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Inside My Moleskine Travel Journals

The drawings, notes and records I make during travel—always in Moleskine Journals

Since the late '90s, I've filled dozens of Moleskine notebooks with field notes, hand-drawn maps, illustrations, travel plans, species lists, and story ideas. They're my alternative to guidebooks and itineraries—small, rugged, and built for travel. I record plants, birds, overheard conversations, and fleeting ideas, all while sketching the places and people I encounter.

Sketching in the field sharpens my focus. I notice shapes, colors, and gestures I'd otherwise miss. Many of my finished travel illustrations begin as quick marks in these journals, made on ferry decks, forest trails, and roadside cafés. The process of putting ink to paper anchors my experiences more deeply than any photo or blog post ever could.

If you're interested in what materials I use to create my sketchbooks, I have an entry on building your own lightweight travel sketchbook toolbox.

What Kind of Pens Do I Use in My Sketch Journal?

I love the following liner pens, all of which I recommend:

  • Sakura Pigma Micron's, my trusty everyday liner pen.
  • Staedler Pigment Liner, which has great black ink and a nice pen feel.
  • Copic Multiliner, which have really fine, sharp tips.
Best Pens for Moleskine paper

Sakura Pigma Micron Pen

What Size Moleskine Journal Do I Use?

I use all sizes. Featured in the list above, I use large size Moleskine Sketch, classic size Moleskine Sketch as well as Large and classic watercolor notebooks.

Photo of Moleskine classic

Moleskine Classic Size Sketch Notebook

How Do I Carry my Watercolors Around the World?

I use this watercolor palette, which I write about in this post. The regular ivory paper in Moleskine journals is not ideal for watercolor, unless you paint in the 'dry' style, never letting the paper get too wet.

Watercolor Palette

Watercolor Palette, which I use with my Moleskine Travel Journal

Why Are My Sketches So Bad?

There is a lot of beautiful Moleskine art out there on the web. Check out Urban Sketchers or even MyMoleskine for amazing Moleskine art. These are my actual notes, which I use while I am traveling. These are quick sketches, drawings and notes, many of which I use to come up with a photograph or to quickly identify an animal.

Explore more Moleskine Sketches and Illustrations


Copic marker and watercolor sketches on marker paper and watercolor paper.

Blue Ink sketches in a classic-sized Moleskine journal.

Watercolor and marker paper sketches, and Moleskine sketches from Sicily.

Watercolor and marker paper sketches, and Moleskine sketches from Marrakech.

Ink and watercolor sketches in a large-sized Moleskine journal.

Drawings and illustrations from Peru on marker paper and watercolor paper.

Ink and watercolor sketches in a classic-sized Moleskine journal.

Ink and watercolor sketches in a large-sized Moleskine journal.

Watercolor sketches in a horizontal classic-sized Moleskine watercolor notebook.

Watercolor sketches of the Abacos.

Pen and watercolor sketches in a classic-sized Moleskine journal.

Ink and watercolor sketches in a classic-sized Moleskine journal.

Sepia ink sketches in a large-sized Moleskine notebook.

Sketches and illustrations from the Hawaiian Islands.

Rough sketches, notes and pressed flowers from Mt. Hood

Pen and watercolor sketches in a classic-sized Moleskine journal.

Drawings and watercolor from a classic-sized Moleskine journal.

Drawings and watercolor from a classic-sized Moleskine journal.

My illustrated guide to the hot sauce brands and types of the world.

My illustrated guide to every Yucca species in the world.

Sketches from my travels in Louisiana.

Drawings and watercolor sketches from Tahiti and Tikehau.

My illustrations of every cactus species found in the United States and its territories.