Packing for a Trip

Tomorrow is my birthday.

To celebrate, I’m spending my birthday at home, with my family in New Orleans.

Like all trips home, this trip is an opportunity to seek inspiration and create art.

When it comes time to packing for a trip, I over pack—or as I like to think of it, I’m over prepared. ;)

I always over pack.

I do it every time.

It’s a bad habit, that’s not going anywhere.

As an artist, I packed some specific items for this trip to be prepared when inspiration strikes.

I began first packing my 3 pack, 8 x 5.5 inch Moleskine blank page notebooks, along with its accompanying office supplies.

I love Moleskine notebooks.

Every rendition—blank, lined pages, it doesn’t matter; I love them all.
I love this particular size because they can fit in a clutch purse. They serve as a handy notebook I can take everywhere.

I use it to jot down notes, draft ideas, formulate, flesh out and codify my thoughts.

I especially love the blank pages for its versatility.

I can sketch out an idea, draw diagrams to map out my thoughts, or I can write freeform.

When writing, I love using four color pens.

I begin my first round of thoughts in black, the second round in blue, with green symbolizing a green light on certain ideas and the red to identify deadlines or focus items.

I packed a few books in the event of receiving some downtime.

I must admit, being a mom of a toddler, I rarely have many downtime moments. And with being home, I know I will want to spend quality time in full presence with my loved ones…

But, I may be very lucky to have a moment to relax in a cozy nook, or have a moment to visit a favorite coffee shop…where I can enjoy reading an inspirational book in my favorite city in the world.

It may not happen.

But if it does, I’m ready.

I packed: The Story of Art by E.H. Gombrich; The Urban Sketching Handbook by Mike Yoshaiaki Daikubara; and The Tomonoshi Way, A Philosophy for a More Playful Life by MR. TOMONOSHi!.

I will likely do a deep dive into these books for later posts. But for now, here are brief reasons why I selected these books for my trip.

The Story of Art, is a book I’ve recently bought to begin my self-study into art and art history.

The Urban Sketching Handbook, is a book I acquired to practice my skills with sketching in my journals outside of the studio.

And, The Tomonoshi Way, A Philosophy for a More Playful Life, is a thought provoking, philosophical book for creatives.

All three books serve three different areas of inspiration and creativity for me: self-education, creative practice, and inspiring thought, respectively.

And finally, I packed two art journals along with some watercolors and ink markers for sketching.

I rarely have time to sketch in my journals when on a trip, but it always seems like when I fail to pack my journals, that’s the time I get inspired to create.

To prevent a repurchase of art supplies in a new destination, I pack these materials so I could always be ready for inspiration to strike.

There is this saying, “Luck is when preparation meets opportunity.”

I believe ideas and inspiration work the same way.

You never know when lightening will strike.

The key is to be ready for it.