Essential Supplies for Travel Journaling
A travel journal offers a unique way to preserve memories of a place, a landscape, or a meaningful moment. A few pencil lines, a touch of colour, or a quick sketch are often enough to capture an atmosphere that photographs do not always convey in the same way.
Whether you are on holiday, relaxing in a park, or sitting at a café terrace, a lightweight and thoughtfully selected kit makes it easy to sketch and paint whenever inspiration strikes.
1- Watercolour and Gouache Sets
Watercolour and gouache sets are ideal for creating on the go. Compact and easy to carry, they offer a beautiful range of colours in a format perfectly suited to outings and travel.
Watercolour is ideal for exploring transparency and light, while gouache allows you to add opaque colours and stronger highlights.
Tip: Choose a compact palette that can remain ready to use. You will always be prepared to paint whenever a subject catches your eye.
Recommended Materials: Watercolour sets, Gouache sets
2- Watercolour Pads and Travel Journals
The journal is at the heart of travel journaling. Papers designed for watercolour handle moisture well while allowing you to combine drawing, writing, and colour on the same page.
Journals are available in a variety of formats, from compact sizes that slip easily into a bag to panoramic formats that are perfect for landscapes.
Tip: Bring one journal for quick sketches and observations made on location, and another for more developed compositions. This approach encourages experimentation and creative freedom.
Recommended Materials: Watercolour pads, Travel journals, Mixed media pad
3- Graphite Pencils and Fineliners
Graphite pencils and fineliners make it easy to quickly capture a scene, build a composition, or add details after applying colour.
They are especially popular for urban sketching and observational drawing.
Tip: Start by identifying the main shapes and larger forms before focusing on details. This helps strengthen composition and improves the clarity of your sketches.
Recommended Materials: Graphite pencils, Fineliners
4- Coloured Pencils and Pastels
Coloured pencils and pastels make it easy to add accents of colour, contrast, and texture to a travel journal. They can be used on their own or alongside watercolour and drawing techniques.
Their versatility makes them excellent tools for exploring a variety of creative approaches.
Tip: Test your pencils or pastels directly in your journal before you leave. You will create a practical colour reference that makes it easier to identify the right shades while sketching outdoors.
Recommended Materials: Coloured pencils, Soft pastels, Oil pastels
5- Brushes and Compact Storage
By selecting a few brushes in different sizes, you can create both fine details and broader washes while keeping your kit light and portable. Water brushes are also popular for watercolour because they feature a built-in water reservoir, making them especially convenient for painting on location.
A storage case or brush roll helps keep supplies organized and ready to use.
Tip: A round brush for details and washes, paired with a larger brush for broader applications, provides an excellent foundation for a lightweight and versatile kit.
Recommended Materials: Brush sets, Water brush, Storage cases and brush rolls
6- Portable Watercolour Palettes
Compact palettes make colour mixing easier while taking up very little space in a bag. Many models include built-in compartments and practical mixing surfaces.
They are an ideal complement to watercolour sets for artists who prefer to customize their colour selection.
Tip: Leave a few compartments empty for mixing colours and preserving favourite mixtures between painting sessions.
Recommended Materials: Compact watercolour palettes
7- Small Essentials for Travel Journaling
A few simple accessories can make outdoor sketching and painting much more enjoyable. A drawing board provides a stable surface when working outside, while clips help keep journal pages open despite wind or movement.
A spray bottle can reactivate colours and help maintain moisture in your palette.
Tip: Prepare a travel-journaling kit with your essential accessories. You will save time and always be ready to create on the spot.
Recommended Materials: Drawing boards, Foldable water cup, Clips
Illustrated Memories on Every Page
Travel journaling is an invitation to slow down, observe, and create. Whether you are capturing a landscape, a lively street, or a shared moment, each page becomes a unique memory shaped by your own perspective.
With a few compact and versatile tools, it is easy to sketch and paint anywhere your summer adventures take you.
To continue your creative inspiration, explore our essential supplies for outdoor acrylic and oil painting, our tips for getting started with watercolour, and our ideas for creating outdoors all summer long.