Tokyo Doodles

Here I am again! Now in Tokyo, and it’s been one heck of a busy week. The main reason I’m here is that I needed to sort my apartment out here so my relatives can move in easily whenever they’re ready (more about that another time) so this meant arranging the removal company to ship stuff back to Netherlands. Then I have my finances to sort out. And of course whilst I’m in Japan, I wanted to see my family too!

Getting Creative

During my fortnight’s stay here, though, my intention is to relax as well and enjoy my home country as much as possible. I promised myself not to overdo things and spread my tasks out so I can squeeze in some time to put my feet up and chill. And why not also stay creative? ! That’s right, I find that getting creative really helps me relax, wind down after a long day, reflect on what i’ve been up to and stay inspired! A travel art journal it is.

And from home, I brought with me some limited art supplies as seen in the photo above: SAI Japanese Traditional Colors markers, some black ink and glue. Since the markers are water soluble, I also included some water-refillable brushes but unfortunately I discovered watercolor does not work too well with the mini sketchbook I had brought along as the paper gets marred… which is when I discovered collage! Thank goodness I had some glue with me!

The wrapping paper in Japan can be very beautiful. I love some of them so much that I would cut them out and glue them into my sketchbook. On Day One as part of a warm up, I just randomly doodled along, whatever came to. mind, namely cute shapes and forms like flowers and animals . And Hello Kitty of course! Oh and that big blue bird was from some wrapping paper which I also cut-out and pasted…

That same wrapping paper I also snipped out a portion of and glued onto my sketchbook too because I really like those round, curvy amd squiggly shapes. It’s so me to be drawn by them, isn’t it? And this time, we have Little One all dressed up, how cute! I am awed by that beautiful long red dress I had purchased that day and look forward to the time I can wear it back home. And I discovered that the white paint pen I had bought that day smells of those fumes, yikes!

I’m really getting into the collages! Decided to cut out shapes with various paper including not only that same one above but one from a posh bento box. For added creativity, bunny shapes were also cut out from a yellow envelope and its reverse side! How cool is that? And I am beginning to piece stories together combining collages and marker drawings. Little One misses the nature but we will be back home soon!

A Bit a Day

Wow, I never realized I’d get so much pleasure doodling away or just compiling bits of paper in my sketchbook during my travels! Keeping such an art journal is great way to wind down as said earlier and keep my creative juices flowing even if it turns out very simple. Even just spending a short time every day, be it in the evenings or a gap between appointments, is good enough. Once I start, I keep going. My sketchbook continues to be filled so once I have a moment to photograph my work I will share it here. So do watch this space!