Here’s What It Looks Like Inside the Handmade Sketchbooks of a Well-Traveled Artist

Handmade Traveler’s Notebook by José Naranja

Over the last 13 years, artist José Naranja has been filling pocket-sized notebooks with his own visual diary. By illustrating his daily experiences, observations, ideas, and memories, Naranja considers his ongoing project as “a love letter to notebooks, a flight of fancy and also a part of [him].” Each of Naranja’s notebook pages are packed full of his own writing, illustrations, stamps, and photos, all of which beautifully document the life of this well-traveled artist.

After discovering the 9x14cm, 192-page Moleskine notebooks in 2005, Naranja fell in love with their compact size. Today, the self-described “notebookmaker” handmakes his own, and even shares his bookbinding process on his blog, where he reveals, “The notebook made by yourself offers a higher level of satisfaction than any other. You add the passion and love for it, your favorite paper and details. You add a part of yourself in it.”

From color studies and botanical illustrations to stories, personal ponderings, and even hand-drawn board games, Naranja’s sketchbooks are an incredibly intimate view into the artist’s mind. On one page, he illustrates a route map of his trip through America, and on another, he draws characters from his favorite movie, The Handmaiden. Naranja describes his work as “a vault of dreams, ideas and experiences.”

Naranja sells an edited compilation of his best work in an elaborate, multilingual book called The Orange Manuscript. Find out more on his website, and follow the artist on Instagram for daily updates from his sketchbooks.

Over the last 13 years, artist José Naranja has been filling pocket-sized notebooks with his own visual diary.

Handmade Traveler’s Notebook by José Naranja

Handmade Traveler’s Notebook by José Naranja

Handmade Traveler’s Notebook by José Naranja

Each of Naranja’s notebook pages are packed full of his own writing, illustrations, stamps, and photos, all of which beautifully document the life of this well-traveled artist.

Handmade Traveler’s Notebook by José Naranja

Handmade Traveler’s Notebook by José Naranja

From color studies and botanical illustrations…

Handmade Traveler’s Notebook by José Naranja

Handmade Traveler’s Notebook by José Naranja

Handmade Traveler’s Notebook by José Naranja

Handmade Traveler’s Notebook by José Naranja

…to stories, personal ponderings, and even hand-drawn board games…

Handmade Traveler’s Notebook by José Naranja

Handmade Traveler’s Notebook by José Naranja

Handmade Traveler’s Notebook by José Naranja

These handmade sketchbooks are an incredibly intimate view into the artist’s mind.

Handmade Traveler’s Notebook by José Naranja

Handmade Traveler’s Notebook by José Naranja

Handmade Traveler’s Notebook by José Naranja

Handmade Traveler’s Notebook by José Naranja

Handmade Traveler’s Notebook by José Naranja

Handmade Traveler’s Notebook by José Naranja

Handmade Traveler’s Notebook by José Naranja

Handmade Traveler’s Notebook by José Naranja

Handmade Traveler’s Notebook by José Naranja

Handmade Traveler’s Notebook by José Naranja

Handmade Traveler’s Notebook by José Naranja

Handmade Traveler’s Notebook by José Naranja

Handmade Traveler’s Notebook by José Naranja

Handmade Traveler’s Notebook by José Naranja

Handmade Traveler’s Notebook by José Naranja

Handmade Traveler’s Notebook by José Naranja

Handmade Traveler’s Notebook by José Naranja

Handmade Traveler’s Notebook by José Naranja

José Naranja: Blog | Facebook | Instagram

My Modern Met granted permission to use photos by José Naranja.

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Emma Taggart

Emma Taggart is a Contributing Writer at My Modern Met. Originally from Northern Ireland, she is an artist now based in Berlin. After graduating with a BA in Fashion and Textile Design in 2013, Emma decided to combine her love of art with her passion for writing. Emma has contributed to various art and culture publications, with an aim to promote and share the work of inspiring modern creatives. While she writes every day, she’s also devoted to her own creative outlet—Emma hand-draws illustrations and is currently learning 2D animation.
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