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How to enrich a travel sketchbook

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A travel sketchbook has the charm of a personal, intimate and playful souvenir. More than a simple photo album, it allows you to record your impressions with creativity.

Here are three tips to enrich your travel sketchbook.

1. Layout

Our drawings are often based on a standard format, like a postcard.

When facing a vast landscape, a simple reframing can offer a panoramic vision and a greater sense of scale.

Whether vertical or horizontal, a small piece of repositionable tape can create the impression of immensity even though the notebook remains the same.

Depending on what you want to highlight, remember to choose the right format. The Canson® Montval® Art Book is available in A5 size, which can be used in landscape or portrait, as well as in a 20 x 20 cm square format.

2. Colour or black and white, close-up or wide shot

Vary your mediums and shades.

Why?

A pencil or felt-tip drawing will be enhanced when placed next to a watercolour, and the reverse is also true.

Alternate between wide views and details. If you do not have time to draw an entire building, create a general sketch and add a small detail.

3. Collages

Adding small collected items to your sketchbook brings diversity.
You can also carry sheets of different sizes and colours or keep bits of newspaper.

Why?

If a drawing feels unsuccessful, do not tear the page out. Simply paste another drawing over it. The difference in texture and the collage will bring your sketchbook to life.

Explore more tutorials on this technique

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The travel album
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