Travel Art Studio + Supplies

Do you like to bring art supplies when you travel? I love to create little works of art while on the road (or over the ocean!) to help commemorate my adventures and really cement them in my mind.

Today I want to share my compacted art supplies and how I set them up while out and about in the world, taking inspiration from all that's around me. I'm sharing what I bring, how I setup and record, and what my experience with bringing these art supplies through TSA has been.

Don't let distance from your home studio prevent you from making great art! There are only a few items that you'll be able to find or borrow wherever you land that will help complete an efficient studio space:)

My Art Supplies:

(some of these are affiliate links which help to support this channel at no extra cost to you - thank you!)

Himi Gouache

Tiny Gouache Sketchbook

Princeton Size 1 Round Brush

Da Vinci Size 2 Round Brush

Map Eraser

Washi Tape

Rechargeable Clamp Light

Phone Mount Articulating Arm

And thanks to the folks who submitted their own list of travel art supplies to be included in the video! I often ask my viewers for input thru Instagram Stories, so if you haven’t already, find me there!

7.2.2023

Costa Rica Art + Travel

Oh my goodness, just as I’m taking off for another season in Hawai’i I finally have my splendoriffic Costa Rica travel vlog finished! It’s all I can do to keep up with adventures XD

My partner Alan and I spent 2 weeks traveling Costa Rica, mainly in the tiny town of Bahia Drake, where we saw soooo much wildlife we were literally blown away! When you read that Costa Rica has 5% of the world’s species, it’s an astounding figure considering just how small the country is. But when you are there that number is so tangible and awe-inspiring to be in the presence of wildlife constantly!

Here are the four tiny gouaches I created in my homemade zigzag sketchbook from some of our most favorite spots in Drake Bay. Our trip down the Sierpe River truly was an epic way to experience such a lovely, friendly, eco-minded nation!

The first painting at the top is from an amazing coastline hike we did a few times.. that view is not even an exaggeration - the jungle hike was RIGHT next to the tropical beach - I’ve never seen anything like it!

This second painting is of a bright toucan that visited the tree branch super close to the bungalow we stayed in at Bahia Drake. We saw another one on our fist hike as well, but that one was much more elusive.

This is the waterfall we hiked to on our first day. Alan’s first jungle hike was an absolute blast!

Ans finally, our fave happy hour spot with a treetop view and a pair of macaws flying by. We learned they mate for life so felt quite an affinity for them whenever we would hear or see them ;)

And this last gouache I made for Alan’s birthday of one of the beloved Scarlett Macaw couples we saw fly overhead so many times.

4.23.2023

Exploring Maya Ruins in Chichen Itza

Wow wowowow! Wow! That’s really all I know how to say after visiting my very first ruins outside of ancient Roman ones in Europe. Now I knew that there would be some ancient Maya pyramids in the area before we came down to Yucatán, but I had no idea we would be so close to the biggest ones on the entire peninsula and that that would be so easily accessible. It was awesome to explore these monumental structures created half a millennia ago with peoples’ bare hands.

We had a truly amazing guy who told us all about what the different structures were used for and even deciphered some of the carvings we were seeing. There was of course the largest main pyramid, but I wound up really enjoying some of the smaller structures more because you could really get up close and see a lot more detail of them with far fewer people around.

I just loved the giant snake heads at the base of all the staircases. We learned that on the equinoxes the sun would line up just right casting a shadow that made it look like the snakes were actually slithering down the side of the pyramid, and these days over 30,000 people can show up on those certain days of the year to watch it happen.

Our guide also told us the craziest thing about their ancient ball game called Pok-ta-pok, which was vaguely reminiscent to basketball, that they played in between these matching stone structures below. They would have one major competition every year here at Chichen Itza with two teams of seven people each, and the captain of the winning team would actually wind up getting decapitated, if you can believe that!

The athletes would agree to this ‘highest honor’ due to the fact that it was a sacrificial decapitation and then his family would elevate to the highest priesthood from then and forevermore, so even though he would lose his life his entire lineage would be elevated permanently in their culture. Conversely, the capitan of the losing team got to keep his life, but his entire family dropped in the caste system. All the athletes were volunteers, just willing to do it for the glory and the betterment of their families.

You can actually see a carving depicting the winner on the right with a geyser of blood springing from his shoulders and the loser on the left with his own head intact and clutching the winners head in his fist. Is that the most backward game you ever heard of or what?!

Check out this awesome handmade batik tank top I bought from the market surrounding Chichen Itza of the ‘winner’! Score!

Visiting the ruins of Chichen Itza was just one of many incredible things we saw on our 9 day trip to Merida. I don’t know that I’ve ever had so much magic packed into such a short time, but if you haven’t yet check out my first blog post showing off our magnificent “little palace” hotel, then a second blog post sharing more of the street scenes and the day we got to spend with the wild flamingos, and finally a Vlog I work so hard on sharing the whole trip along with the five paintings I created around the trip.

4.20.2022

Merida Art + Travel Vlog

I’m so thrilled to finally bring you the full travel + art vlog from one of the most magical places I have ever been in my life! The colors, the culture, the history, the hospitality - all were top notch in Merida and the surrounding Yucatan area. I was so inspired I did one gouache painting there of our spectacular hotel, El Palacito Secreto (The Little Secret Palace), and then four more from our various adventures once I got home (like this one of the front of our hotel and another cute street scene!).

This painting was from the day we visited the Maya ruins at Chichen Izta - the largest ones in all of Yucatan! I shared a bunch more photos from this day in on my last blog post. Just seeing stone structures that were half a millennia years old and still preserved so well was truly awe-inspiring. My respect for ancient architects grows each time I’m able to travel to such exquisite places.

The day we boated through the mangroves to see the thousands of wild flamingoes was a day I won’t soon forget! They were so loud and animated and watching them run on water to take off was hilariously surprising! This is my lil gouache rendering, and you can see the actual photos from that day on this blog post.

And lastly, though probably my favorite, the small saffron yellow town of Izamal was every artist’s dream and jsut about the quaintest place I have ever been in my life! You definitely need to see more pics here.

Cheers!

4.17.2022

Merida, Mexico Part 2: The Wow Continues!

Ok I know I’ve been promising more from Merida, and I’ve finally got a few minutes to sit down and share. In my last post, I had shown some of the great architecture and our fabulous hotel, El Palacito Secreto (The Little Secret Palace), and today I want share more of the greater Yucatan area we got to see, including a fabulous golden yellow town - a real artist’s dream!

First up is Izamal, a brightly painted saffron colored town. The reason the entire town (not just the square, but all the residences too!) was originally painted yellow was to celebrate Pope John Paul visiting in 1993 so the townspeople wanted to show him they were The Sun City, the light of God, but afterward apparently they liked it (and the tourism dollars) so much they have continued repainting it yellow ever since! Pictures truly don’t do it justice… it’s magnificent!

This is actually a Franciscan Convent built a few hundred years ago directly on a Maya pyramid, so by walking up these steps we are literally walking on a stone structure built by hand hundreds of years ago.

Say Cheeeese! (And also expect to see a painting of this magical place coming out soon!)

Many of the Yucatan towns had these festive colorful signs in their squares, so cute!

And Venkman even got to meet the Pope! What a day!

Have you ever heard of a cenote? I hadn’t! They are these underground crystal clear rivers and waterways accessed by open pits created by sinkholes. There are thousands of them around Yucatan, and when you’re swimming in one you often can’t see the bottom!

Sometimes the cenotes would be 60 feet down in the earth! We swam in this one and it was a bit chilly!

This cenote is from our day visiting the flamingoes and was much warmer since it was at surface level.

The view from inside the cenote in the image above. There were all kinds of vines and stalactites hanging down - such a vibe!

The answer is yes, people do scuba dive in them, but no, I did not. Caving of any kind seems way more terrifying than exciting to this Bird. What can I say? I feel a lil safer in the open air ;)

We also went on a boat trip in an immense biological reserve where there were five to ten thousand flamingoes hanging out, eating shrimp, and generally soaking up the sun. We were so lucky to be in Merida during the time of year they migrate because I have never seen one in the wild, much less gotten to see them actually take off and fly!

I actually got video of them taking off which I will be sharing in my upcoming art+ travel vlog. It’s really hilarious the way they kinda run on the water to takeoff like an airplane!

I feel so lucky to be able to make all these memories with my best friend ever, my mom:):)

And if you’re wondering about the local fare, well it has surely not disappointed. We gushed and exclaimed over meal after meal of the best authentic Mexican and Maya dishes, and some of the freshest seafood around!

We did actually go to Chichen Itza, the largest Maya ruins in Yucatan, as well as some great Maya museums, but since this post got a little long I’m going to tease it out to one more blog post. Also, keep your eyes out for my next YouTube vid to see some of these images get transformed into gouache paintings!

4.14.2022

The Colorful World of Merida, Mexico!!

Wow, this city is marvelous beyond our wildest dreams! Merida, Mexico is vibrant, colorful, full of very old history as well as culturally vibrant today! We think we’ve found a real paradise south of the border!

But let me back up a minute, because you’re probably wondering who, what, and where I am talking about since I was too pressed for time last week to write a post explaining my exciting upcoming trip!

My most favorite mama, who I loooove traveling with, picked out this amazing destination in Yucatan about an hour from the coast where the history of the Maya, the Aztec, and the Spanish is alive and well in a bustling yet still quaint small city named Merida. All the locals we’ve spoken with (as well as what we have certainly experienced in our first three days) have told us proudly that this is the safest city in all of Mexico, which has really made our time here effortlessly fun, any time day or evening.

We’re staying at this magical spot only about four blocks from the famous Calle de Montejo and about 5 blocks from the old city center where most of the incredible architecture is. We arrived Saturday evening and in just these few days we’ve really fallen in love with everything about this place!

Here are some shots from inside the walls of the very aptly name ‘El Palicito Secreto’ (‘The Little Secret Palace’) that we can hardly believe is our home for the whole week! We’re enjoying going out in the day as much as we’re enjoying staying in in the evening after dinner!

We’re even doing a few paintings of the gorgeous architecture inside the ‘palace’. There’s actually only 11 suites here and the staff are incredibly friendly, speak great english, and take care of any drivers or tours we need. What heaven!

I’ll definitely share more from Merida next week! Thursday we are going to a bio reserve to see thousands of flamingos and the next day we’re going to ancient Mayan ruins - my first time visiting ancient ruins outside of Europe - I can’t wait!!

3.16.2022

It's a Van Life Christmas!

I’ve been down van life traveling and visiting my folks down in Florida for almost two weeks and it feels so good to be back in the tropics again!!

The sun is shining, the birds are chirping, and the absolute abundance of wildlife is blowing my mind all over again.

This is an extra special visit, not only for obvious holiday reasons, but it’s the first time bringing my sweetie Alan down to meet the family. Everyone got along so wonderfully and we had a blast road tripping back up north, camping for two nights in Withlacoochee State Park where we hiked and biked and then kayaked…

We had hoped to see some manatees but it had been too warm for them to come into the springs. I did get to swim with them a few years ago though! See the manatee art I made after that special experience here.

before spending New Year’s night at a Hipcamp with alpacas, chickens, sheep, goats, and ducks. So cool! There was a tiny lil wobbly alpaca baby that was just born a few hours before we arrived who still had his umbilical cord hanging, and I even got to cuddle the softest baby lamb.

Waking up the next day I joyfully experienced my first time in an outdoor shower with an alpaca view! What a way to welcome 2022!

I just got back home and I’m super psyched to start working on my art biz to catch up on a few things that have fallen by the wayside during this last crazy busy semester. I’m teaching two less classes this semester so I’ll be able to get back on my ‘A’ game art-making wise.

So cheers to you and all the best wishes for this next year coming up! I’ve got soooo much planned for you here and on my YouTube channel - yay!

1.4.2022

Shenandoah Campout Adventure

Last week I treated myself to six glorious nights camping out in Vaughn the Adventure Van including four night in Shenandoah National Park. My awesome adventure buddy Baila joined me for three days and nights of hiking, exploring, eating delicious food, and living it up with the most tame wildlife ever!

While Virginia is well known for its bears, we didn’t see any on this trip (although I have here before!). We did see lots of deer up close, a snake, some rabbits, and birds galore!!

Our favorite hike, called Bearfence Trail, actually turned out to be the most rock-scrambliest hike I’ve done since Hawai’i. It felt so wonderful to stretch to workout all those good climbing muscles again!

Venkman and Amaris also had a lot to catch up on, and really appreciated being included on a few adventures!

Those 360 views on the top of our hikes were truly spectacular! We also loved relaxing to the sun setting over the entire Shenandoah Valley, just sitting in the van like a cozy sofa.

And the wouldn’t you know it, but the two friends I met up with in Shenandoah were actually friends I made in Hawai’i! Baila was my neighbor and hiking buddy in Palolo, and my other friend Scott (who came out for one afternoon with his girl) was someone I actually got a job for at my beloved Coffee Talk. What a small world - I head over to Virginia to hang out with friends from da’ aina - ha!

It did rain little bit, bet we were well prepared. And it did get pretty cold on out last night, but nothing our giggles couldn’t keep us warm in. All in all, it was a pretty epic way to spend a week!

5.12.2021

Golden Glow Inspo

That feeling when you blend in fully with your environment…

Even though it’s been a little bit gray here in TN, I’m still making sure to spend some time outside every day and on one of my recent walks I came upon an entire forest of these golden glowing leaves. The way they were lightly fluttering in the wind I was half expecting a few silent dueling martial artists from ‘Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon’ to start sailing above me whipping their cloaks about….

So happy that everywhere I go my fern friends find me:)

2.26.2020

Big Island Hawai'i Adventures!

Wow I am still floored by all the differing ecosystems coexisting so closely on a tropical island! It’s so weird to drive from arid desert, to grassy plains, to lava fields, to rocky coast back to thick jungle all in a matter of hours, especially when all you’re expecting is palm trees and lush mountains! If you didn’t catch the island hopping vlog already, tune in for a real treat too:)

Not to mention the surreal nature of playing on both black and green sand beaches!

And, did I mention this particular black sand beach was a nude one...? So you know, when in Rome…

I’ll have to admit, the opportunity for some plein air painting in the buff was too good to pass up. What a fantastic day!

One of the wildest things we did wasn’t splashing in our birthday suits, believe it or not, it was actually exploring some lava tubes! Lava tubes are basically places where the the igneous rock has broken away forming long underground caves. The temp became 10 degrees cooler the second you enter, and quite damp regardless of how dry that area of the island is. I didn’t go far at all because I only had sandals, but apparently they go back for miles and miles until you are literally crawling! Somehow spelunking does not feel like my forte though....

Make sure you check out my Maui blog too for some of the most phenomenal waterfalls ever!

11.21.2019