Five Reasons why Travel makes You A Better Artist

Can travel really make you a better artist?

Travel influences us in a lot of ways. Have you ever returned home after a trip and felt different? That is because no one comes home after a trip the same. Whether your purpose of travel was to relax, re-energise, or for work, we all take something away from travel.

Travel makes you a better artist in many ways

No matter where we go, we gain a new outlook as we immerse ourselves in new places, people, and cultures. That can help to bring our artistic practice to a new level. That is right – now you have another reason to travel! (as if you needed one, right?). As an artist, my main source of inspiration is through travel. I use that inspiration – I collect it all up – and use that to create new artwork.  Travel is the core of my creative process. And I am not the only one. Keep reading for 5 ways travel helps your creative process.

Why do artists paint their travels?

Travel has influenced artists throughout the ages. Before photography, painting was used to present the beautiful scenes and materials that travelers found on their voyages to those stuck at home. Knowing something new and exciting waited beyond their borders, painters travelled to find new subject matter, new techniques, and new ideas to implement in their work.

From Van Gogh’s oil paintings of his journey through Europe, to Eugène Delacroix’s travel journals of Northern Africa, artists have found magic in exploring new places. It is a way to give purpose to your travels. So how can you join the greats and use your travels as a source of inspiration to make art? Here you will find five ways travels can influence your artwork and make you a better artist.

1. Travel can make you a better artist by making you more creative

First things first, if you aren’t traveling – get onto it! Traveling will influence your artistic practice by boosting your creativity. According to the American Psychological Association, people who travel are more creative. Not only that, but the more countries you live in, the higher degree of creativity you will possess. So if you’re looking to find inspiration, travel is fundamental. If you are wanting to start creating but do not know where to start, here are some new and exciting creative ideas that you can try right now.

2. Travel can make you a better artist by exposing you to new ways of thinking 

Travel is a fantastic way to open your eyes to new practices and ways of making and creating. When you travel you get to see how people throughout the ages and places create art. You are exposed to new materials, methods, and techniques. I love how travel exposes you to new people, new cultures, religions, languages, and customs. Different ways of life, beliefs, and values influence the way people create and why they create. Learning about these ways of thinking about art can expand your own practice.

3. Travel can make you a better artist by making you look at things from a different perspective

Travel lets you get away from everything and experience a different way of life. If you’re struggling with a creative block, sometimes removing yourself physically is the best way to figure things out and get inspired. One way to use travel as an influence is to think about issues and subjects that matter to you. Find out why things are done a certain way instead of just accepting it without question. Explore how different artists, cultures and communities tackle different issues or traditions. See first hand a different way of life.

4. Travel can make you a better artist by exposing you to new experiences

All art requires research. Travelling can influence your art at the most practical level – subject matter. Travelling gives you the visuals – the picturesque landscapes, the feelings, the diverse streets and bustling cafes. Those new scenes are material for your artwork. So grab your journal and camera and get out there and document it! How do you feel watching the sunset in Greece? Those feelings need to be bottled up to be used later. You can use painting (or your media of choice) to evoke that same atmosphere that you felt when you first went there and share it with others so they can understand.

5. Travel can make you a better artist by being your source of inspiration

Travel opens you up to all the greatest artists in the world. Whether you want to create artwork based on the places you have visited, or use artistic techniques you discovered from traditional crafts, every artist will find them influenced by artworks. Visit galleries, visit the museums. Traveling to new destinations gives you opportunities to see masterpieces from around the world. There is nothing better than witnessing artwork in person, especially works that you have studied, and loved from afar in books or websites.