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Artful Traveler

Inspire, educate and connect travel loving creatives through online art instruction and exploration of global landscapes, lifestyles and cultures. We invite aspiring artists and hobbyists to celebrate the world’s beauty and spirit, fostering a community of artful travelers who see the world through a vibrant, artistic lens.

Atelier Reads: Review of Girl with the Pearl Earring
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May Artful Insights: Where to go this May with a good book

Note from the Atelier Hi There Reader... Back again for week two…told you we were doing this more often. This one’s a mix of where to go and what to read, with a small new addition you’ll start to notice along the way. Cheers, Girl with a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier Artful Rating: 4 Brushstrokes 🎨🎨🎨🎨 I finally picked up Girl with a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier - a book that had been sitting on my “want to read” list for years. It completely pulled me in from the very first page. It’s...

Remnants of 50 states

Note from the Atelier Hi There Reader... You may notice things feel a little different around here. After a bit of experimenting (and a very decisive poll last month…thank you for that), Artful Insights is shifting to a shorter, weekly format. Same ideas, same inspiration…just delivered in smaller, more frequent doses. And starting now, you’ll find it waiting for you on Saturday mornings, per your unanimous request! I’m just back from a few days in Washington, DC, where I spent time wandering...

April Artful Insights: What Happens When You Make Things Bigger

Note from the Atelier Hi There Reader... Happy Spring. There’s something about this time of year that makes everything feel a little lighter, a little more possible, a little more exciting. One thing that's exciting for me is the change we just made to Artful Traveler to make it easier and more flexible for you to explore along with us. You can now take a peek behind the curtain without embarking on the full journey. You can also explore a single destination (or many destinations) when the...

Note from the Atelier Hi There Reader... March always feels like a turning point. Even here in Michigan, where winter tends to linger a bit longer, you can already sense the shift. The light changes, the days start to get longer and suddenly the idea of being outdoors feels possible again. While I’m still alternating between shoveling and busting out my sunglasses, I’ve been visiting local cafes, bookstores and museums for a bit of indoor urban sketching. It’s been a lovely reminder that you...

Snow covered tree canopy

Note from the Atelier Hi There Reader... February always feels like a quieter month of intention for me. Not the bold, goal-setting kind, but the kind that shows up once the year settles in. Lately, that has been shaped by being snowed in more than usual. My instinctive reaction is always ugh, more snow. But if I am honest, I love it. I love the colors that show up when everything else is muted. I love the long shadows, the subtle shifts and the way the light slows things down. I'm sharing...

January Artful Insights: New Year. Fewer Squirrels. Gratitude, goal-setting and a plan to stay focused

Note from the Atelier Hi There Reader... Happy New Year! As we begin again, I want to start, where I always try to start, with gratitude: for the Artful Traveler community and the Kelly Scott Fine Art community, for the space to create and reflect and for the chance to set intentions with a little more clarity than last year. This season always invites both looking back and looking forward, and I’ve been doing a fair amount of both lately. If I’m being honest, the biggest thing that didn’t...

A reflective December note from the Atelier sharing unexpected connections at sea, gratitude for community, and warm holiday wishes to close the year with creativity and heart.

Note from the Atelier Hi There Reader... First things first. Yes, I know, it’s already the middle of December. If you’ve been wondering where this newsletter wandered off to, here’s the honest answer: I returned from my bucket list (solo) trip in mid-November and somehow blinked and it was Thanksgiving and my daughter was home. Then I prepared for and participated in my first two art fairs (more on that below), then Christmas needed tending to, then I celebrated my birthday and then suddenly…...

Note from the Atelier Hi There Reader... As the year winds down and the holiday season approaches, I want to start with gratitude. I am eternally grateful to all of you for your support and encouragement this past year. A year ago, the Artful Traveler was but a twinkle in my eye. We've come a long way, and still have a way to go, but it has been an incredible journey and I want thank each and every one of you from the bottom of my heart. I also want to thank everyone who joined me for the...

Hi there Reader... Just a friendly nudge to remind you that our Académie à la Carte Year in Paint Challenge kicks off in a week and we’d love to have you with us! Yes, I want to join you! We’ll paint 12 beautiful pieces — one for each month — each inspired by a different destination. Think snowy January peaks, spring blossoms in far-off gardens, golden summer sunsets and autumn reflections on lavender fields. Every painting will be a little postcard from around the world, captured in your own...

Hi there Reader... You know I don't like to bombard you with emails, but I did want to quickly remind you that the Year in Paint Challenge kicks off on Monday, October 13th! I forgot! Sign me up! We’ll paint 12 pieces — one for each month — each inspired by a different destination. Think snowy January peaks, spring blossoms in far-off gardens, golden summer sunsets and autumn reflections on lavender fields. Every painting will be a little postcard from around the world, captured in your own...