Finding Creative Joy: What New Zealand Taught Me About Art and Time Management
Have you ever started a new project only to find you may have bitten off more than you could chew?
When Life Takes Over: A Creative's Challenge
Sometimes the best discoveries happen when we sail through the storm. This quick ink sketch taught me that beauty can emerge from embracing the unknown.
This year, I went on holiday around New Zealand with Princess Cruises, AND, I started a new teaching job that I was really excited about, but was unaware would consume so much of my time and energy. So much so, that despite my normally efficient time management, my creative life had to go temporarily on hold while I found my footing. Being so flat out, I managed only a trickle of artwork and no monthly newsletter at all, for which I apologise. I had launched into the year thinking I could do it all, but sometimes there simply isn’t a “best way “ to divide your time, and I failed. So, this month is the start of being kinder to myself, focusing only on what is truly important to me, and I’m sharing some of the ways I was able to stay creative when time management seemed like an impossible task.
Travel Art Essentials: Lessons from Bali
Travelling presents its own unique issues when creating artwork. “What will I need?” is always my biggest issue. It took weeks to settle on the colour palette I would take to be able to capture some of the beauty of New Zealand, and even longer to settle on which format my art would take.
Artist travel kit in Kitten D'Amour bag with watercolor supplies
Everything had to be small enough and light enough that it would be easily portable, and, after my Bali experience, I already knew that I wanted to try to sketch on the go, so it all had to fit into my shoulder bag. ( I took a fabulous bag by Kitten D’ Amour courtesy of a birthday present from my sister ).
I also knew that I would probably want to capture landscapes AND to keep a journal. I made the mistake in Bali of choosing a sketchbook that I loved but was the wrong size for my carry bag. So, that in mind, I chose a 300gsm landscape-shaped 60-page journal that was the same size as the bottom of my handbag. Tick! First decision sorted.
My colour palette also fits flat at the bottom of my bag. I tucked my brushes into a repurposed plastic sleeve on a cardboard base (which doubled as a ruler) and wrapped their heads in paper towel to protect them, and I took a small pencil case for, you guessed it… pens!
"Finding Joy in Quick Sketches"
Bondi Beach ink and wash sketch travel journal
I learned from Bali that it took too much time to sketch in pencil and paint precisely when you are on holiday. This time I took 3 micron pens (0.1, 0.3 & 0.5). Every day I took photos of the things that spoke to me creatively, and at the end of every day, my rule was that I had to firstly capture my thoughts about the day and secondly, that I had to capture the images I was most drawn to, but NO DRAFTING ALLOWED!
I found a fabulous wine bar on board where I could set up my equipment. I ordered a half glass of water for my paint, and then I wrote and sketched quickly and without a draft in permanent ink. Later, when I had a pocket of time, I would add colour to several sketches at once. This seemed to work really well and had the added benefit of being enjoyable at the same time. It was also a great way to meet people as they looked over my shoulder while placing their orders.
Creating on the Go: My Journal Layout
Travel journal landscape spread watercolor technique - The Gift!
I tried to stay alert for recurring themes and ideas along the way and tried not to be too precious about how pages turned out. Sometimes, I’d do double page landscape spreads. Sometimes I did several small images amidst more journalling. Each time I tried to focus on creating a dynamic page and letting myself experiment with the journal space. I even made a joint artwork with the bartender. He drew an image of his home landscape using my permanent pens, and I then painted it for him as a thank you.
Key Take Aways
New Zealand wine bar quick sketch artwork
Looking back at my travel journal now, I realize that sometimes our creative blocks can become unexpected doorways. What started as a challenging year of balancing teaching and art led me to discover new ways of creating - quick sketches, ink without pencil drafts, and the joy of capturing moments rather than pursuing perfection.
My New Zealand wine bar sketches might not be gallery-worthy masterpieces, but they're authentic captures of real moments, filled with the energy of the day. And isn't that what art is really about?
So if you're struggling to find time for your creative pursuits, remember:
• Sometimes the "perfect" way isn't the only way
• Creative solutions often come from constraints
• It's okay to adapt your process to fit your life
• Even small pockets of creativity count
As for me? I'm embracing this new chapter of quick sketches and stolen creative moments. After all, every artist's journey is as unique as the art they create.
Happy creating!
Monique x
P.S. Want to see more travel sketches? Follow along on Instagram @chasingthejoyartwork where I'll be sharing more pages from my travel journal! 🎨✈️