Watercolor Instruction & Travel Sketching

You will receive a pocket watercolor kit with professional grade watercolors chosen specifically for the Camino, waterbrush, permanent pens (black and white), pencil, ruler, and small travel journal. It all fits in a quart size plastic zip bag so you can use and carry it with you along The Way.

Brenda will teach a flexible progression of art instruction catered to people’s experience with watercolor, sketching, and drawing, combined with your needs while traveling.

Her overarching goal is for you to observe your journey more closely, noticing details, colors, and light variations in new and deeper ways. Let’s toss aside our “inner critics” and have some fun!

Travel Journaling and Watercolor Art Concepts Included on the Artsy Way:

  • Using the travel sketching materials we provide:
    • Water brush, pocket palette by ArtToolKit, permanent black and white pens, small ruler, travel journal
  • Quick drawing techniques to draw from real life/En Plein Air:
    • Combining basic shapes to illustrate what you see
    • Measuring length, angle, and relationship of objects in your scene
    • 1- and 2-point perspective
  • Basic Watercolor techniques:
    • Controlling water and pigment strength
    • Fun projects using wet-on-wet, wet-on-dry, spatter, scratching-out, dry brush
    • Mixing colors to match the colors you see on the Camino
  • Composition:
    • Focal point to “show the story” you want to remember, overlapping layers of scenery
    • Thumbnail sketch tips to work quickly
    • Page lay-out ideas for to combine sketching and writing in your journal
  • Inspiring Subject Matter:
    • Tips to simplify flowers, stone buildings, flowing and still water, people, dogs, cows, landscapes, and whatever we see along our way.
  • Encouragement to explore and experiment with various styles and techniques.
  • Friendly Feedback: Your travel sketch book is “personal art.”
    • You can share your work and get constructive feedback if you want, and if you don’t want to share – no pressure. 

Brenda’s goal is to provide a watercolor foundation while encouraging creativity, personal expression and a deeper ability to see the world around us.  Students have described their surprise at how much they enjoyed the creativity, relaxation, and fun they had in watercolor sketching on the Camino with Brenda:

“Speaking as a pilgrim who just went on the writing/watercolor Camino journey with Laura Davis, Brenda and Andre, I can attest that this was absolutely the best way to experience “The Way.” I am one of those non-painter folks and I cherish my watercolor entries in my journal. I highly recommend this opportunity!” -Mary Beth, Camino 2024

“You encouraged me to sketch in my journal as well as write. To this day I realize how much those beginner drawings add to my memories! thank you so much for your encouragement. I look forward to taking your water color sketching class tomorrow and starting to learn more of your techniques. Your creativity and sense of adventure are wonderful gifts that you share freely.” -Margaret, Peru 2018

Participant sketches from the Camino de Santiago (shown with their permission)

 “I am a reluctant/fearful artist as I continually feel as though I fail to capture the essence of a still life or landscape or scene.  While anxiety still set in when I tried my hand at watercolor on this Camino trip,  Brenda’s calm way of teaching helped me to paint more freely and it was so fun!  Brenda showed me ways of using my brush in different ways (wet, dry, saturated) to make trees, flowers and how to set up the perspective for a landscape.  I love the art I created on the trip.  Brenda is a very gifted teacher and I look forward to taking more of her painting in the wild courses! ” – Maureen, Camino 2024

Maureen’s beautiful paintings from her travel journal.

Students share their class highlights from REI’s Painting in the Wild Class taught by Brenda: M

  • “Brenda modeled technique and then allowed for practice/experimentation”
  • “The Guide, Brenda, was great and very informative ”      
  • “Wonderful guide – great balance of instruction and practice. Covered important topics and now I’m feeling empowered to practice on my own.”                  
  • “Good mixture of education/teaching and hands on practice. Instructor (Brenda) was perfect in recognizing the entire audience.”
  • “Great instructor (Brenda). Great session for beginners or established artists.” 
  • “Loved our guide Brenda, she was very calming, explained everything well, was very positive and encouraging, and was well prepared.”
  • “Brenda was amazing, she’s so great at her job and such a kind person!“
  • “Brenda Porter is exceptional and I loved seeing her various different watercolor journals, cards, and how she played with color in the wild!“
         

Brenda has taught introductory watercolor, nature journaling and travel sketching for many years for REI Experiences, Adventures in Good Company, and Jefferson County Open Space.