In this hands-on, two-day class, students will learn to create hand-drawn journey maps that capture the stories, discoveries, and memories of their travels. On the first day, we will head outside for a short hike and practice observing the landscape, by noting features, collecting details, and sketching the raw elements needed to build a meaningful field map. On the second day, we will work indoors and create a finished map based on a past or future journey while learning how to bring personal experience into a visual narrative. Students will explore techniques for illustrating landscapes, highlighting points of interest, adding written observations, and capturing the small moments that make each journey unique.

This course is ideal for anyone planning an adventure or hoping to commemorate one they have already taken. No artistic experience is required. If you can trace a line, you can create a map that tells the story of your travels.

Students are encouraged to bring photos, notes, or memories from a past journey, or come prepared to plan a future adventure they want to map.

This course is open to students ages 14+. Ages 8-13 are welcome if accompanied by a full-paying adult. Adult/child pairs will complete one project and pay one materials fee. A 25% tuition discount applies to the youth registrant when registering with a full paying adult; call to register.

Required Tools

• Number 2 pencil or a mechanical pencil with extra graphite
• Eraser (plastic or kneadable preferred)
• Small pencil sharpener
• Black fineliners pen (Suggested: Micron 005, 05, 01)
• Colored pencils ​(at least two shades of green, one blue, one red, one yellow)

Optional Tools

• Watercolor pencils. I like Derwent Inktense Watercolor Pencils because they are highly saturated.
• Watercolor brush and cup if bringing watercolor pencils. Consider Pentel Aquash Water Brushes.
• Faber-Castell Pitt Artist Pen Brushes for adding shadows to illustrations or symbols:
  • Faber-Castell Pitt Artist Pen Brush - #230 Cold Grey 1 (or Warm #272)
  • Faber-Castell Pitt Artist Pen Brush - #220 Light Indigo (for winter maps)
• Triangle
• A pair of compasses (drawing compass)
• Rapiddesign Lettering Aid Template
• Staedtler® Mars® Template, Circle Combo or other templates
• Journal stencils
• Sketchbook
• Laptop or tablet to view maps and aerial photos or satellite images. Install Google Earth if you are going to use it this way.