Don’t miss this article if you plan on partaking in summer travels! In it, you’ll find ten suggestions for travel-friendly art projects that you can make almost anywhere. These projects don’t require dip pens, ink, paint, or brushes. Instead, they center around dry, portable mediums with zero spill potential.
As June unfolds, many of us find ourselves amidst the flurry of planning for summer adventures. Amidst the chaos of pre-vacation preparations, remember that vacations are meant for joy and leisure. For many TPK readers, creative projects go hand in hand with relaxing, so in today’s article, we’re going to explore ten art projects for traveling. Each of these projects demands minimal setup and supplies, ensuring that they’ll seamlessly blend into your vacation agenda.
I love this lettering art concept as a way to celebrate your relationship with a loved one. This piece that I made for my husband, Hernán, uses hand-lettered special memories to make an “h” silhouette.
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Mail art is a fantastic project to create away from home. You can send your decorated envelope directly from your travel destination to switch up your usual postmark.
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I love to practice hand-lettering styles by writing out nice, orderly alphabets. These alphabets double as works of art; after all, there are few things that are more pleasing to the eye than an artistic alphabet. You can write out one or more of TPK’s hand-lettering styles, or you can work on developing your own style.
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Another great way to practice your lettering? Do so within an outline of your state or country. Once you finish, you’ll have a stunning and gift-worthy piece. As a bonus, this is one of those projects that you can work on a little bit here and there over the course of your travels.
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Sometimes, non-waterproof pens offer amazing artistic opportunities. I love using a cotton swab and water (or a paintbrush) to smudge whatever I’ve drawn with a G2 pen. The smudging leads to a lovely, vintage effect that looks much more complicated than it actually is.
Here’s more ink wash art inspiration:
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A brush pen is just a marker, really, so it travels very well. You can pack several brush pens in different colors to make projects; or, if you just want to get in some practice, take a solo brush pen along.
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This botanical letter just needs a few modifications before you take the project on the road. First, use a waterproof pen (such as Muji) instead of a dip pen. Second, if you don’t want to travel with watercolors, use colored pencils or markers instead to give the project some color.
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If you want to make brush pen calligraphy with panache, you’ll need a small collection of brush pens (in different shades of the same color). If you want to make mail art using this concept, then feel free to bring along a couple of light-colored envelopes. Otherwise, you can write out brush pen quotes on loose leaf paper or in a sketchbook.
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If brush pens aren’t in the budget (or washable markers are a better fit for your trip), consider “Crayola calligraphy”. This is just calligraphy created with a broad-tipped marker. It’s portable, kid-friendly, and you don’t have to worry about messes.
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If you plan on sending out greeting cards this summer, try making some envelopes during your vacation! Whether you’re traveling or staying at home, lettering your envelopes with a regular pen makes the process mess-free and totally portable.
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I hope that this collection of project ideas will enrich your journeys with joy and inspiration! As you embark on your adventures, consider packing essentials like a sketchbook, a trusty pen, a pencil, and a watercolor set along with a couple of paintbrushes. After a busy year, taking time to doodle can offer a refreshing respite, helping you relax and recharge during your summer adventures.
Happy trails,
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