Make Art Where You Are Guidebook: A Travel Sketchbook and Guide

by Courtney Cerruti

Explore mindfulness and self-expression by sketching your surroundings on long weekends, vacations, or wherever you happen to be.
 
In this guidebook, artist Courtney Cerruti provides her tool kit for capturing the essence of a place and your personal impression of everything you see. From a five-minute blind contour of a cup of coffee to an hour-long sketch of a cityscape, the guidebook is filled with ideas for finding opportunities to draw, make marks, and paint while you are on the move. Each activity includes the estimated time needed to finish, a unique feature that helps you find a moment for art-making in your travel itinerary and your daily life.
 
Whether you are an experienced artist looking for a new perspective or an aspiring creative who needs some guidance, Make Art Where You Are empowers you to enjoy the mindful practice of observing and recording your experiences.

Genres: Art, Nonfiction, Reference

120 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 22, 2022

Reviews

[Carolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Courtney is the art buddy you wish you had. This book is practical, helpful, beautiful and it is the perfect lunch date. If this is your first introduction to Courtney's work, you are in for a real treat. Check her out on creativebug.com as well.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a lovely little volume, full of ideas, encouragement, and inspiration! Courtney Cerruti is delightful.

[Johannah Gage · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book for advanced beginners

The only bad part about this book is how short it is! It contains excellent tips for intermediate or advanced-beginner artists. I'm a mixed media artist who prefers watercolours, so there was a lot in here for me, but she also brings coloured pencils and water-soluble markers into the conversation. This is not a step-by-step painting instruction book. It's a jumping-off point to stimulate your creativity, the way you see your surroundings, and give you lots of ideas about different ways to fill your sketchbook. Definitely the perfect book for me right now, and highly recommended for anyone who is feeling a little stale towards their sketchbooks.

[Brooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book! I first knew the author from Creativebug (which has been one of my saving graces during COVID!). I love the ideas in the book and it has given me courage to be experimental and spontaneous with my art making. I’ve been a little handicapped by my desire for “perfection” and I lack the time that “perfection” would require. One of my favorite pages was a quick watercolor of Lily pushing Edmond on the swings. Or a watercolor of the mountains while at Sugarhouse park while my daughter sat next to me journaling. The greatest part of this process isn’t the picture itself but what the picture reminds me of. I love it!

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute but tiny book! Beginner friendly. Lovely art and photos, some interesting ideas.

Feels like there should be more? Honestly, seems a bit like a well put together zine.

Humble Bundle purchase. ❤️

[Khinna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really love that this is pocket size. I love the different examples of mediums used. Its a great reference book for all different drawing styles.

My only complaint is the paper in the sketchbook can only withstand light watercolor washes. It is great for dry media though.

[Alli Tripp · Rating 4 out of 5]

A hands on how to boil about making art journals per art on the go.. Discussed color mixing, visual and sensory pallets, various layouts, ideas, planning pages, ways to go further out as interest. Lots of visual examples on every page. Making this a beautiful book as well as instructive.

[Courtney Cerruti · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great time to find solace and creativity in all the in between moments. Refresh your perspective and make are where you are with this how to book and accompanying sketchbook.

[Leah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This short collection of ideas is a useful springboard when you're not sure where to start, or how to filter the visual clutter of a scene.

[Alyson Ford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book of quick ideas

I really enjoyed these simple to employ techniques. They are presented in a straightforward fashion with perfect examples to easily follow.

[Lila · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lovely ideas and execution for a beginning travel journaler. There are a number of prompts listed by time towards the end of the book that may be helpful to reference in the future.

[Patrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very succinct refresher on travel & outdoor sketching.

[Brandi Fox]

Lovely and little. A delightful thing to meander through. It would make a sweet gift for any of the artists, travelers, or journalers in your life.

[Karly Acevedo · Rating 2 out of 5]

I Think is a so incompleto book :/ the explanations are something you can find anywhere else, a blog in a more complete book, a friend who have a little experience with watercolors