Introduction: Travel Sketch Kit That Will Make You Draw Like a Pro

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About: I am an Industrial Designer, who obviously loves to create. Now that I am a mom, most of my creations are inspired by my daughers. I believe that if more parents were making stuff with their kids, the world wo…

If you are going to travel or are planning spending time outdoors this summer (camping, hiking) this instructable is going to be perfect for you.

I'm going to show you how to make a little kit with all what you need to make beautiful paintings of the places you'll go. It's perfect for adding to your travel diary, as one of kind souvenirs, or for spending those relaxing mornings in a campsite.

I love that when painting you get to see the places in a different way, with more detail.

The best part is that it's also a drawing tool that will help you draw faster and achieve amazing results, even if you are not an experienced artist.

We'll use simple materials and tools, and you can customize your kit to make it work with pencils, watercolors, markers or your favourite supplies.

So let's get started!


Step 1: Gather Your Materials

Glue gun

Paints, these can be pencils, markers, felted pens, oil pastels, crayons, (for diy portable watercolors, we'll need watercolor tubes and empty pills' or gums' blisters.)

A clear plastic from packaging (I got mine from a toy's box)

Dry erase marker

Scissors and/or cutter

Pencil

Binder clip

Contact paper or wrapping paper

A cereal box

Elastic

Other items you'll need (brushes, a sponge, paper towels, or whatever you'll need for your paintings)

Paper

Step 2: Cut

Place the items you want to be in the kit and cut the cereal box. We'll need it to be like a book so make sure the box has a fold at one side. Now fold it again near the middle, these two folds in the middle should be the width of your widest item.

Step 3: Window

Cut the clear plastic bigger than your paper.
In the left part cut a rectangle the size of your paper.

Step 4: Cover

Cover the cardboard with contact paper.

Step 5: Glue

Glue the clear plastic to the outline of the window. As shown in the picture.

Step 6: Elastic

Make some cuts as wide as the elastic, where your pens/pencils will be, glue the elastic at the back.

Step 7: For Watercolors...

If you are going to make some portable watercolors, take off the foil from the blisters, and make some small cylinders with covered cardboard, they'll help us glue the blisters to the kit.

Unfortunately my watercolors are too old and they didn't dry, so I'll suggest you to check your watercolors first. There are some watercolor tubes to refill the pans, you just pour it in the blister and wait until it's dry (at least two days), once they dry, they will activate with water just as normal watercolors.

At least I was able to check this method will stick really well your watercolors, because it took me a lot effort to take off the blisters. Anyways I decided to put more elastics, and use my kit with crayola markers.

Step 8: How to Use Your New Tool

Find the perfect frame with the window.

Close one eye and draw with the dry erase marker in the clear plastic. It's not necessary to add a lot of detail.


Step 9:

With the binder clip put a paper on top of the clear plastic.
Hold it against the sun so that you can see the lines and draw them into your paper. It works perfect even with watercolor paper.

Step 10: Trace

Once you have your drawing in the paper erase the one in the window, some markers could stain the plastic if you leave them for a long time.

Put your paper in the other side and start adding details and color.


Step 11: Enjoy!

Good job! you are now ready to make tons of beautiful paintings, and even without being an expert you´ll have always the perfect proportions and perspective.

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