Inside My Moleskine Travel Journals
Updated September 10, 2019
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.
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.
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, 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
Cuba Sketches
Copic marker and watercolor sketches on marker paper and watercolor paper.
Paris Sketches
Blue Ink sketches in a classic-sized Moleskine journal.
Sicily Sketches
Watercolor and marker paper sketches, and Moleskine sketches from Sicily.
Morocco Sketches
Watercolor and marker paper sketches, and Moleskine sketches from Marrakech.
Barcelona Sketches
Ink and watercolor sketches in a large-sized Moleskine journal.
Peru Sketches
Drawings and illustrations from Peru on marker paper and watercolor paper.
Nicaragua Sketches
Ink and watercolor sketches in a classic-sized Moleskine journal.
Guana Cay Sketches
Ink and watercolor sketches in a large-sized Moleskine journal.
Dominican Republic Sketches
Watercolor sketches in a horizontal classic-sized Moleskine watercolor notebook.
Abaco Islands Sketches
Watercolor sketches of the Abacos.
Panama Sketches
Pen and watercolor sketches in a classic-sized Moleskine journal.
Ecuadorian Amazon Sketches
Ink and watercolor sketches in a classic-sized Moleskine journal.
Kauai Moleskine Sketches
Sepia ink sketches in a large-sized Moleskine notebook.
Hawaii Sketches
Sketches and illustrations from the Hawaiian Islands.
Mount Hood Sketches
Rough sketches, notes and pressed flowers from Mt. Hood
St. Lucia Sketches
Pen and watercolor sketches in a classic-sized Moleskine journal.
Belize Sketches
Drawings and watercolor from a classic-sized Moleskine journal.
San Isidro Sketches
Drawings and watercolor from a classic-sized Moleskine journal.
Hot Sauces of the World
My illustrated guide to the hot sauce brands and types of the world.
Yuccas of the World
My illustrated guide to every Yucca species in the world.
Deep South Journal
Sketches from my travels in Louisiana.
Polynesia Sketches
Drawings and watercolor sketches from Tahiti and Tikehau.
Cactuses of the United States
My illustrations of every cactus species found in the United States and its territories.