Opinion Lee TullochTravel Browser September 8, 2026 — 5:00 am September 8, 2026 — 5:00 am Save You have reached the maximum number of items saved. Remove items from the saved list to add new ones. AAA From the 17th to the 19th centuries, young British aristocrats went on “grand tours” of Europe, sometimes spending months wandering between cities. One item that was essential for many was a sketchbook or easel and paints. Touring was considered an educational cultural experience that allowed travelers to experience European art, which was considered superior to the art they found at home. The author (far left) and friends during the Making Art in Greece tour. By sitting for long periods, visualizing classical sculpture and architecture, and keeping detailed diaries at each stop, great tourists believed that they would receive a moral education that would improve their tastes, intellectual habits, and manners. Without cameras, sketches and paintings served as postcards and ways to capture memories. Sign up for the travel newsletter The latest travel news, tips and inspiration delivered to your inbox. Register now. Just as the camera destroyed the sketch, the selfie destroyed the value of the monument or artifact. People like to be in the frame. After traveling last year with Geelong artist Teresa Lawrence, who collaborates with Luxe Sailing on the Creating Art in Greece tours, I took a sketchbook and watercolors with me on every trip. Watercolor sketch by the author from a tour of a cafe with ceilings covered with frescoes of angels in the city of Oitilo.Lee Tulloch I find it calmer to slow down and draw what I see, rather than photographing it and storing it in my phone along with tens of thousands of other images, never to look at it again. I didn’t think I’d ever have the opportunity to sit and draw in my busy travel schedule, but now I intentionally make time for it, every day if I can. It’s addictive. Back home, I flip through my little Fabriano notebook and feel much more connected to the place through my funny interpretations rather than the camera. This is a new skill for me and a source of deep pleasure. I don’t just consume a thing or a place, I make something original out of it. People underestimate the need for creative moments in life.iStock As an antidote to all the fakeness we encounter every day, painting and other crafts can be extremely rewarding. We tend to think of short holidays, often weekends, as welcome breaks in the circuit, a little rest and relaxation, sometimes spent with family and friends. This is one type of travel. But another option is to use this break as an opportunity to develop skills, learn a new craft, or take up an art like painting that you enjoy. Longevity experts say it’s important to challenge your brain throughout your life with unfamiliar tasks to keep your mind sharp, so learning challenging tasks like learning a new language and a new musical instrument can help slow cognitive aging. But the one thing that people underestimate is the need for creative moments in life. A time to dream, a time to sing, a time to create something insignificant like a ceramic sculpture or a painting. Many people feel that they don’t have time for this in their lives. And I hear people say that they are not creative, although this is not true. We are all creative people, it is an important component of our humanity. We all have frontal lobes that produce new thoughts. Being creative simply means bringing something new (to you) into the world, whether it’s an idea or a knitted sock. I’ve noticed that people who have a good life-work balance tend to do something extra with their hands and minds for fun – knitting, sewing, embroidery, wood carving, pottery. Artist-led tours can help kick start your new hobby.iStock So, this precious weekend, why not get creative? Go alone, go with friends. Learn a new skill or craft that will give you the same satisfaction as creating something yourself. If you do your research, you’ll find dozens of artisan retreats and tours all over Australia and the rest of the world. For example, for artists there is an Australian company, Painting Holiday Tours, which offers an intensive selection of artist-led tours for short breaks and longer trips abroad. I have found that traveling with a professional artist and teacher like Teresa has great value in jumpstarting my new passion. It was one of the best experiences of my life because I came back with a completely new perspective on the places I travel to, which is important after 40 years of doing this. I know it’s very 18th century, but I think those great tourists and their slow travels got it all figured out. The writer was a guest of Luxe Sailing. Save You have reached the maximum number of items saved. Remove items from the saved list to add new ones. Lee Tulloch – Lee is a best-selling novelist, columnist, editor, and novelist. Her distinguished career spans over three decades and includes 12 years of work between New York and Paris. Lee specializes in sustainable and thoughtful travel.Connect via email. From our partners Post navigation This 17th century habit has completely changed the way I travel. Travel Time’s Lois Barbour Receives National and International Recognition for Travel Excellence