Impressions from the Road
- Caroline Clarke
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
Notes from a Curious Traveler
Bainbridge Island — April 15, 2025
In the age of ChatGPT multimodal image generation, I'm going entirely analog.
Almost ready. My studio is a mess. I've been prepping paint, paper, and an evolving kit of art supplies. In the process, I've printed a few postcards. Some are up on the whiteboard, others spread across the table.
The tiny printing press—sitting idly now—has already earned its place on the upcoming journey.
And nearby, the latest card (still in progress and the one you see here) reads: Goodbye Bainbridge Island!
In less than a week, I'll be traveling through the UK with my husband, a printing press, and a stack of blank postcards. We have a loose itinerary and plan to let each day unfold on its own terms. Later—perhaps the next morning over a cup of coffee—I'll make a postcard: a printed image on one side, a handwritten message on the other.
Marking the moments that matter. Noticing what leaves an impression.
It's a three-week trip, part nostalgia, part celebration. We're visiting places from Neil's childhood and marking thirty years together.
My travel art kit fits in a flat box, about 10 by 14 inches. Inside:
– A stack of watercolor postcard paper
– A postcard-size plate for inking up and printing
– Five tubes of water-mixable oil paint: two reds, a yellow, a blue, black, white, and sepia
– A few tools for scratching out monotypes
– Baby wipes (lots of baby wipes)
– A tiny bundle of colored pencils and erasers
– Tracing paper for quick compositions
– And a small set of pan pastels
It's been fun whittling things down to the essentials—just enough gear to challenge the imagination without overtaking the travel experience.
Some postcards I'll mail. Some I'll keep. All are a way to slow down and connect—pure enjoyment.
More from the road shortly.
I'll keep you, ahem, posted.
About the press:
The Postcard Printing Press by Open Press Project. I first experimented with it on a trip to DC; you can read more in this earlier post.
40 years ago I stayed at B&Bs on a hike across Northern England. Leftover oatmeal was given to large, raven-like birds they called rooks. There were also stunningly handsome grey and black birds they called rooks but I think were hooded crows. I predict that a rook may find it's way to your postcards.
Enjoy your trip to the UK!
Happy travels!