The Heart + Work Behind the Spring '26 Travel Print Collection
- 2 days ago
- 5 min read
If youāre missing the sound of the ocean,
the feeling of another language being spoken around you,
or waking up in a new place with the day ready to be explored...
This collection is for you.
Introducing the Spring '26 Travel Print Collection!
The heart behind this collection is to bring the experience of a morning abroad (my happy place!) to our everyday lives. Some places never really leave us. Even after weāve unpacked our suitcases, forgotten the words we picked up of the local language, and given up on trying to cook the recipes we promised ourselves we'd recreate once we returned home. The memories we create with people & places we love? They carry other versions of ourselves. The experiences that opened our eyes, the lessons we learned, the people we met, the ways we changed.
Thatās what I try to honor with art of people and places. Not just a drawing of a city, but a memory of the way it shaped me. Or a dream of the way it one day could. That heartbeat shaped the genesis of this collection. Then, I worked to bring that feeling forward in each intentional design.
Colors that feel like a refreshing adventure.
Negative space that gives the illustration room to breathe.
Textures and brushstrokes that feel hand-drawn and organic.
Imperfect. Inviting. A chance to dream about the places that challenge and inspire us.
So, that's the origin of this collection in a nutshell!
āø Read on for the creative process of making the prints, how I selected the final 6 cities, and the beauty in each place I wanted to highlight.
The Backstory: I gave up on travel prints for a year
I gave up on travel prints for a year before something stuck. Everything felt forced. The colors werenāt working. None of my drafts were prints Iād want on my walls as I cook breakfast or in the background at my office desk. So I stopped forcing it for awhile. As much as I love travel prints, I wanted to create from a place of inspiration not obligation to just create something.
Finding Creative Direction: A Morning Abroad
Iāve been craving more negative space in my art, something that feels refreshing
And as I thought about my vision of creating art that feels like a morning abroad, I played around with some brushes and loose strokes and accidentally found the direction I wanted to take.
Taking some space helped me realize, sometimes all creativity needs is a little space. A little time for things to click. Do you ever step away from creative projects and come back with fresh perspective? I think we all need that sometimes.
The Messy Rough Drafts āø Pulling Inspiration from Around the World
Every illustration in this collection started with a messy sketch like the one below. Something about letting artwork be messy (not easy for an enneagram 1 like me!) is freeing. You know it's not the version that's coming out on the other side.
For each city, the ones I've been to and the ones on my bucket list, I researched photos and characteristics of the cities that people love most. I aimed to capture versions of each place that people would see and think to themselves,
"Ah, I want to go back there!"
I created an original color palette called "Landmark" for this series- to feel bright, refreshing and hopeful. Each brush used was thoughtfully chosen to create a textured, layered feel to each illustration while still giving it space to breathe.
The Full Illustration Process of the Cape Town Print
After starting with the light sketch, I limited my color story down even further from the Landmark palette I used for the collection. I wanted it to reflect the warm, island feel of Cape Town.
Next, I went over the sketch with a larger brush and light color to block it out. After, I returned with a darker version of the color to add shadows and contrast. Then, one of my favorite parts- the details! You'll notice all the pieces in this collection have an earthy, coffee color to help define architecture and certain flora or elements I wanted to bring attention to. Lastly, with details, I added free strokes of colors in different places- across buildings, through the mountains, and dancing along the streets- to give the pieces interest, slight playfulness, and a little abstract lift.
Watch the Cape Town print come together from start to finish āø
How were the 6 cities chosen?
I asked you all on Instagram and in the Basecamp & Brew community what prints you wanted to see, and combined some of the top responses with places that either many of you are from or top cities Americans traveled to in 2025.
So, here are the 6 cities and a bit about each...
ā Bangkok, Thailand
Get lost in Bangkok, the āCity of Angelsā along the Chao Praya River in Central Thailand. Ornate Buddhist temples stand ancient among towering skyscrapers in this Southeast Asian megacity.Ā This print of an original by Kelly Wallace was inspired by Kellyās 2 years spent living in Bangkok, and is designed for travelers with a love ofĀ mango sticky rice, floating markets, and the tropical city beauty of Bangkok.
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ā Charlotte, North Caroline, USA
Charlotte, the "Queen City", nestled along the East Coast in North Carolina, USA. Trees canopy over pretty streets with the iconic Uptown skyline peering through.Ā This print was inspired by my 7 years of living in Charlotte, and is designed for travelers with a love ofĀ greenways, the Whitewater Center, and the botanical beauty of Charlotte.
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ā Rome, Italy
Rome, the "City on the Seven Hills", along the Tiber River in Italy. Ancient ruins tower behind quaint cobblestone streets and trattorias.Ā This print was inspired by my travels to Rome in 2015, and is designed for travelers with a love forĀ walkable cities, artisan gelato, and the historic beauty of Italy.
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ā Cape Town, South Africa
Cape Town, the "Mother City", nestled in South Africa. Island energy dances with the backdrop of Table Mountain and bustling city life.Ā This print was inspired by being one of my bucket list travel spots (and where one of my best friends is living!), and is designed for travelers with a love ofĀ palm trees, optimistically colored rows of houses, and the buzz of Cape Town.
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ā Paris, France
Paris, the "City of Light", divided by the Seine River in France. Iconic landmarks tower over the city dotted with cafes and art exhibits.Ā This print was inspired by growing up speaking French and traveling to Paris for the first time with my family in 2015. Bring Paris home with you to wake up in the morning remembering strolling with a pain au chocolat, gazing at art, and taking in the romantic beauty of Paris.
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ā Antalya, TĆ¼rkiye
Antalya, the sun-soaked coastal gem along the Turkish Riviera. Ottoman-era houses nestle between bright blue marinas and ancient ruins in the KaleiƧi (Old Town).Ā This print was inspired by my travels to Antalya in 2020, and is designed for travelers with a love ofĀ beaches in view of the mountains, ÅiÅ Kƶfte meat skewers, and the Mediterranean beauty of Antalya.
Prints Better For People & The Planet
This collection is for people who want to sustainably collect art pieces for their home. Your art is printed sustainably using a vendor that produces the merchandise near the end destination- reducing waste, emissions, delivery times, and cost. Sustainable, high-quality matte paper (FSC-certified or equivalent paper for sustainability) is used so that your print is better for the planet!
Bring the World Home with You
The work that followed the messy beginnings & rough drafts is now in the shop! Thanks for journeying with me to 6 international cities that showcase the beauty & diversity of the world.
ā Don't see one of your favorite cities on the list? Contact me about commissioning one of your places to bring the world home with you!
