Watercolor Sketches from My Europe Trip

From October 3–12, I took a solo trip through Spain and Italy with my sketchbook and travel watercolor set in tow. I visited Barcelona, Florence, Rome, and a small lakeside town called Bracciano—a place that quickly became my favorite stop.

In each city, I painted little moments that caught my eye—sunlight on balconies, street corners, bits of architecture—but Bracciano is where I slowed down and painted the most.

There, I spent time sketching views of Lake Bracciano, the beautiful Orsini-Odescalchi Castle, and a cozy spot called Hush Cafè, where I sipped coffee and painted quietly at my table. The slower pace and quiet charm of the town made it easy to be present and really observe the details.

I used my Winsor & Newton Cotman Sketcher’s Pocket Set, a small notebook, and a Micron pen—just the essentials, but perfect for painting on the go. I didn’t worry about making anything perfect. The goal was to document how each place felt.

Bracciano gave me a deeper connection to the act of sketching—less about the outcome, more about the moment. I came home with a sketchbook full of memories I’ll never forget, painted one scene at a time.