In the summer of 2019, I took my first solo trip abroad to attend the Urban Sketchers Symposium in Amsterdam.
I almost didn't make it there. And then, after making it there, I almost didn't make it back.
Fortunately, everything turned out just fine, and now I have the pleasure of presenting a complete tour, cover to cover, with a few notes for context.
I began this book on the subway to the airport and finished the last pages on the flight home. While I've completed other travel journals since then, this one stands out as the best. It reflects a joyful moment in my life when I came to understand my purpose and take more risks to pursue what I love.
Upon leaving my apartment, I unwrapped a brand new Moleskine Watercolor Notebook and made a rule: I'm going to draw non-stop (or as much as possible) over the next week.
However, the first leg of my trip–a short subway ride to Atlantic Terminal–was almost the last. Between the first and second station, the train got stuck for an hour and a half with no way to exit or get above ground.
At 7:10 PM, the wheels started turning again, but I still needed to make to the airport, which was over an hour away.
Despite feeling rushed, there was nothing to do but draw while waiting on the AirTrain and in security lines.
TSA did not like how I arrived. Because I had to run between trains and terminals, my clothes were soaked with sweat. Not knowing this, one agent was so astonished and confused that I almost didn't get through. I'm not sure what they imagined–perhaps that I was doused in gasoline or something–but after a few extra tests (and many precious minutes), I was free to sprint toward my gate.
Making my flight after such an ordeal made me that much more excited about the trip. It also meant a celebration was in order. My boarding pass (right) has since faded, but the rum and coke I enjoyed is stitched in memory forever.
A peaceful morning 40,000 feet above the ocean.
My first views of Spain: two kids next to me on the plane asked if I could draw them; passengers on the shuttle train; and walking up the steps to Plaza Mayor for the first time.
What impressed me the most about Spain was how every small detail–from street lamps to windowsills–were not just different; they were more beautiful.
And yet, beauty doesn't stop young Spanish artists from spray-painting anything and everything they can. Graffiti is hugely popular there and I even saw several people tagging walls in just a few hours.
In later pages, the layering of styles both old and new became a recurring theme in my work.
The temperature reached 100 around noon, but I had no desire to go inside, so like everyone else still on the streets, I kept to the shade.
The heat (and a lot of coffee) killed my appetite for anything more than snacks. This calamari sandwich was perhaps the only real meal I ate there.
As the sun sets, street performers play for change.
The colors of Madrid at night were intoxicating. With so many beautiful alleyways to explore, I couldn't stay in one place, so I drew as I walked and let the compositions form themselves.
At some point I realized that I was not going to bed that night. I was in a drawing frenzy that couldn't be told to rest.
After eight hours of wandering through the streets, I enjoyed some breakfast, coffee, and football at a neighborhood cafe.
My last drawing before heading to the airport.
Travel can be a whirlwind. I tried to finish this page many times but it kept getting worse. Now, all I can see is a ghastly-looking woman with a ginormous nose staring at me. She says, "You should have slept, dummy!"
But she's wrong. This sketchbook has some bad pages, but no regrets.
From the sky and on the ground, Amsterdam looks like a LEGO city. I knew I was in for a good time.
My trip included five days here, and I'll admit, I spent every second stoned out of my mind. It wasn't always pretty... but often it was.
The ostrich stamp (top) was the official 2019 Urban Sketchers Symposium stamp and my proof of attendance.
I don't normally make self-portraits, but while smoking, I had the idea of including me smoking in a sketch, so I'm the guy in the bottom right.
Unfortunately, my markers are running dry at this point, so this and a few other areas remained unfinished.
The Urban Sketchers Symposium features classes, lectures, and other educational events that, honestly, I stopped attending immediately.
Though I originally planned on attending two per day, I realized very quickly the right move was to stay on the sidelines. Dip in and dip out.
It's fun meeting other artists and being a part of the scene. In fact, one of my favorite memories was getting Amstels with a few people and sketching the party. But Amsterdam was so beautiful and I wanted to draw it, not talk or listen to lectures. Perhaps that defeats the purpose of a big, international art meetup, but I'll never regret focusing on my work while inspiration is high.
On the last day, I rejoined the official Urban Sketchers meetup at the harbor and said goodbye to the city. All my art materials were depleted and my body was spent. And yet, I had no desire to go home, and I miss this kind of travel every day.
Having a sketchbook as a keepsake helps, though. It's like having a conversation with a younger version of myself. I can look through each page, smile, and remember those golden days I spent biking around the Jaarden District and drawing my heart out.
Want to see more?
If you'd like to see more sketchbook stories, tutorials, and tours, sign up for my newsletter here:
Comments