If you feel like you just aren’t artistic try just capturing the color of the moment.

Years ago I started my “Yes! You can travelsketch!” workshops because so many people told me they were just not artistic, many who came found actually they could travelsketch. The purpose of travelsketching is to do something other than a photograph to connect and capture the moment and place. So if the thought of learning to sketch seems overwhelming I have another way.

Capture the color you see or feel, don’t even think about details, or the actual color of what you see.

All you need is a small watercolor set – you will feel like a real painter. A Micron pen, 02 or 03 should do fine, and a sketchbook for watercolors. A waterpen is nice and makes it easier.

The process is so simple and not at all intimidating.

I will use a trip to Canon Beach as an example.

Begin by setting up a page in your book before you go. I drew the squares by tracing around my viewfinder, but an old credit card would work just as well. Each square will be a different moment or place.

Walking down to the beach on this brilliant sunny day you are hit with the blue of the sky or the blue of the ocean. So put some blue paint in the box, whatever color of blue feels right. What we know about color is that it is directly connected with emotion and memory – just the swatch of blue will trigger a memory when you see it in the future. When the paint is dry use your micron pen to add a note or two, maybe a thought about why it was so memorable.

As the day progresses add more moments, don’t worry about accurate shapes, it is the color that you are after.

Then add a word or two about the time and place.

Simple, right? Yet, six months from now, when you look at this page you will remember exactly where you were and what it felt like, you have captured the moment without being an artist, or maybe you are one after all.

Remember, it is more about the color than the object, so if you are just feeling dark blue emotionally today, paint it. If everything seems bright then some bright yellow would work.

Here is my challenge if you are not already a sketcher, or even if you are, try this for one week, just one square per day. Let me know how it works out.