This is a treasure trove of inspiration and insight into the personal lives of the most talented artists we all admire. I thoroughly enjoyed this book!

This is great for anyone who loves art or history or travelling, or creating...

Some of my favourite artists were tracked on their journeys, some very long and arduous, some shorter and more frequent.

My appetite for their art has been stoked!

I love reading about artists and their processes and their travels, so this gave me a lot of inspo and food-for-thought! Thanks Netgalley, for the ARC!

Pub date: 10/24/23
Genre: art history, travel
Quick summary: Artists' travels help them discover new worlds - THE ARTIST'S JOURNEY tells the stories of this travel and the resulting work.

I love art history coffee table books, and Hokusai's woodblock print on the cover caught my eye. I liked that this book had a mix of artists across time periods and cultures, including some I was familiar with but plenty I wasn't. Even if I was already familiar with the artist, the travel element gave me some new insight into their work.

About 6-8 pages are devoted to each artist, for a total of 30 stories. I do wish there had been more images of the art included, but I understand this was likely difficult due to permissions/licensing fees. The author did do a good job of describing the stylistic/subject matter influences from each trip, so an interested reader would know how to search for more in depth information or images of the artworks.

This would be a lovely gift for a friend interested in art and/or travel.

Thank you to White Lion Publishing for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book explores the travels of 31 artistic greats all the way from the 15th Century all the way to the 21st century as well as the influences those travels had on their work.

This book was well-researched and beautifully illustrated. The layout was interesting as it wasn't in chronological order nor in a geographical order.

Publication Date: 5 October 2023

Travis Elborough's "The Artist's Journey: The Travels that Inspired the Artistic Greats" invites readers on a captivating voyage through the lives of renowned painters, uncovering the transformative power of travel on their artistic endeavors. This book, a part of the Journeys of Note series, intertwines the personal stories of artists with their exploration of new landscapes, resulting in a tapestry of inspiration, culture, and creation.

Elborough's prose weaves together the stories of thirty influential journeys that shaped some of the world's most iconic paintings. From Henri Matisse's immersion in the vibrant landscapes of Morocco to Katsushika Hokusai's capturing of Mount Fuji's essence in Japan, the book delves into the profound impact of these travels on both the artists' personal lives and the broader cultural canvas.

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Award-winning author Travis Elborough employs his expertise to breathe life into each journey, offering readers insight into the moments that sparked legendary artworks. The tales behind Marianne North's Indian paintings and David Hockney's California pool scenes come alive with fascinating anecdotes that highlight how the artists' surroundings influenced their artistic vision.


The heart of the book lies in its portrayal of the artists as explorers, adventurers, and seekers of new experiences. These journeys—whether epic road trips or cultural pilgrimages—brought artists into direct contact with unfamiliar landscapes, people, and perspectives. Elborough masterfully captures the essence of each journey, illustrating how the world beyond the canvas becomes an integral part of the creative process.

The narrative structure seamlessly blends historical accounts with a modern lens, offering readers not only an understanding of the past but also a connection to the present. The inclusion of navigational notes, vivid photographs, and meticulously crafted maps enhances the reading experience, providing a tangible sense of the places that inspired these great minds.

Beyond its exploration of art, the book also touches on the themes of self-discovery, transformation, and personal growth that often accompany travel. Through Elborough's narrative, we see how the artists' physical journeys mirrored their internal explorations, resulting in a deeper connection to their craft and the world around them.

"The Artist's Journey" is more than a recounting of historical events; it's an ode to the power of stepping outside one's comfort zone. Elborough reminds us that the act of travel is an act of creation—an opportunity to gain new perspectives, gather stories, and translate experiences into art. This book resonates with travelers, artists, and anyone seeking inspiration in the intersection of life and creativity.

In a world where art and travel continue to influence each other, "The Artist's Journey" serves as a testament to the enduring connection between the two. Travis Elborough invites readers to embark on their own journey of exploration, creativity, and self-discovery, guided by the footprints of the artistic greats who paved the way.

As a traveler and an artist, this book is EVERYTHING.

Traveling is one of the best ways to fill our creative tanks. Hearing about artist greats filling theirs and the places they've gone to do so is a way of filling up my own tank that I didn't know existed until this book.

Artists include Basquiat, Marcel Duchamp, Albrecht Dürer, David Hockney, Frida Kahlo, Klimt, Munch, O'Keeffe, and Picasso. Locations include Provence, India, Morocco, Tunisia, Los Angeles, and the Pellinki Archipelago. Beautiful images, illustrations, and a really well designed book. The author did a fantastic job of pairing photographs of the places to the art itself.

I appreciate the representation of locations outside of Europe and North America, and showing artwork outside of the well-known ones. I LOVED seeing a journal entry from Van Gogh

Thank you to Netgalley for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

This book offered me the opportunity not only to discover the lives of some artists I already knew, but also to learn about others I just didn't know. All by putting them in a framework that made them not only much more understandable, but definitely more human.

Questo libro mi ha offerto la possibilitá non solo di scoprire la vita di alcuni artisti che giá conoscevo, ma anche di conoscerne altri che proprio ignoravo. Il tutto inserendoli in una cornice che li ha resi non solo molto piú comprensibili, ma decisamente piú umani.

I received from the Publisher a complimentary digital advanced review copy of the book in exchange for a honest review.