“A dominant impulse on encountering beauty is to wish to hold on to it, to possess it and give it weight in one’s life. There is an urge to say, ‘I was here, I saw this and it mattered to me.” ― Alain de Botton, The Art of Travel
Antrese Wood is painting her way across Argentina. A native of Pasadena, California, Antrese is a former artist with Disney Studios, currently living in Argentina where, after running a successful Kickstarter campaign, she is working on a series of paintings titled A Portrait of Argentina.
Her goal is to paint Argentina from an individual, national, and world perspective. Personally, my mother is an artist, I grew up around the arts, and I believe the perspective of the artist is often the most insightful, so I’m really psyched up to have Antrese come on the show and share with us her cultural portrait of a place that’s been at the top of my bucket list for way too long: Argentina.
On a personal note, I like to be creative while I travel. I can draw, a little, not very well. I wish that everyone were taught to draw, in the same way everyone is taught to write. Because when you draw something, I think you begin to understand it better. So, when you draw somewhere, or someone, it’s the same. You begin to understand not just that you like something, but precisely why you like it. Like what Proust said, “The only true voyage of discovery is not to go to new places, but to have other eyes.”
That’s why I wanted to bring Antrese on the show to discuss her love of the land and culture of Argentina.
Since we recorded this episode, Antrese has launched her own podcast. Check out Savvy Painter and join me in giving Antrese a review!
Words from an Explorer:
“When you’re drawing something, it forces you to stop and really be present in that moment.”
“When you paint, you’re really there for much longer than when you take a picture. It’s more of a meditative experience.”
What You’ll Learn
- How Antrese managed to afford to travel with low-to-no income from painting
- The difference in perspective on time and appreciating the moment in Argentina
- How painting and Yerba Mate both lend themselves to the Argentinian state of being
- Where Antrese recommends you go in Argentina
Antrese’s Itinerary for Argentina
Start in Buenos Aires for a day or two, where you can find tango in a malango, before heading north to Jujury for more authentic cultural exposure. Then drive down the 40 to Bariloche, which is a gorgeous drive south to the edge of Patagonia.
Antrese’s Best Travel Advice
- The First Step: Don’t think, just go. That’s it!
- Internet Travel Resource: Xoom.com
- Favorite Travel Book: On the Road
, Jack Kerouac
- Best Travel Gear: Sketch book and a pencil.
- Weirdest food: Tripe Soup in Argentina, or crickets!
Mentioned in this episode:
Music credit: Imogen Heap – Wait It Out (Artec Remix), Intrepid Journey, by Aaron Static
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