpener
– Extra Lead

Here is my layout for the sketch. I began by experimenting with different compositions using my red mechanical pencil, which you can see in the background, and then finalized the layout with my blue mechanical pencil before adding color and ink. I chose “La Piedra” – the massive rock that is the main attraction of the town – as the anchor for the layout. Since it’s so large in real life, I wanted it to occupy a significant portion of the page.

I also wanted to incorporate some of the vibrant elements typical of the town, such as the iconic Guatapé sign, the tuktuks, and the umbrellas that form a ceiling in one of the main streets. Additionally, I included characteristic motifs and signs that decorate the houses, like the tooth character outside a dentist’s office and the lambs on a farmer’s house. Finally, I drew a sandal I bought from a charming leather shop to add a more personal touch to the sketch, reflecting my own experience during the trip.

Here is the finished illustration. I added color using watercolors, markers, and colored pencils, and used ink for the outlines and text.