Hello from Sketchy Traveler, a mostly free, mostly biweekly newsletter on finding flow, ease and joy in life and work. Paid subscribers make this newsletter possible and keep it free for those peeking out of their inboxes. Scroll past the fold for the latest creative adventures, tips, and tricks.

Apologies on the low number of newsletters this month. The first couple of weeks in January, I found myself busy with final setup from the newsletter migration and also not feeling super motivated after the holidays. So, it seemed like an appropriate time to share some tips and ideas on getting started with your sketching practice or trying something new in your sketchbook.

Pack Your Drawing Bag

Winter is the perfect time to put together or renew a drawing bag. I find it is best to have a dedicated sketching bag or space in your day bag to put your drawing supplies. This makes it easy to grab your drawing supplies when inspiration strikes instead of needing to hunt for them before heading out.

Starter Sketching Kit

Some starter materials I usually suggest that are easy to find and affordable are:

• Pencil Number 2

• Pencil Sharpener

• Ball Point Pen (nice in blue as provides a softer look to the drawing)

• Felt Tipped Pen (creates sharp black lines for a crisp appearance)

• Snapshot Sketchbook (5.5” x 4.25” max) with blank pages

A snapshot sketchbook is particularly great to start with as it will fit in a pocket and is easy to take with you. You can also fill it up quickly since the pages are small. Blank or dot paper Field Notes are great for this purpose. You can often find similar size blank notebooks in the stationary section of the grocery store or pharmacy too.

Habit Tip: A snapshot sketchbook makes a great replacement for your phone as they are similar sizes. If you are working on unplugging from screens, consider replacing your phone with a snapshot sketchbook and Bic pen. When you feel the itch to scroll get in a sketch instead😊

Try New Sketching Tools

When you already have a drawing bag that has seen some use it might be time to start thinking about new tools or materials you might want to try. Winter is an ideal time to make a trip to your local art supply store. Some materials you might investigate include:

• Fountain Pens (I love my Lamy)

• Colored Pencils

• Watercolors

• Markers

• Larger sketchbooks or watercolor sketchbooks

What are your goals for your sketching kit this winter? Let me know and I will follow up with you in 2 weeks to check how it is going😉

Send Logan Your Tool Kit Goal

Capture Winter Views Before They Are Gone

Winter is an interesting season for onsite drawing. Sketchers get cold hands while drawing and must seriously consider where the nearest place to warm up is. Likewise, the damp of winter is not kind to notebooks, inks and watercolors. Yet winter also reveals views that you will never find in spring, summer or fall due to all the leaves on the trees. Plus, the low angel sunlight in winter is wonderful for painting and imbues winter scenes with a buttery glow.

Recently, I was particularly struck by the view from the Futura coffee in downtown Corvallis towards the corner of 2^nd and Madison. With the trees bear, the beauty of the brick work in the buildings behind them could really shine. Plus, the buildings have some wonderful decorative elements on their windowsills and cornices. The composition of the buildings in this scene is also nice as the two-point perspective serves as a dynamo for the scene. I have not added watercolor to this scene yet but will plan to make a trip back to Futura soon to finish.

News From Logan

I am working on launching an open sketching lunchtime in downtown Corvallis. This is a time for people to unwind from work with some sketching or coloring during their lunch break. I am hosting a soft open this Friday (February 6, 2026). Let me know if you want to come and I will send you the details.

Contact Logan for Lunch Time Drawing Details

Thanks for Reading

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