Episode 482 of the CMP, a Creativity Matters Podcast — December journaling, illustrated journaling, and the inspiring When Wanderers Cease to Roam
This episode is a bit out of time and place. It is, at the heart, a December show, but the discussion of When Wanderers Cease to Roam: A Traveler’s Journal of Staying Put (by Vivian Swift) isn’t December-specific. This is a book I’ve talked about before and always find enchanting and beautiful to look at. Because of its structure and visual form, I think you will notice something different every time you pick it up, which is, of course, part of the beauty and invitation of an illustrated journal.
The “prequel” of sorts to this show was Episode 481. I split them at the time for length, with full intent to publish them back to back. So, you might want to go back and catch that show, if you missed it.
There’s some talk here about the book, about illustrated journaling, about watercolor and the combination of text, vignette, story, and detail in our journals (and in this example).
Older shows on this book or related topics:
Episode 240 (2017)
Episode 367: Illustrated Journal
Also mentioned in this episode:
Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times (Katherine May)
Note: Katherine May has two other books you may be interested in, one of which is new in 2023: The Electricity of Every Living Thing: A Woman’s Walk In The Wild To Find Her Way Home (2021) and Enchantment: Awakening Wonder in an Anxious Age (2023)
A sidenote: I have talked for years about illustrating my show notes. I was envisioning this and even trying my hand at it through the years before I ever knew about sketchnoting. Someday, I envision this as a very special compendium of sketchnotes from the show through the years. My sketchnoting skills have a long way to go, but I am working on getting down at least visual text notes when I listen back to shows in 2023. This serves as both practice and as a toe in the water….. I love ending up with the visual one-pager! We’ll see if I can stick with it and continue to work towards what feels like a fairytale goal. In some ways, it would seem this might be the easiest book for me to work on (though the hardest to sell). In other ways, it is something I hold in the distance while I work on a more short-term book about illustrated journaling. With almost 500 shows in the list, it is daunting to even think about the full scale of illustrating all the shows. Maybe I could start with 2019, as a random date. Or 2017?
Saying things out loud, committing them to words in print, writing them in our journals, thinking them in our morning pages or written or typed notes…. can be empowering…. it can be a nudge, a push, a pivot from internal thought to something that has substance.
Stay tuned for some thoughts on doing a 100 Day Project (or “the” 100 Day Project). I’m also looking at channeling my writing into a substack. I hope you’ll decide to follow along there for more nuts and bolts.
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New to the CMP? Here are a few shows you might try:
- Snow Globe (457)
- Gratitude Cup (455)
- Five Minutes (454)
- Summer Series (445)
- When You Want to Quit (440)
- Panning for Gold (290)
- Red Sun (257)
- Here (319)
- Find a Penny (298)
- Teapots in a Tree (383)
- Slice of Life Contour (356)
- Olive Jars (436)
- Love What You Do (244)
- Illustrated Journal (367)
- The Moments within the Moments (197)
- Scroll Your Feed (362)
- View all podcasts
Listen to Episode 482
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(This episode is available in many of your favorite podcast players.)
Tools
- Moleskine Art Sketchbook (my most commonly used book for drawing and my illustrated journal)
- Moleskine Art Sketchbook (the REALLY big one — A3 (11.75″ x 16.5″)
- Preppy Fountains Pen 02 – this is one of the best starter/inexpensive fountain pens you can buy!
- Preppy Fountain Pens 03 (multi set)
- Lamy Safari – always a good choice
- TWSBI Eco – my favorite fountain pen in the starter range (although I love my TWSBI Iris Vac even more)
- Dip Pen holder I’ve been using (with maru nibs)
- PILOT Iroshizuku Bottled Fountain Pen Ink (multiple color options)
- Diamine Fountain Pen Ink (multiple)
- Noodler’s Fountain Pen Ink (multiple)
- Monteverde Fountain Pen Ink (multiple)
- Colorverse Fountain Pen Ink (multiple)
- Platinum Carbon Black ink (what’s in my fountain pen)
- Sktchy app for inspiration photos
- Micron 08 (larger nib good for thicker lines or filling in small-medium spaces)
- Micron 01 (favorite for drawing)
- Micron Sampler
- Notes on large format sketchbooks
- ROYGBIV supplies: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet
- Uni-Gel Alpha Shaker pencil (mine is listed as “slightly firm” – but it’s super cushy; they do come in other softness/hardness ratings. I really do love this shaker!)
- Pentel Hi-Polymer Block Eraser, Large, White (these things disappear like socks; you can never have too many white erasers lying around)
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