Travel Sketchbook World, Part 1

As requested, my published travel sketchbook list, sorted roughly by style, and in three parts:

• Sara Midda’s South of France, a Sketchbook, Sara Midda, Workman, 1990. The success of this small, charming book has virtually created a whole new genre in American publishing. The visual record of a year in southern France, packed with tiny watercolor and pencil and pen images, and scores of interesting facts.
• Very Charleston and Very California, Diana Hollingsworth Gessler, Algonquin/Workman, 2003 and 2001. Two Sara Midda spin-offs, more commercial and less inspired than her book, but worth looking at and, for the collector like me, worth owning.
• Across the Aegean; an Artist’s Journey from Athens to Istanbul, Marlene McLoughlin, Chronicle Books, 1996. Delicate watercolors similar in scale (and somewhat in style) to Sara Midda’s book. Though nice, the work lacks Midda’s graphic punch and wit. Text is minimal, more descriptive than informational.
• Road to Rome; an Artist’s Year in Italy, Marlene McLoughlin, Chronicle Books, 1995. See comments above.
• A Year in New York and California, a Sketchbook, Elisha Cooper, Chronicle, 1995 and 2000. More Sara Midda spinoffs. The drawings are weak and perfunctory. Not recommended.
• A Year in Japan, Kate T. Williamson, Princeton Architectural Press, 2006. Not strictly speaking a sketchbook, but a compendium of Japanese images, design elements and vignettes. A second-generation Sara Midda descendent with fewer stylistic borrowings from the original. Interesting and attractive book.
• A Watercolor Journal of Florence, Douglas Lew, Mandragora, 2002. Lew’s warm and rich palette, broad and juicy brushstrokes, and strong compositional sense make this a beautiful book. Sargent’s watercolor work is a clear influence.
• Richard Bell’s Britain, Richard Bell, William Collins, 1981. The encyclopedic record in words and images of Bell’s yearlong exploration of the British countryside. A magnificent book. Bell also publishes small, paperback nature journals such as: This Distant Northern Sea: A Day’s Drawing in Scarborough, www.willowisland.co.uk, 2004.
• David Gentleman’s India, David Gentleman, Hodder and Stoughton, 1994. One of a series of Gentleman’s watercolor travel journals. A wonderfully kaleidoscopic treatment, full of gorgeous sketches and interesting accompanying text. Others in the series: DG’s Britain (1982), DG’s London ( 1985), DG’s Coastline (1988), and DG’s Paris (1991).

Comments

[lin]

THANK YOU SO MUCH, LAURA!!! I HAVE SOME OF THESE -- AND I'M PLANNING TO ADD MORE THAT I DO HAVE!!!

[TeriC]

These are fascinating! I did not realize there were so many. This was a lot of work for you to do and many will appreciate it besides me.

[Felicity]

Amazing, I had no idea there were so many. You DO love sketchbooks Laura! Thanks so much for posting all these references, I shall certainly be checking them out!

[Katherine]

Oh wow! You've got so many more than me - I've never even heard of some of these!

Thank you so much - and I now need to know which bookshop you frequent please.

Can I pinch the links for these three posts for my Drawing and Sketching Squidoo Lens? This is just the sort of thing I've been after for getting people started on the 'art of the possible!

I'm now going to print off the list to see if I have any that you haven't got - some hope!

[Bela]

I bought the Sara Midda when it first came out, in 1990. The title has changed slightly in the meantime: my copy says, Sketchbook from Southern France. I'm so glad it's still in print. Isn't it enchanting?

[Laura]

Thanks, buddies. I actually have about six more but they're not ones I'd recommend, so I didn't mention them. Bela, I agree about Sara Midda's book. I bought her first one, too, 'In and Out of the Garden,' but it is not nearly as good as the France one. I wonder if the British and American books always had different titles? Katherine, I've collected these over the years, from here, there, and everywhere, so I don't have one bookseller to recommend to you. You're welcome to use the list, with attribution, of course ;D.

[Pam Perry]

Thanks so much for the list! I collect published sketchbooks of all kinds. Diana Hollingsworth Gessler has a third book out, "Very New Orleans." I really liked "California" for it's very casual, informal style. "Charleston" was more polished, less sketchy, and somewhat disappointing to me. "New Orleans" returns to the original style. Being a real novice at sketching, I love the "smallness" of the images -- not so intimidating to do.

[Linda Colgan]

Laura, thans so much for all this. Just wonderful.
Linda

[KnittingPainterWoman]

What a generous "public service: to list and annotage these. Thank you.

[Anthony]

Wow! I'm printing this out for future reference. This is a wonderful list - and I love the photo of the books open too. Piques the interest. Thank you!

[Laura]

You're very welcome! Pam, thanks for telling me about 'Very New Orleans'---I'm glad she had a chance to document preKatrina New Orleans. A bit sad to think of, though.

[Ulla]

Quite a few here, I need to look up (from all three lists)... But I need to share a favorite of mine with you. Its called:
'Magic Moments In FLORENCE' by Adriana Silvestri. (ISBN 88-85957-29-3) My mother bought it in Italy a couple of years ago, and its one of my favorites... very whimsical and full of inspiration! Hope you can find it! Thanks again for giving us your lists!!!

[alison]

Thank you so much for this list, Laura - I was in need of a little treat and now already, I have a copy of Richard Bell's 'Rough Patch' and several other volumes from Amazon on the way. Spirits lifted :)

[Sandy]

I thank you as well Laura, and when is your sketchbook being published??

[Susan]

I just got from the library "Charleston" and order the "Calafornia' of Diana h Gessler from the library too after reading this list. (as well as mentioned here). I love the small size of the book in my hands, the watercolors are delightful. I like how some are strong in ink and a bit of wash and other images are just watercolor. Interesting page layouts.Though I am not a folower of 'Charleston' or anything. I found the triva, history and the delightful notes enjoyable to read. Then - Just fun eye candy.

Susan