365 Journal Entries

Another quick sketch, this time done from a computer image. I shot this in China (Yunnan) from a local bus window while on the way to the grocery store. I'd rather sketch on location but this is the next best thing.

My goal is to fill up the Moleskine watercolor sketchbook I brought along on this trip. (A noble goal.) I'm also keeping a travel journal and a travel blog.

It's amazing that I get out at all!

...dave
Experience is what enables you to recognize a mistake when you make it again. - Earl Wilson

As an experiment I decided to "sketchnote" an evening of activities.

Sketchnoting is big. A sketchnote is a combination of images and text. Some sketchnoters use fonts to highlight the important points of a presentation, others use more drawings, still others use a combination of both.

The point is, sketchnoting will help you remember the event (regardless of how good your drawings are) because you are employing three sensory inputs to your brain: hearing, feeling (drawing), and seeing. You'll retain 30% of the presentation as opposed to just 10% with only note taking.

The next time you listen to a lecture try a sketchnote. If you don't draw then just make the main points a larger font on your notepad. This simple act will make your notes more memorable. Even a simple picture will make them come to life and a joy to review.

...dave
I always wanted to be somebody, but now I realize I should have been more specific. - Lily Tomlin

Theoretically Related Posts

• Dave's suggestions on sketchnoting featured on Sketchnote Army
• Other featured sketchnoters (is that a word?).
• Mike Rohde's complete sketchnotes (great stuff here).

Originally uploaded by daveterry

In preparation for our two month trip to China, Ruth made her what-to-wear chart. She lists all the clothes she wants to bring and draws lines between what goes with what. Anything with only a couple of lines gets axed!

(She doesn't have a shoe chart as she will only bring two pair. The ones she wears on the plane and the sandals in the carry on bag.)

We're big on www.onebag.com. We've been traveling now this way and we'll never go back to check-on bags. On our last two month-long trips to China we only brought a carry-on bag. Once we tried this, we never went back to checking bags. No lost luggage, no wait on arrival, no back pain, just to name a few benefits. If you are interested in lightening your load, check out the Go-Light-Guru at www.onebag.com. Great advice.

So we are locked and loaded. We leave for our two month adventure in China on Monday.

Plans are:
1) Photograph: You'll be able to follow our adventure vicariously at: travel.daveterry.net. (Or just click on the Travels tab above.)

2) Sketch: I'm looking forward to more sketch time.

3) Stories: We'll keep you posted on what's happening. (Sorta like last time's China 2008 trip. (Reading this blog is a great insomnia cure!)

...dave
A vacation is what you take when you can no longer take what you've been taking. ~Earl Wilson

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Originally uploaded by daveterry