Travel Journal Sketchbook Share: Ireland in Gouache on Paper

It’s been too quiet around here, guys! May saw a flurry of activity as I finished up my next collection for Windham Fabrics (sneak peek coming soon!), and then the day after the daughter finished her 7th-grade school year we all hopped on a plane to Ireland for a long, much-needed and incredibly beautiful vacation. I know I’ve said this here before, but it’s truly amazing how restorative a few weeks away can be. Even though the trip involved a lot of traveling and bustling, I came home with so much more energy and inspiration. This was one of those big, milestone trips, but even a few nights away in a tent can give you a new perspective, especially these days when so many of us are still working, living and playing in the same space. I’m making a mental note to plan little getaways at regular intervals.

Since we returned, I’ve started a new fabric collection (it may or may not be Ireland-inspired), but I’ve also been capturing some of the images and memories from our trip in gouache on paper. I thought I’d share some of them here. I realized that I never did any follow-up posts to my 100-days-of-painting project, but I’m recommitting to a daily painting practice, so I’m planning to do regular sketchbook shares going forward (saying it helps make it true, right?).

Admittedly, my subject matter leans heavily toward sheep and cows – I was a little obsessed with all the animals wandering around, and on more than one occasion, tried to pet them. I got some well-deserved side-eye from the locals, and I could almost hear the muttered comments of “blanking eejit”.

We returned from Ireland exactly a month ago, and it’s time to move on and start painting something other than images from my beloved vacation. I’ve had a little trouble letting go, but I think I can find some new ways to channel all the inspiration I found there. In the meantime, enjoy the paintings!