Artist En Route to Europe - An Adventure in Creative Life

Facing a Big Move: Anticipation

This is the first in a series of illustrated articles, adapted from ones originally published some years ago in Art Avenue magazine. They relate the sights and insights of an artist painter (me) living and travelling through Europe (mostly France and Italy) for nearly a year.

Both ordinary and extraordinary life experiences are shared with a focus on relating what may be meaningful for other artists and creative life travellers of all varieties. This journey took place in 2015 (repeated stays of shorter duration occurred up to the present). Much of the information and many of the experiences remain relevant today. To follow the timeline of the original journey, read this post and, then these: Illustrated info ideas, and tips on art travel and creative life adventures

Artist En Route - A Day in London

Creative LIfe in Provence (original and new material )

Creative Life Goes to Italy (original and new material)

These journeys will lead you to other routes to pursue in your creative life travels!

illustration for Artist En Route #1 by Janet Strayer

Many of us like the adventure of travel, even if some prefer the armchair variety. Reading about places of interest and the ways different travellers cope with the ups and downs of new experiences can transport us in comfort. It can also prepare us for our own excursions in reality.

Travelling offers many adventures in creative living- however and wherever we find it and make it!

Imagine being faced with the reality of leaving home for an eight-month adventure in Europe:  an exploration of creative life, different local cultures, and the things you love, like art and food. Fantastic, right? But there are so many things to consider ,even before you leave. Aside from the usual things needed when travelling, this is going to be a long stay. So what do you need to bring along for your work? As an artist, what supplies do you need ? Can you get them where you'll be? 

This is my first big venture as an itinerant painter in Europe. I've chosen to live in rural areas much of the time. No art stores nearby. What to pack? What to plan? What to see? How to live? I'll cope with these issues and share them in this series. This is the first of six articles adapted from those published originally in Art Avenue magazine. Although the actual travel took place some years ago, the articles are presented here as they occurred then. The immediacy of the experiences remain fresh.

All of Us Are En Route

Our opportunities, choices, and goals may differ, yet we are all en route in our lives, all artists in our own creative life. The artist en route this time is me, and it's a very real journey. In mid September I approached my imminent departure from Canada with a mixture of excitement and anxiety rolled into one overwhelming feeling of anticipation. I'm keen, eager, hopeful, and a bit worried at trading in all that is familiar for all that will be new.

My own family and personal history has taught me that life travels (even when by necessity rather than choice) can broaden, deepen, and break perspectives on what we think we know. My attitude now is  to be open and attentive to the places and lifestyles encountered. My guiding principle is to hold lightly to what I currently value so that it doesn't predetermine what I'm ready to see, hear, experience, and share. I believe this to be an essential kernel of the creative process.

Being a "stranger in a strange land" can be harrowing, but it can also offer eye-opening and heart-

Don't Over-Pack Your Bag!

art supplies to be packed into suitcase

I did. That's how I know not to. Worried that I might not have sufficient art-making tools and planning to create a lot of art, I totally overdid it. I was ignorant of local art suppliers and (give me a break) this was before Amazon became an easy option world-wide. So I prepared what I believed to be the "minimum" supplies I'd need ( see photo), given I might not be able to find what I needed in Europe.

Painting tools are heavy, and I paid the penalty both by lugging them across airports and by paying extra for them at check-ins. I'd read the airplane regulations and carefully packed the paints and media as required, protected in plastic sheeting within plastic containers. When I opened my suitcase after arrival, good intentions be damned! Some materials had spilled into a colourfully sticky mess. I was miffed and wondered if this outcome was due to air pressure and movement or because the luggage inspectors didn't tighten lids? I'll never know, but I'll also never pack this much again.

Beter to learn beforehand, if and where one can find art supply stores. I'll share that info with you, as I report on different regions. For now, the message I've learned is clear:

I (probably you too) can do better with less than with the excess trouble of too-much.

An Artist's Itinerary

We stop for a day in London, then will be living primarily in France and Italy, with excursions south to Sicily and east as far as the Adriatic (maybe even across it). The next En-Route article will be based in Provence, that exceptionally beautiful area of southern France, near birthplace of Cézanne and nurturing grounds for Picasso, Van Gogh, and so many wonderful artists. After that, more illustrated adventures will come from a month based in Sicily, that sun-baked crossroads of culture, art, and bad repute. Then, for a longer period, we'll live in Umbria, near Piero della Francesca. Nearly every village in Italy has its famous art hero. We'll also spend a few weeks in Italy's Adriatic region, exploring less tourist-known regions like Le Marche and the art of masters from that region, like Corelli.

I expect to find some new treasures in art and in life that I never anticipated, while also getting a chance for face-to-face encounters renowned ones. Given a focus on art, we'll meet some local artists and ask what's it's like for them.? Do they face similar challenges ours? How much of what you're inspired to paint rooted in the ground you walk, the sights and experiences you have, the cultural climate you breathe? Is your technique or the content of your work changed by your milieu?

I promise, wherever I go, and whatever I find, I'll do my best to convey what might be interesting to fellow creative-life travellers on routes of their own . Keep your anticipation up!

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