Travel log 1

These two images, and several more that will follow in the next few posts, are from the sketchbook I kept with me during my travels this summer. I bounced around from the beginning of June until just recently, when I have finally settled into a new apartment in Somerville, MA. Instead of taking photographs or keeping a journal, I made simple sketches of the places I went and the things that I saw.
I became infatuated with pen and ink drawings, and I found them much more pleasing without any color or value. For a long time I used to be afraid of drawings like this, in which it is difficult to hide mistakes and accurate observation was necessary (or so I thought). But, as I discovered while executing this series, I enjoyed the process for those very reasons. I liked staring at the various objects in front of me, trying to figure out how to place them correctly on the page. My process was rather slow, or slower than what I am used to, probably because I spent more time observing, making sure I had it right before I made any marks. I also realized that my definition of "mistake" changed. No matter what mark I made, even if it were not at all what I meant to do, I liked trying to figure out how I could incorporate it into the rest of the piece.
The piece above and the one below are from James' bedroom in Quito. They are simplified versions of two different views in the room, and both include the bed I sat on. An unofficial title for the mini-series is "The Most Uncomfortable Bed."