In October, 2012, I traveled to Puerto Rico. I'll always remember the beauty of the island, and the fantastic people that live there. I took my camera, but I'm also glad that I took my sketchbook. In a cool coincidence, one of the places I stayed at was owned by a descendant of a famous Puerto Rican artist. Coincidence...or was it? I also created some paintings of Puerto Rico when I returned from my travels, using photos I took as references. But mostly I drew from life in this sketchbook:

A palm tree in Isabela, Puerto Rico. I'm glad I remembered to take my sketchbook!

So here's a look into the sketchbook I kept when I was traveling in Puerto Rico.

SKETCHES OF OLD SAN JUAN

A lamp post in Old San Juan.

Community cats in Old San Juan.

Every morning, a man would carry a bag of kitty food on his shoulder to feed community cats.

Speaking of community cats, please support the great Old San Juan organization Save a Gato !

The maritime museum in Old San Juan.

Not a sketch, but a painting I did on my return from Puerto Rico. The Jose V. Toledo Federal Building in Old San Juan.

SHACKS BEACH

Surfers at Shacks Beach, Isabela, Puerto Rico. I was drawing with markers a lot back then.

A bird in a palm tree.

Another one that isn't a sketch--a painting of Isabela that I did when I got back.

The next you go on an adventure, consider taking a sketchbook with you. You can take your camera, too--I did. Sketching isn't necessarily better, just different--I took a lot of photos too and I'm glad that I have them! I've used a number of these photos that I took as references for paintings and drawings. But there's nothing like drawing from life in a sketchbook, like I did for example with the sketches of the surfers. It really brings you into the moment to concentrate on a life drawing, especially when as with people who are surfing the subjects are almost constantly moving. I hope you've enjoyed this look into my sketches of Puerto Rico.

I can almost guarantee that your hometown has a historic district with overlooked gems in the form of historic buildings. I like to draw these gems.

I've always had an interest in architecture, and not just because there's a really, really famous architect who shares my last name.

Famous architect Mario Botta. Maybe we're related?

By looking at historic buildings in your town, you can learn not just about architecture, but about your town's history. Learning one bit of information makes you want to learn more. There's a Mason St. in Pittsboro, N.C. and a Masonic temple that was built in 1838. It makes you curious about how the Masons contributed to Pittsboro's history. Visit your local library: The reference section is sure to be full of fascinating facts about your hometown's story as told in its historic buildings.

Masonic Temple, Pittsboro, N.C., built in 1838.

But it isn't just historic places that I like to draw. I also draw places that are historic to me. I'm grateful that I drew pictures of a local coffee shop where I loved to sketch, meet people from widely different backgrounds, and feel a real sense of community. All that changed when it was transformed into a swanky restaurant. But I still can visit the coffee shop through my drawings!

I brought my sketchbook here every morning.

All the furniture was removed when the coffee shop was turned into an upscale eatery.

The great thing about the coffee shop was that it felt like a real community. I met people from all walks of life there, people I would never have otherwise crossed paths with.

A sketch of one of my friends at the coffee shop reading the New York Times.

Drawing pictures of historic and "historic to me" places helps me express the connection to the past which I have always felt. (Speaking of the past, here is a drawing of a house that I did in the eighth grade. )

I drew this house in 8th grade art class. I think that's a lawn mower.

I hope what I've written about why I draw historic places will inspire you to look more closely at the historic buildings in your hometown, and encourage you to have a greater appreciation for those places which, though not technically historic, still have a personal meaning that makes them historic...to you.