Travel Sketchnotes: My Top 14 Travel Icons
Welcome to the first part of the Travel Sketchnote series. Today we'll be discussing how to create your own icon library and which travel icons from Neuland you should know for your sketchbook .
Your Travel Icon Library:
Everything you need in terms of symbols for your creative travel adventure.
Welcome to the first part of the Travel Sketchnote series.
Today we'll be discussing creating your own icon library and which travel icons you should know for your Neuland sketchbook . I'll give you the most important "vocabulary" and show you how to create your own icon library.
What is an icon library?
Just like when you learn a new language, you need the right vocabulary to express what you want. That's where the Icon Library comes in.
It serves as your drawing library, containing all the relevant symbols. This library is divided into categories. On vacation, you'll need the category for travel sketchnotes.
My Top 14 Travel Icons:
This brings us directly to the most important travel icons you should have in your icon library. Here's my list of basic travel symbols: globe, airplane, train, car, bicycle, suitcase, passport, camera, hotel, beach, mountains, cityscape, restaurant, café, and much more. You can also create special icons for your personal memories or experiences, such as a unique place or a particular specialty.
The 5 basic shapes of icons:
Each icon is composed of the following basic shapes: a rectangle, a circle, a triangle, a line, and/or a dot. Using these elements, you can quickly and easily create all symbols with FineOne Sketch. For example, a suitcase is nothing more than a rectangle with two circles for wheels and three lines for the handle.
Feel free to color them in with the colorful FineOne Art Markers. If you just want to add some depth, I recommend the Neuland No.One® Art Marker. It's perfect for shading.
You can read more about this in the books by Mike Rohde , Neuland's brand ambassador.
After this short theory session, we now begin with the practical part.
Step 1: Grab your favorite sketchbook and your pens from Neuland
Grab a blank Bulletproof journal or your mySketchbook. If you want your Travel Icon Library readily available, you can also open your current journal from the back. This keeps your icon library separate from your sketches and helps you make thoughtful use of your resources.
Your own icon library:
Step 2: Divide your icons into categories
Before you draw the symbols with Neuland FineOne® Sketch , dedicate a double page to each category, such as activities, means of transport, food and drink, etc. This way you will have enough space to expand your collection in the future.
Step 3: Transfer the Travel Icons to your Library
Now choose the travel icons you really need. You can find an example selection of my top 14 in the sketchnote above. Transfer the icons you think are most useful using Neuland's black, smudge-proof FineOne Sketch pen . If you like, you can then color them in with one of the colorful FineOne Art Markers. After that, it's all about practice, practice, and more practice.
For more complex symbols, you can also use a three-step tutorial to help you memorize them more easily. I've done this for you using one symbol as an example.
Step 4: Let your creativity run wild
The next level is to create your own vocabulary and add it to your icon library. Everyone has their own personal style, so take this opportunity to add your individual touch to your sketches. For inspiration, I like to look at examples on Pinterest or Google Images. If you're completely stuck for ideas, you can check out symbols on Noun Project .
Franzis' tip:
Once you've created your first icon library, you can improve your sketchnote lettering skills – that is, beautiful handwriting with different fonts – with Mike Rohde. You can find the relevant tutorial here.
On to Neuland, ready, go!
With these travel icons, you can capture all your travel experiences visually. Starting in summer 2023, you'll find two specially designed travel sketchnote kits in the Neuland shop. Your travel-inspired sketches will not only be more expressive but also more entertaining. Have fun creating your own icon library and drawing your travel sketchnotes!
P.S. Feel free to share your sketchnotes with us on Instagram or tag us in your story. We'd love to repost them and are really looking forward to seeing your travel sketchnotes.
Franzi & the Neuland team