I Traveled 5,000 Miles To Sketch the Streets of Europe

We walked past you, I walked past you and there was nothing there. For the last two years, I had an idea that wouldn't go away. To leave. To go on my very first solo trip as an artist, internationally. But that's not all. You see... I think it should be... I'm leaving for a little while to... Create. Explore. Expand. To serve. Today, the day has finally come to embark on this journey and I'm taking you along for the ride. I mean, the flight. You know what I mean. So let's go on our first international sketchbook date. After nine hours and boarding a connecting flight, synchronicities kicked in. And after a little bit of sketching in a new sketchbook and some long lines and customs, all sorts of emotions surfaced up as we made it into the arrival to beautiful Croatia. Welcome to the city of Split. We have finally arrived. Croatia is located in Southeast Europe on the coast of the Adriatic Sea. Here's where we are now and where we're going to be sketching today. And in case you're wondering, yes, it's my first time here. Over the next few days, I will be moving around through different parts of Croatia to also host my very first art retreat. That's in another video. Yep, this is part one and I did arrive a few days early to take you guys on a sketchbook date wherever you are at home. So, let's go. The air is beautiful. The sun is out. Everybody's playing. I am so excited to explore. Let's do it. Wherever I go, especially a new place, I love to take a day in early morning to get lost in town, observe the people, take in the architecture, sit still and look up at the sky and most importantly, make friends with the locals. And have a moment to think, yep, it's actually happening. After taking a long stroll, I found a view that really caught my eye. So, I found a little spot, got cozy and started my first sketch of the day. And oh boy, was I feeling euphoric. Just look at this cutie. There was just something about this building specifically. It had so much character, so I felt the need to express that in the sketch. Something I really intended on tapping into was feeling the essence of the place and how I felt there. What emotion and energy a place evoked and how can I best translate that into the character of the lines and the shapes that I make in my drawing. What a fun puzzle to decipher, huh? With careful observation, I still wanted to bring more character by distorting the shapes a bit. The last time I was in Europe was about five years ago, so being here was just pure happiness and joy for an artist with all the different shapes and different sizes of different characteristics. It was just so special. European architecture gets me every single time. Sometimes I bring an easel with me, sometimes all I need is to sit down on a nice little ledge and draw. In fact, I seem to fit quite nicely in there. I started off in a toned sketchbook and used some brown ink that I just wanted to experiment with. And since the ink was waterproof, I was able to use a water-soluble marker on top and then my favorite to add some highlights with white. And eventually the first sketch in ink for the day was complete. And after holding up my sketchbook and looking at it next to our lovely subject, I was super happy with the results. But we're not done yet. I'm still craving to sketch, so why don't we go find another place to maybe do a painting? The first few days of exploring the streets of Split were so exciting. And I did do an extra painting of this tower that I didn't get on camera, but I did it in gouache. Let's keep on exploring to see what other locations spark some creativity. Upon turning the corner, I came across this beautiful little section and started to get the sketchbook out to do some watercolors. Despite this being a busy street, the brightest colors of the view sparked the inspiration instantly. So here's our next subject that we're going to paint next. And as I set up, a quick word from our sponsors, Squarespace. For this painting, I'm using a new compact watercolor palette I put together that I'm testing out and loving so far. And the paints sit in these pans that also sit on magnets. Kind of like a little template. So you can rearrange and personalize it to your liking. Pretty much how you would form out your website in the all-in-one platform that I use, Squarespace. Except instead of forming out a watercolor palette, you'd be designing and creating your online presence. The beauty is that their award-winning templates make it super easy and seamless and my favorite, user-friendly. When traveling, odds are people are going to want to know more about you and find your website, so having one is essential. And in case you need to make an update, they have 24-7 customer support anywhere and everywhere. Give it a try by going to squarespace.com and when you're ready to launch, head over to squarespace.com forward slash jesscarp for 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain. So Jess, you pack your bags, get to another country, set up your sketchbook and start filming right on location in one of the busier parts of Split in Croatia. You're probably wondering if I felt nervous at all. To be quite honest, I had a lot of emotions flowing through in and out, but I also was really fueled by the excitement. With this sketch, I really wanted to take in the environment and just take my time. Start with a little bit of a pencil drawing and then go in with some watercolors. No rushing, just taking it all in one step at a time. And before I knew it, I was also making so many friends. Oh, you teach? Teacher. What do you teach? Mathematica. I love that. I love math. That's my favorite subject. I love it. Thank you. Nice to meet you. Have a good time. When urban sketching, although all your senses are tingling and you are super in the moment, there is a lot to juggle. Just as I began my sketch and the first layers of watercolor, I had a little visitor and I tried to save him and get him to go on my little necklace and my brush, but he just kind of wanted to hang out. Little surprises like this during urban sketching is all part of the process and I have to say, I do love it all. Shortly after, all my paints fell, but hey, just keep going. There is something ever so special about painting right on location and meeting and talking to strangers. Sitting right there and then and letting the moment reveal its miracles to you. And the more and more I go paint on location, I realize any form of creativity is a universal love language, whether it's painting, singing, dancing. Being our own creators of this life, we all speak the language and it's a way for all of us to connect to one another. Now, it's not to say it doesn't come with challenges. This complex scene with a very interesting perspective with all the little details and colors definitely required a certain level of focus. And as far as strategy, I wanted to go in with lighter layers and build up values and shadows as I go on. And as usual, let my feelings and intuition guide the way. When painting and just being in a new place and a new country, I think it's really important to have fun where you are and let that show up in your sketches. It's really easy to be serious, but even when I meet people, I just try to share some laughs together as well. Smiling, another universal language of love. Light it up, light it up, pedal to the metal. We're gonna take it to a whole nother level tonight. Alright? A whole nother level. I don't know what we've been waiting for. It's time to hit it like we never ever hit it before. A whole nother level. Something I'm consistently focusing on when I'm painting and creating a full sketchbook spread and since this is a panoramic view, I really wanted to focus on the composition and thinking about how I can make a focus area in the painting. Although there are so many details, we've gotta have a star of the show when it comes to the painting itself. And everything else in the painting in the spread can be a beautiful compliment. Listen to the rhythm of my beating heart. Telling us it's time for you and me to start. Since I set up this travel palette, I have to say from the first impressions, it was so comfortable to paint with and I think I found my new favorite compact travel setup. I have a whole video on everything I packed for the trip in case you wanna check it out. Now when it comes to mixing the shadows, I absolutely love mixing blues and purples. Take a look at your subject and especially those darkest shadows. What color do you really see? What colors are you feeling at that very moment? Listen closely and follow through with that feeling. Let your inner light shine. You too. It was a beautiful sunny day with some beautiful blue skies so I wanted to capture that in the sketch and make the blues as bright as I saw them. Happiness was on level 1,000 in this moment and little did I know it would just keep on amplifying throughout the day. 35. Yeah, but we will pass you. I will pass you. There was nothing there. Wow. Thank you. Yes, it is. Why didn't you know? Are you an artist? I love water. Ah, because you love water. Thanks for that drain, Ollie. Ah, I see, I see. Thank you so much. Where are you guys from? We're from London. Oh, London. Beautiful. I have to go, I've never been. No, those guys are from the USA. Oh, the USA. Oh, beautiful. I will. That's the next stop. Okay. And then after the show is over, I'll stop by. Wherever I go and find myself sitting down to paint, I always like to ask myself, what did I learn today? Today and along with the past few days, especially full of all sorts of emotions traveling to a new country, taking time to get lost in the streets and explore and truly step into the unknown, I learned that wherever you go, wherever you travel, wherever you sit and get lost in the creative process, wherever you take a moment for stillness, to observe, to notice, to breathe in a new challenge or follow a dream, I was reminded that just when you think you're getting lost in the flow of it all, perhaps it's also just as you step foot into the spaces that you fear, whether it's going somewhere alone, maybe being alone, maybe painting in public or even talking to a stranger, wherever that may be, I'm reminded that wherever you go, you meet yourself right there on the other side. I have to say that I'm so grateful to be finally doing the thing that I have been dreaming to do and more so sharing that dream with you. I want you to know that anything is possible and you can do anything that you set your heart and mind to in this life and don't you ever forget it. Check, check. Today's the day. Oh my god! Oh my god, I love you! I'm getting ready to meet all of my incredible girls coming on the trip. I'm so excited. Hello, welcome, welcome, welcome! Months and months of planning, months and months and years of dreaming about this. The day is finally here and it's just absolutely crazy to say it out loud. Welcome everybody! Congratulations! Okay, so, first things first.