There are times when we settle in, dig out all of the multiple pens, brushes, paints, markers, even easels and such to do a travelsketch. Thanks to the 25+ years on the road that it took to make me theTravelsketcher I learned to carry a light kit, I just don’t take something I might need or use once on a three week vacation, nope, nada, rien.

Then, there is the issue of time, when traveling, and especially when you are with other travelers, to take an hour or so for a sketch could be a bit difficult, even inconsiderate.

We break here for an important announcement. Tricia is my travel buddy and she is the most patient, tolerant, and encouraging person if I do want to take some time and do a long sketch, you all need to know that. Now back to our regular programing.

It is for this reason that you need to be able to sketch really fast. At the moment we are in Lassen Volcanic National Park. We stopped at a roadside pull-over spot so Tricia could take some photos, I loved the view, so I grabbed my TWSBI and my sketchbook and did the top sketch on this page in no more than five minutes. I will add some paint in the hotel after I post this blog (I snapped a pic), watch for it Thursday.

We drove a bit further down the road and pulled over again, I did the bottom sketch in about one minute, it may get some color as well.

The goal is always to capture the moment, both of these did that even if I never add color. And they did not disrupt the flow of the day at all. So I say again, practice sketching quickly, make seeing and capturing the main shapes instinctive.