After a decade of teaching high school art classes, I took a sabbatical year in 2006 to travel around the world for six months. Just using pencil, watercolors, and ink pens I made a series of 12 sketchbooks. They ended up being in various styles, some with more words, some with less, a few embellished with glued in ephemera. There are no strict rules for making a journal, after all. You own it!

I find delight in this slowed-down, attentive travel as well as the joy of creating a record of my experiences. During the first Covid summer I made a daily journal of the view of a mountain from my home, which ended up documenting the clouds and smokey skies of fire season. All around us are chances to see, to journal, to notice, and deeply experience our environments.

This is an invitation to join me to explore the beautiful Emandal farm. My tools are basic and easy to transport:

• Canson Mixed Media 8x10 sketchbook is my favorite

• ordinary mechanical pencils

• good eraser

• set of 12 good colored pencils (Prismacolor) and a sharpener

• Sakura Koi watercolor field set of 24 (you don’t need 30 or 100 colors!!)

• Waterproof ink pens such as Micron or fine point Sharpie

• water bottle

• small magnifying glass is fun to see things up close

• ruler

• AND a shoulder bag to carry your kit

  I believe everyone can draw, and everyone can learn the tricks of watercolor and ink line. My only caution is that journaling can be addictive. I just counted over 50 on my shelf!