Travelling is a journey, that can help any creative make new projects. This post is focused on providing reasons and ways you can use your travels to develop your artistic projects.

Why You Need to Create

Creating is very important in keeping you focused and making new things.

New Inspiration

Travelling for vacation, business trips and even events etc. you can always find ways to be inspired. Anything as simple as going to an art museum can help you bring in new ideas. Simply appreciating the different paintings or sculptures in museums or art festivals, will make you understand how to use different skills and materials to make something.

Staying off grid can assist in you being focused without any distractions that can take away your time from creating. This can give new perspective on how you approach creative process. Staying in a cabin or cottage for a few days will allow you become immersed in what’s around you. You can use that to form new ideas and even build on already existing projects.

Under 30 Experiences article How Travel Inspires Creativity details how travelling opens up creativity.

Sensory Experience

Senses are fundamental in how we approach what we do in life. Exposing yourself to new environments will give you a new insight. Going snorkeling to see coral reef will stimulate your visual senses as you will be taking in different colours, textures of coral and marine life. This will aid you in making new ideas for your creative pieces or projects.

A simple touch of different textures of fabric or art media and even a simple breeze can make you think about how you feel. This can relate to how it makes you feel and you can explore how to create something inspired by your senses. It could turn out to be an art piece that is inspired by the cold wind you experienced and you can make the work tell a story of that feeling.

The website Stand in Balance has some explanations of how senses can assist in creativity.

Artists Who Have Made Art Based On Travels

There are some artists who have made use of travelling to inspire their art.

Caspar David Friedrich

The artist Caspar David Friedrich has some artworks that do illustrate inspiration from various landscapes.

The painting was executed during a brief period of hope – both in Friedrich’s personal life and in the political life of the German nation.

The daily art magazine goes over more of his artwork that he has made over the course of his life.

Elisabeth Condon

Elisabeth Condon is a native Los Angeles artist who makes art based in visual inspiration based on her travels. You can see how she reimagines being in nature, what she saw and how she interprets it. Here is an example of her work.

From her use of the Jackson Pollock dripping technique to her use of the of free form painting style; the Arts Net goes over her process and what it inspires her to make represent her artwork in such interesting ways.

Ways to Create while Travelling

There are different ways to be prepared to create when you travel.

Travel Kit

A travel kit is a must have to go with when travelling, that is for any journey. As a creative it is essential to take a camera (vlogging or DSLR), art utensils, a sketch pad etc. Taking one creative travel kit of your choice is a good way to not over exert yourself or in some cases you can buy one.

The travel kit does not have to be bulky; it can be 1-3 things you can carry with you. For instance, a small sketch pad such as a A5 or A6 sketch pad is easier to carry around. You can make small quick illustrations that don’t take up too much time.

As for the media such as pencils, colour pencils, charcoal etc. you can buy at local art stores in places you travel to. There is not need to purchase all the art mediums; only 2 of the preferred choice are vital. The goal is to enjoy the process, not to over burden yourself by purchasing many items.

My Own Experience Creating

In my own experience, I recently got to travel and managed to take a travel kit with me. It consisted mostly of my A6 sketch pad and some pencils. I managed to make some few sketches inspired by my hikes and visits to different art festival events and the beach.

These sketches were mostly focused on clothing and some were quick sketches of nature around me. Overall it was a fun experience and I enjoyed the fact I had my sketch pad with me and that I had the opportunity to sketch things inspired by travels.

Take Photos & Videos

Photographs are vital in being used as a reference. It’s no surprise that taking photographs of your adventures when travelling will happen.

As simple as taking photographs is, it is important to note that memories are necessary for creation. Taking photographs of videos in a art museum or at an event can really inspire you to make something for dance or a fashion project or even an art project.

It may seem such a small thing to look over however, a few videos or photographs can open and enhance your sensory experience. You’ll end up creating something inspired by the photos or videos you take.

Allow yourself to make art in new environments

It is important to allow yourself to be immersed in creating. Sometimes getting caught in a idea of what to do can make it hard to do anything. It’s important to relax and draw, dance or create new things.

Taking the time to fully be in the moment of the places you visit could truly inspire you. A nature reserve, the beach or a hike etc can really allow you to immerse yourself if creating art of your choice. It can really open you up to make a dress inspired by an art theme or a different flowers to make clothes or do art or dance pieces.

The blog Unplugged and Psychology Today goes over how you can immerse yourself in the places you visit.

Conclusion

Travelling is an exciting experience to relax and experience new things. You can take the time to be inspired and create things for whatever you are passionate. Have fun and just be in the moment of the captivating experience.