How Your Travels Can Inspire Your Next Art Project – Take My Tips!

Whenever I travel, inspiration is everywhere—but that doesn’t mean I go in without a plan. I’m a bit of a planner, so I like to have an idea of what I want to see and do. That said, I always leave room for spontaneous moments, because let’s be honest, those are usually the best memories. Having a general focus helps me zero in on what I might want to create later, but I’ve learned that things rarely go as planned. And that’s the beauty of it—traveling is about discovery, after all!

Finding Inspiration on the Go

Take Peru, for example. When I first went, I knew I’d see some amazing landscapes, and that was my main focus. But once I was there, I started noticing something unexpected—the rooftop patios of the apartment buildings. They all had their own personalities, each one unique. It wasn’t until my second or third trip that I realized how much these little details were inspiring me. Sometimes, inspiration takes its time to reveal itself, and that’s okay. The magic happens when you least expect it.

Creating a Theme

When I travel, I like to turn my trip into a little game. I’ll pick a theme or subject to focus on, which helps me stay grounded in the moment and gives me something specific to explore. For example, in Peru, after I noticed the rooftops, I decided to photograph as many as I could. It became a fun side quest—collecting all these different patterns and colors that spoke to me. Whether it’s the architecture in Peru, the patterns in African textiles, or the vibrant colors of a market in India, finding a theme can make your travel experience richer and more focused.

Turning Inspiration into Art

Once I’m back home, it’s time to turn all those inspirations into art. For me, it’s not about directly copying what I saw—that’s not what art is about. Instead, I like to blend my experiences with the elements that moved me. Take those Peruvian roofs, for example. I recently finished a fun mandala representing this architectural aspect, but it’s not a literal representation. I turned my reference photos into an abstract pattern that captures the essence of what I saw, rather than just replicating it.

It’s all about creating a mashup of your experiences. Maybe you’ll take the intricate patterns of a Moroccan rug and weave them into a digital illustration, or transform the vibrant colors of a Brazilian festival into a bold, graphic print. The key is to honor the culture that inspired you without simply copying it.

My take on what if feels like to walk in a typical neighborhood in Cusco. 

Walking the Line: Inspiration vs. Appropriation

As artists, we’re always building on the ideas of others—that’s how creativity works. But there’s a fine line between inspiration and appropriation. It’s important to make sure that what you create is a reflection of your own experience, not just a copy of what you’ve seen. You want to put your own stamp on it, add your unique perspective, and share that with the world.

In the end, it’s about taking what inspires you and making it your own. Whether it’s the architecture, landscapes, or culture that moves you, let it fuel your creativity and see where it takes you. And who knows? Your art might just inspire someone else to see the world in a whole new way.