On this sketch trip to San Diego, I decided to challenge myself by using only colored pencils. It was a bit of an experiment — I wanted to see how fast I could work with them, especially when it came to adding color on the go. Colored pencils demand more time and layering than ink or watercolor, but I was curious if I could adapt them for travel sketching. The result was a vibrant and diverse series of drawings, each one capturing a different corner of the city — from parked cars to museum sculptures and the peaceful marina.
Btw, recently I spent a weekend sketching in Laguna Beach. All about this sketch weekend you can find here.
Pencils that I use this trip you can find here.
Sketching Cars
The trip began with sketches of cars while I waited in a parking lot before heading to San Diego. These quick studies were the perfect warm-up. I experimented with color blocks and contrast, exploring how far I could go with just blue, orange, and grey tones. This series gave me time to loosen up and observe shapes, shadows, and reflections without overthinking — just sharp eyes, fast lines, and no time to hesitate.
Food Sketches
The next morning at breakfast, I shifted my attention to food. I sketched a milk jar and a muffin and Danish pastry while sipping coffee. I used a grey pencil first to capture the basic structure, then added shading and color later in the hotel room. This was probably the most unfamiliar subject for me — I rarely sketch food. But I enjoyed the calm still-life atmosphere, and it reminded me how ordinary objects can become charming subjects in a sketchbook.
Art Museum Sketches
While visiting the San Diego Museum of Art in Balboa Park, I came across two sculptures that instantly caught my attention. At first, I thought they were dogs — only later I realized they were foxes from a Shinto shrine. I sketched them simply in grey pencil, letting the forms speak without color. I included the museum sticker in the sketchbook spread as a little memento. Though the museum wasn’t large, it had plenty of treasures worth observing and sketching.
Sketches in Balboa Park
Balboa Park itself turned out to be a goldmine for architectural sketches. I was especially drawn to the Spanish-style facades, towers, and intricate ornamentation. I made a quick ochre line drawing on the spot and completed the details and color in my room later. The park’s blend of historic architecture, tropical plants, and bright light made it feel like a Mediterranean city. Sketching here was effortless — the shapes practically asked to be drawn.
Sketches at the Marina
To wrap up the trip, I took a walk along San Diego’s marina. The masts and sails of the yachts, the reflections in the water, and the calm rhythm of the harbor offered a totally different visual experience. I began with a loose sketch using just one pencil and gradually layered in blue, black, and grey. It was peaceful and meditative — the kind of scene you could return to again and again, always finding a new detail to capture.
This sketch trip gave me not only beautiful views and quiet drawing moments but also a chance to explore a medium I don’t usually work with outdoors. Colored pencils proved more flexible than I expected. They let me build up color gradually and adapt sketches at my own pace. San Diego was the perfect place for this experiment — rich in texture, full of contrasts, and always ready to offer a new scene around the corner.
