Tabitha Walker: Visual Thinking, Travel Sketching, and Finding Your Style — S1/E6

I sit down with Tabitha Walker a professional graphic recorder, instructional designer, and travel artist based in the Washington DC area. We talk about how her background as an analyst shaped her approach to visual work, the toolkit she's developed, and why her travel journal from Mongolia became the spark for Sketch Journeys. We dig into developing a personal style, staying impartial in the room, and why there's no single right way to do this work. Running Order Introduction to the podcast style and guest Who is Tabitha Walker, and her background How travel journaling sparked her visual work The story behind her Mongolia trip and visual travel log Early artistic influences and formative childhood experiences Transition from analysis to graphic recording Challenges of large-scale drawing and building confidence The meditative state during recording sessions Developing a personal style and learning from others The role of randomness and serendipity in career paths Impartiality and filter skills in graphic recording Handling logistical challenges with tools and venue surfaces Building adaptable workflows and preparing for mobile recording Managing equipment and logistical planning, including vetting venues Exploring digital tools like iPad and Procreate for remote work Techniques for digital versus analog recording Creating effective readouts and summaries post-event Innovating with digital presentations and paid add-ons Practical advice for visual thinkers: practice, style, authenticity Three tips for aspiring visual thinkers Connecting with Tabitha and her online presence Closing remarks and appreciation Resources & Links Sketched Journeys — Substack Sketched Journeys — Business Website Procreate Neuland Markers Faber-Castell 9000 Pencils Pentel Slicci 0.25 Uni-ball Signo DX 0.38 Watercolor Pencils — Faber-Castell White Acrylic Markers Subscribe to the Sketchnote Podcast You can subscribe to the podcast through iTunes, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, YouTube or your favorite podcast listening source. Support the Podcast To support the creation, production, and hosting of the Sketchnote Army Podcast, buy one of Mike Rohde's bestselling books. Use code ROHDE40 at Peachpit.com for 40% off! Sketchnote Lab is Mike Rohde’s space designed to bridge the gap between sketchnote theory and practice. You don’t need to be an artist to think visually. Join Mike and learn to use sketchnotes to clarify your thinking, solve problems, and move forward. Learn more about Sketchnote Lab. Mike is the author of The Sketchnote Handbook and The Sketchnote Workbook, bestselling books that teach regular people how to start sketchnoting and build a regular sketchnoting practice. He founded the Sketchnote Army and hosts the Sketchnote Podcast, where he interviews visual thinkers to understand what makes them tick. Mike teaches recorded, live, and in-person workshops to accelerate your sketchnoting practice and provides personalized coaching for your specific visual-thinking challenges. He is the illustrator of bestselling books like REWORK, REMOTE, The $100 Startup, Honest SEO, The Culture Playbook, and The Future Begins with Z. Become a Supporting or Founding Lab Partner to support Mike’s work. Some links in Sketchnote Lab posts are affiliate links. If you purchase through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend tools and resources I use and believe in. ©2026 Mike Rohde, Sketchnote Lab