Michael Scherotter

For over three decades, I have chronicled the world through the lens of my travel journals – first as a tool to study architecture, then as a way of recording and sharing my journey along the parallel paths of creativity and a career in technology.

My style is loose and able to capture the unexpected, which often happens when using ink and watercolors plein-air. I have found that my most creative expressions come when I break the rules, mix mediums, and play with colors that I feel rather than see. I use the tool of urban sketching as a starting point for creative exploration. In my journals, I have used drawing, watercolor painting, collage, papercraft, photography, circuitry, stitching, and pop-up features to record my travels in creative ways. I have inspired many people by sharing my journals, and that has encouraged me to start teaching various techniques that I have learned and applied over the years.

As most of my work has been in the pages of journals, I developed my artistic technique as a personal dialogue, trying to capture what I see with drawing, painting, collage, photography, and papercraft. I found purpose in the visual journal as a medium to share with others as well as a mnemonic to recall my journey.

In 2021, I took a sabbatical from my work as a technical program manager at Microsoft to build Galeryst.com, aiming to recreate the art gallery experience online – allowing me to exhibit my own work and give artists everywhere an engaging, interactive way to exhibit theirs. I have spent a career in software at the intersection of creativity and technology, crafting and using tools for creative processes – where my favorite creative tool has always been the journal.

For travelers and creative explorers who want to experience a place more deeply and transform their journey into a work of art, this ten-day workshop explores how to create a richly layered visual journal that becomes a lasting artifact. Working in the inspiring setting of Umbria, participants will use sketching, watercolor, photography, collage, paper arts, and mixed media to capture the character of villages, cafés, churches, markets, landscapes, architecture, and everyday life in deeply personal ways.

Each day begins with a hands-on workshop introducing techniques for visual storytelling, composition, observation, and page design. Participants will then venture into nearby locations for plein-air sketching, painting, and collecting inspiration, receiving individualized guidance throughout the day. Afternoon sharing sessions and follow-up demonstrations will help participants build on their discoveries and expand their creative toolkit.

Designed for people with some artistic experience who want to explore multiple media, the workshop encourages participants to bring the materials they already enjoy using while exploring new techniques and approaches. The emphasis is on creating engaging journal pages that combine image, memory, place, and personal expression.

By the end of the workshop, participants will have expanded their ability to observe and interpret the world through art and created a one-of-a-kind illustrated journal that preserves the memories, discoveries, and atmosphere of their time in Umbria.