Sketching Shenandoah: What I Packed, What I Used, and What I Brought Home

Watercolor sketchbook spread showing a wildflower meadow and layered mountains at Rag Mountain Overlook beside a large green tree at Shenandoah National Park.

I packed enough art supplies for several imaginary versions of myself, then discovered that the artist who actually showed up in Shenandoah mostly needed a sketchbook, a pen, and five spare minutes. Between mountain drives, campground deer, wildfire haze, and one unruly palette, the trip taught me what travel sketching is really for.