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In 2003 I took my daughters to Europe. We flew into Munich, took trains and cars through Italy, France and Spain, leaving from Barcelona 2 weeks later. I spent a great deal of time drawing in my sketchbook during that trip. Often it would be early in the morning before the girls were up. I would wander about whatever city we were in, find a place to sit and drink some coffee and draw.
Here are a few of the drawings I did in those early morning hours.
Here are a few of the drawings I did in those early morning hours.
In Munich we stayed at a youth hostel close to the train station. I came over to get my morning joe and sat watching this woman buzz around crazily getting coffee and other goodies for the train riders. She knew I was drawing her and would come over every once in a while to see what I was doing. She thought I made her look bustier than she was, but she said she didn’t mind.
We took the overnight train from Munich to Venice. When I awoke that first morning I went to find coffee and came across the grand canal and the famous commercial bridge that have shops all along it. I stood and sipped my coffee while I watched the shopkeepers start their day. Then I turned my attention to the still quiet canal for my drawing.
In the south of France we rented a car so we could travel a bit off the beaten path. We stayed at this wonderful old chalet, up on the 3rd floor. It was gorgeous and very relaxing, just what we needed after almost a week of intense travel and sightseeing. I took the opportunity to get out early and sit in the open field next to our accommodations and draw the building.
We finished our trip in Barcelona. We stayed in an apartment B & B owned by a retired professor who now was writing books on folk art in Catalonia. The place was filled to the ceiling with books and incredible objects. I took a walk early one morning and came across this beautiful scene of a woman doing tai chi while the monument in the corner appeared to be watching her every movement.
