Why Travel? Why travel becomes the source/inspiration for my watercolor painting

(Poured watercolor of Buddhist monk in Phnom Penh, Cambodia)

A lot of people (usually my father) ask me why I love to travel overseas. Why don’t I just take a cheaper (and much shorter flight) to Florida instead to take pictures?

The answer is simple- I enjoy immersing myself in foreign cultures. It’s actually fun to go to places where I can’t speak the language, can’t read the signs, and have no idea what I am eating. These are all experiences I remember vividly- more than lounging on a beach in Florida. I am not discounting relaxing on the beach. However, I would prefer hiking a mountain in SE Asia looking for giant bugs and watching out for poisonous snakes.

(Bayon temple at Angkor Wat Cambodia- colorful watercolor batik on Japanese rice paper)

Besides unforgettable experiences, I gather thousands of photographs from the places I visit- people, landmarks, landscapes, food, etc. These images inspire me to get into the studio to capture the sights and sounds I experienced.

(Gate to Angkor Thom- literally one of the first watercolor paintings I ever created. I had no idea what I was doing!)

I paint from recent pictures. I paint from old photographs too. As I learn new techniques, different skills, new colors, I see old photographs in a different eye and paint them completely different.

(Watercolor painting of Angkor ruins created using magnetic paints and magnets. Yes, really magnets)

In defense of my father, his first overseas experience was someone shooting at him in SE Asia. I understand why he is content to stay at home. Can’t blame him. But to me, the world is a source of inspiration- and the reason I travel.

I can see an image shot yesterday, or 20 years ago, and something beckons me to paint it. Techniques and colors pop into my head. I have to create it. This is why I continue to add more resource photographs- you can never have enough inspiration.

I know it sounds hard for non-artists. It sounds crazy to me. It doesn’t have to make sense. Travel is my muse.

(Watercolor painting of silhouette of Angkor Wat ruins in Cambodia- created by splattering paint on surface)

These images were all painted over a 13 span from photographs I took in SE Asia. I did (obviously) work on other paintings during the same time- sometimes it took a long time for the painting to appear in my head.

Flights:

I used Expedia for most of my bookings.

https://expedia.com/affiliates/expedia-home.r61ec6W

Hotels:

https://expedia.com/affiliates/expedia-home.pdmg4Uq

Car Rentals:

Do not be shy about getting a car- it makes travel the easiest. Granted, there are some places where driving is insane (Italy!) but I think it is the best way to travel short of hiring a guide.

https://expedia.com/affiliates/expedia-home.t9V33ly

Things to Do:

https://expedia.com/affiliates/expedia-home.kU1s1Sl

Package Travel and Tours:

https://expedia.com/affiliates/expedia-home.fzXbahA

Travel Guides

I still like to have a hard copy book when I travel- JIC the internet or phone isn’t working. I always get at least one Lonely Planet book for research (along with a lot of internet work beforehand).

https://amzn.to/40FOHmz

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Ryan Fox AWS, NWS, TWSA

Ryan Fox Painting

www.ryanfoxpainting.com

(919) 645-8345