(Art)Adventure Begins
Today, I embarked on Day 1 of what will end up being a 14-day trip that will include nearly two dozen states, six train trips, three nights in hotels in two cities, two ferry trips, and a four-day creative retreat. One of the parts of the trip I’m most looking forward to is making art while traveling. In the past, I’ve only ever focused on writing and photography when I’ve traveled. Now, I have a third component to add to the mix. While I documented much of the day in photos (and plan to do so each day), the majority of the posts over the next two weeks will, I hope, focus on my art.
As I boarded my train in Boston, the one that would take me to Chicago over the next of 18 hours, I made sure to snap a pic of my train and sleeper car (I booked a roomette for this leg of the trip). The attendant was kind of enough to ask if I wanted my photo taken in front of the train—umm, yes!!—and that photo turned into the inspiration for tonight’s sketch.
Ready to board the Amtrak Lake Shore Limited: Boston to Chicago
As I went back and forth last night trying to figure out what art supplies I would pack, I decided that using one of the Moleskine Japanese albums, with its accordion-style page layout, might make for a great travelogue. I brought watercolor supplies as well, and I hope to work on some painting during Day 2–when I arrive in Chicago to meet G and then board the California Zephyr and head to California and, ultimately (by way of two more trains), the Pacific Northwest. We should have some terrific scenery over the next few days, so I’m looking forward to seeing what I might be able to capture and create. Unfortunately, I wouldn’t call the Lake Shore Limited’s route “scenic.” Plus, it’s weird to be traveling in the Northeast in mid-February and not seeing any snow. In fact, it was nearly 50 degrees when I boarded this morning’s bus in New Hampshire to head to Boston!
Now that I’m just past 7 hours into this trip, I have to say I’m hooked on train travel. I’m finding it so incredibly relaxing and SO much more comfortable than air travel. Sure, it’s not fast, but as I’m trying to focus more on “slow living” this year, creating/making this trip is a huge part of that desire.