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Sketchbook Explorer

Sketchbook adventures with David A Sutton

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Tokyo Sketchbook Diary: 22 Sketches from an Illustrated Japan Adventure

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Title image - 10 ROYAL ECHOES: A WATERCOLOR QUEST THROUGH VIENNA’S IMPERIAL GRANDEUR
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10 Royal Echoes: A Watercolor Quest Through Vienna’s Imperial Grandeur

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Title image - 10 ROYAL REALMS: A SKETCHER’S JOURNEY THROUGH CENTRAL EUROPE’S CASTLES & SPA TOWNS
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10 Royal Realms: A Sketcher’s Journey Through Central Europe’s Castles & Spa Towns

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Title image. Prague Myths & Legends. A Sketchbook Tour for Creative Explorers
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10 Prague Myths & Legends: A Sketchbook Tour for Creative Explorers

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SKETCHING SERENDIPITY: A BACKPACK, A SKETCHBOOK, AND EASTERN GERMANY’S HIDDEN CORNERS
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Eastern Germany Sketching Tour: Berlin, Leipzig & Dresden Travel Art Guide

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Title image - SAKURA JAPAN: AN ARTIST JOURNEY IN CHERRY BLOSSOM JAPAN
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Sakura Japan: An Artist Journey in Cherry Blossom Japan

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An on-location travel sketch of Arisugawanomiya Memorial Park in Tokyo, Japan. The illustration captures a serene moment by the lake, focusing on a traditional stone lantern monument rendered with pencil, pen, and color markers.
September 4, 2025September 4, 2025

Finding Stillness: A Hidden Park Sketch in Tokyo

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A detailed travel sketch of Asakusa Temple in Tokyo, Japan, created on location with markers, pen, and colored pencil. The artwork captures the temple's main hall and the prominent five-story pagoda, focusing on the calm atmosphere just before the annual Sanja Matsuri festival.
August 16, 2025August 31, 2025

The Calm Before the Storm: Sketching Asakusa Temple in Tokyo

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Finding peace and inspiration in the serene beauty of the Daitoku-ji Ryogen-in Temple stone garden in Kyoto. Watch the full video for more of my Japan adventure! #Kyoto #DaitokujiRyogenin #ZenGarden #Sketchbook #Shorts
June 15, 2025June 15, 2025

Daitoku-ji Ryogen-in: A Kyoto Zen Garden Sketch

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A charming sketch of Gotokuji Temple in Tokyo, featuring numerous small white beckoning cat (maneki-neko) statues of various sizes clustered around the temple buildings and grounds.
April 23, 2025

Lost in a Sea of Beckoning Cats: Sketching the Magic of Gotokuji Temple

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A detailed pencil and ink sketch of the massive Tokyo Gundam statue, towering over its surroundings. The sketch captures the intricate mechanical details of the robot and the upward gaze of onlookers.
April 23, 2025

Sketching a Giant: My Tokyo Gundam Encounter

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Zoshigay Kishimojin: A Sketcher's Unexpected Day (Pencil and Marker Pen)
March 19, 2025April 23, 2025

Zoshigay Kishimojin: A Sketcher’s Unexpected Day

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Capturing Miyazaki's Magic: Sketching the Nippon Television Clock (Pencil and Marker Pen) I recently had the opportunity to sketch the iconic Miyazaki Nippon Clock, a masterpiece of engineering and artistry designed by renowned anime director Hayao Miyazaki. Located in Shiodome, Tokyo, this colossal clock is a sight to behold. As I sketched, I was captivated by the intricate details and whimsical charm of the clock's design. The various moving parts, inspired by Miyazaki's films, create a mesmerizing spectacle. It's a truly unique and unforgettable experience to witness this masterpiece in person. #MiyazakiNipponClock #HayaoMiyazaki #Tokyo #Japan #Art #Sculpture #Clock #Sketch #Anime sketchbookexplorer.com
October 26, 2024November 9, 2024

The Art of Sketching: Miyazaki’s Magical Clock

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Capturing the Majestic Mount Fuji (Pencil and Marker Pen) I recently had the opportunity to sketch Mount Fuji from a nearby location, specifically near Chureito Pagoda. Inspired by the works of Hokusai, I aimed to capture the mountain's iconic beauty and its serene surroundings. From this vantage point, I was able to appreciate the mountain's perfect conical shape and its snow-capped peak, rising majestically above the landscape. The clear sky provided a stunning backdrop for the mountain, enhancing its visual impact. As I sketched, I couldn't help but feel a sense of awe and wonder at the natural beauty of this iconic landmark. #MountFuji #Japan #Travel #Nature #Volcano #Landscape #Sketch #Art
October 26, 2024November 9, 2024

Capturing the Beauty of Mount Fuji in Art

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Sengaku-ji Temple (Pencil and Marker Pen Sketch) sketchbook explorer.com
October 26, 2024March 12, 2025

Sketching History: The 47 Ronin at Sengaku-ji Temple

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A Peaceful Retreat: Sketching Meiji Shrine (Watercolor) I was fortunate to spend a serene morning sketching Meiji Shrine, a Shinto shrine dedicated to Emperor Meiji and Empress Shōken. Nestled within a lush forest in central Tokyo, the shrine offers a tranquil escape from the bustling city. As I sketched, I was struck by the harmony between the shrine's traditional architecture and the surrounding natural beauty. The shrine's imposing torii gates, leading to a path lined with towering cedar trees, create a sense of awe and reverence. The main shrine building, with its intricate wood carvings and serene atmosphere, is a testament to the craftsmanship and spiritual significance of Shinto traditions. Beyond the main shrine, the expansive forest grounds offer a peaceful retreat for visitors to stroll, meditate, or simply enjoy the tranquility of nature. The shrine's annual festivals, such as the New Year's Eve Hatsumode and the Harvest Festival, attract millions of visitors each year. Hashtags: #MeijiShrine #Tokyo #Japan #Shinto #Travel #Culture #Sketch #Art sketchbookexplorer.com
October 26, 2024December 4, 2024

Watercolor Art: Capturing the Essence of Meiji Shrine

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Matsumoto Castle: A Black Diamond Rising from the Plains (Pencil and Marker Sketch) Hopefully this sketch captures the essence of Matsumoto Castle, also known as Crow Castle for its distinctive black exterior. Built in the late 16th century, it's one of Japan's oldest castles and a designated National Treasure. The unique five-tiered, six-storied donjon (main keep) stands proudly on flatland, a departure from the typical hilltop castle placement. Unveiling the History: The sketch beautifully showcases the intricate details of the black wooden walls and white accents. Originally named Fukashi Castle, it earned the nickname "Crow Castle" due to its dark color. The castle has endured centuries, serving as a seat of power and a symbol of resilience. A Timeless Beauty: Today, Matsumoto Castle stands as a testament to Japan's rich history and architectural prowess. With its elegant form and fascinating story, it's no wonder it continues to inspire artists and travelers alike. Hashtags: #MatsumotoCastle #Japan #Travel #History #Castle #NationalTreasure #BlackDiamond #Sketch #Art sketchbookexplorer.com
October 26, 2024November 20, 2024

The Art of Sketching Matsumoto Castle

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October 23, 2024March 29, 2025

Tokyo Sketching Diary (Part Two)

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June 30, 2024March 29, 2025

Tokyo Sketching Diary (Part One)

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Urban Sketch (Color Pencil) - Stubelallee, Dresden ‘Dresden Grand Garden Palace’ sketchbookexplorer.com #travel #travelblog #travelart #enpleinair #sketch #drawing #sketching #dresden #Germany #colorpencil #colorpencildrawing #colorpencilart #dresdengrandgardenpalace
August 26, 2023June 30, 2024

Urban Sketch (Color Pencil) – Stubelallee, Dresden ‘Dresden Grand Garden Palace’

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Urban Sketch (Color Pencil) – Chiaverigasse, Dresden ‘Bridge between Dresden Castle and Dresden Cathedral' sketchbookexplorer.com #travel #travelblog #travelart #enpleinair #sketch #drawing #sketching #dresden #Germany #colorpencil #colorpencildrawing #colorpencilart #dresdencastle
August 26, 2023June 30, 2024

Urban Sketch (Color Pencil) – Chiaverigasse, Dresden ‘Bridge Between Dresden Castle and Dresden Cathedral’

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August 15, 2023October 23, 2024

Getting Lost in Germany: An Artist’s Adventure

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Urban Sketch (Color Pencil) - Oktober 100, Leipzig ‘Monument to the Battle of Nations.’ sketchbookexplorer.com #travel #travelblog #travelart #enpleinair #sketch #drawing #sketching #leipzig #Germany #colorpencil #colorpencildrawing #colorpencilart #monumenttothebattleofnations
August 14, 2023August 15, 2023

Urban Sketch (Color Pencil) – Oktober 100, Leipzig ‘Monument to the Battle of Nations’

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Urban Sketch (Color Pencil) - Schuhmachergäßchen, Leipzig ‘Kaffeehaus Riquet Cafe & St. Nicholas Church’ sketchbookexplorer.com #travel #travelblog #travelart #enpleinair #sketch #drawing #sketching #leipzig #Germany #colorpencil #colorpencildrawing #colorpencilart #kaffeehausriquetcafe #stnicholaschurchleipzig
August 14, 2023August 14, 2023

Urban Sketch (Color Pencil) – Schuhmachergäßchen, Leipzig ‘Kaffeehaus Riquet Cafe & St. Nicholas Church’

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Urban Sketch (Pencil) - Burgplatz, Leipzig ‘Leipzig New Town Hall.’ sketchbookexplorer.com #travel #travelblog #travelart #enpleinair #sketch #drawing #sketching #pencil #pencildrawing #pencilart#leipzignewtownhall #leipzig #Germany
July 19, 2023

Urban Sketch (Pencil) – Burgplatz, Leipzig ‘Leipzig New Town Hall’

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Urban Sketch (Pencil) - Markt, Leipzig ‘View of Leipzig Market Square.’ sketchbookexplorer.com #travel #travelblog #travelart #enpleinair #sketch #drawing #sketching #colorpencil #colorpencildrawing #colorpencilart #leipzigmarketsquare #leipzig #Germany
July 19, 2023

Urban Sketch (Pencil) – Markt, Leipzig ‘View of Leipzig Market Square’

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Urban Sketch (Color Pencil) - Museum Island, Berlin ‘View of Berlin Cathedral.’ sketchbookexplorer.com #travel #travelblog #travelart #enpleinair #sketch #drawing #sketching #colorpencil #colorpencildrawing #colorpencilart #berlincathedral #berlin #Germany
July 18, 2023

Urban Sketch (Color Pencil) – Museum Island, Berlin ‘View of Berlin Cathedral’

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Sketch of the Reichstag Building in Berlin, highlighting the glass dome and historic architecture.
July 16, 2023

Urban Sketch (Color Pencil) – Platz der Republik, Berlin ‘View of the Reichstag Building’

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Urban Sketch (Color Pencil) - Hradčany, Prague ‘Černínská Zahrada.’ sketchbookexplorer.com #travel #travelblog #travelart #enpleinair #sketch #drawing #sketching #colorpencil #colorpencildrawing #colorpencilart #Černínská zahrada #prague #czechrepublic
July 12, 2023

Urban Sketch (Color Pencil) – Hradčany, Prague ‘Černínská Zahrada’

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Sketch of Checkpoint Charlie in Berlin, showing the guardhouse and signage.
July 11, 2023July 19, 2023

Urban Sketch (Pencil) – Friedrichstrabe, Berlin ‘Checkpoint Charlie’

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Plain air sketch of the Brandenburg Gate, Berlin, using pencil, color pencil, and ink.
July 10, 2023

Urban Sketch (Color Pencil) – Pariser Platz, Berlin ‘View of Brandenburg gate’

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Urban Sketch (Color Pencil) - Petrin, Prague, Czech Republic. ‘View of Prague Castle.’ sketchbookexplorer.com #travel #travelblog #travelart #enpleinair #sketch #drawing #sketching #colorpencil #colorpencildrawing #colorpencilart #Praguecastle #praha #czechrepublic #czechia
July 10, 2023

Urban Sketch (Color Pencil) – Petrin, Prague. ‘View of Prague Castle’

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Urban B&W Color-pencil art - Old Town Squar, Prague, Czech Republic. ‘Prague Christmas market.' Drawn in the snow. sketchbookexplorer.com #sketch #drawing #art #colorpencil #colorpencilart #b&wart #blackandwhite #Prague #praguechristmasmarker #christmasmarket #praha #czechrepublic #czechia #travel #travelblog #travelart
December 26, 2022January 19, 2023

Urban B&W Color-pencil art – Old Town Squar, Prague, Czech Republic. ‘Prague Christmas market.’

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Urban Watercolor painting - Vysehrad, Prague, Czech Republic. ‘Watercolor painting of Vysehrad Castle in November snow.' sketchbookexplorer.com #sketch #drawing #art #watercolor #watercolorpainting #Prague #vysehradcastle #praha #czechrepublic #czechia #travel #travelblog #travelart
November 20, 2022November 20, 2022

Urban Watercolor painting – Vysehrad, Prague, Czech Republic. ‘Watercolor painting of Vysehrad Castle in November snow.’

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Urban Watercolor painting - Sophienstraße, Dresden, Germany. ‘Watercolor painting of The Zwinger.' The building was fully restored in the 1960s, after being mostly destroyed during bombing raids in WW2. sketchbookexplorer.com #sketch #drawing #art #watercolor #watercolorpainting #dresden #thezwinger #zwingerdresden #germany #travel #travelblog #travelart
September 9, 2022November 18, 2022

Urban Watercolor painting – Sophienstraße, Dresden, Germany. ‘Watercolor painting of The Zwinger.’

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September 9, 2022November 18, 2022

Urban Watercolor painting – Marianske Lazne, Czech Republic. ‘Watercolor painting of Kolonáda Maxima Gorkého.’

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September 9, 2022November 18, 2022

Urban Watercolor painting – Karlstejn, Czech Republic. ‘Watercolor painting of Karlstejn Castle.’

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September 6, 2022October 23, 2024

Urban Watercolor painting – Karlstejn, Czech Republic. ‘Photo of watercolor painting of Karlstejn Castle.’

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August 25, 2022November 18, 2022

Urban Watercolor painting – Burggarten, Vienna, Austria. ‘View of the Palmenhaus Brasserie.’

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August 25, 2022November 18, 2022

Urban Watercolor painting – 1010, Vienna, Austria. ‘View of the Burgtheater from the Volksgarten.’

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August 25, 2022October 23, 2024

Urban Watercolor painting – Heldenplatz, Vienna, Austria. ‘View of the Hofburg Imperial Palace.’

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August 25, 2022November 18, 2022

Urban Watercolor painting – Hradcanske namesti, Prague, Czech Republic. ‘View from Prague Castle.’

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August 13, 2022October 23, 2024

Urban Watercolor painting – Heldenplatz, Vienna, Austria. ‘Photo of watercolor painting of the view of the Hofburg Imperial Palace.’

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August 8, 2022August 14, 2022

Urban Watercolor painting – Střelecký Ostrov, Prague, Czech Republic. ‘Watercolor painting of the view of Narodní Divadlo from Strelecky Ostrov.’

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August 8, 2022November 18, 2022

Urban Watercolor painting – V Pevnosti 159/5b, Vyšehrad, Prague, Czech Republic. ‘Watercolor painting of the view of Prague Castle from Vysehrad castle.’

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Urban Watercolor painting – V Pevnosti 159/5b, Vyšehrad, Prague, Czech Republic. ‘Photo of watercolor painting of the view of Prague Castle from Vysehrad castle.' Vysehrad was in competition with Prague castle in the 11th century for the honor of being the royal seat of power. sketchbookexplorer.com #sketch #drawing #art #watercolor #watercolorpainting #praguecastle #vysehradcastle #vysehrad #Prague #praha #czechrepublic #travel #travelblog #travelart
August 1, 2022October 23, 2024

PAINTING PRAGUE – Watercolor painting view of Prague Castle from Vysehrad Castle

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July 31, 2022October 23, 2024

Urban Watercolor painting – V Pevnosti 159/5b, Vyšehrad, Prague, Czech Republic. ‘Photo of watercolor painting of the view of Prague Castle from Vysehrad castle.’

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July 9, 2022October 23, 2024

Urban art – Opatovická 154/26, Nove Mesto, Prague, Czech Republic. ‘Photo of bar sketch in Cafe Jericho.’

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June 26, 2022June 26, 2022

Urban Watercolor painting – Velkopřevorské nám, Malá Strana, Prague, Czech Republic. ‘Watercolor painting of Lennon wall.’

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June 18, 2022June 19, 2022

Urban Watercolor painting – Charles Bridge, Prague, Czech Republic. ‘View of Charles Bridge, from Mala Strana.’

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June 18, 2022October 23, 2024

Urban Watercolor painting – Charles Bridge, Prague, Czech Republic. ‘Photo of watercolor view of Charles Bridge, from Mala Strana.’

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May 8, 2022

Urban art – Valdštejnská Zahrada, Prague, Czech Republic. ‘View of Prague Castle from the Wallenstein Senate Garden.’

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April 24, 2022August 14, 2022

Urban art – Zelenobranská, Pardubice, Czech Republic. ‘View of the Green Gate from the town’s Square.’

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March 13, 2022

Urban art – Náměstí Republiky, Prague, Czech Republic. ‘Starbucks cafe sketching.’

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February 25, 2022

Urban art – OC Smíchov, Prague, Czech Republic. ‘Costa Coffee escalator sketching practice.’

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February 19, 2022February 19, 2022

Urban art – Narodni, Prague, Czech Republic. ‘Cafe Nona Saturday sketch.’

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