Artists' Travel Journal
Lots to See & Sketch in Charming Bruges

There’s lots to see and sketch in Bruges: elaborately designed churches, guild houses and civic buildings and charming streets and public squares named for the medieval trade guilds such as Crockery Maker’s Street and Lacemaker’s Square. All must be explored and sketched. Bruges was a leading commercial center during the middle ages thanks to the trade guilds who invested in the city’s architecture and urban infrastructure. Gothic elements such as pointed arches, ribbed vaults, detailed stonework, gabled rooves and ornate facades are common features in Bruges, the collective construction efforts by various guilds that resulted in a cohesive aesthetic throughout...
A Swiss Vibe in the French Alps

The first thing you notice on arrival in the town of Annecy high in the Haute-Savoie region is the fresh alpine air and clear blue sky. Its cobbled, medieval streets have that Swiss vibe. Situated as it is on a pristine lake and surrounded by the French Alps, Annecy is the perfect Switzerland proxy. Every bit as charming and sketchable though far less pricey. From the vantage point of the leafy Jardin de l’Europe, the eye travels past the micro Île des Cygnes to the mountains on the other side of Lac d’Annecy: Mont Veyrier, La Tournette and at a distance...
Bruges & Ghent: Cozy, Charming and Entirely Sketchable

Bruges and Ghent are two nearby medieval towns with stunning architecture and a rich cultural heritage, known for their artisanal beers, charming canals, cozy cafes and magnificent Flemish art. Both towns are UNESCO World Heritage sites. While chocolate and waffles and sweets of all kinds are ubiquitous, these towns are also eye-candy. Colourful buildings, zigzag roof lines, and Flemish spires reflect in the calm canals. It is sketching paradise! Bruges, sometimes called the "Venice of the North" is, of necessity, a city of many many bridges all of which contribute to the abundance of serene landscapes available to sketchers and painters....
Exploring the Heart of Italy

Umbria, in the heart of Italy, is a region characterized by gorgeous mountains, valleys and medieval hilltop towns. It's the birthplace of the saints-- St. Benedict, St. Valentine, and of course, St Francis making Assisi a pilgrimage destination since the 13th century. But even with all these attributes it is still less touristy than its neighbour Tuscany though no less gorgeous.
Quebec City: Old World Charm

You're still in North America but it's like stepping into a town in France--old stone houses built in the 17th century, old world charm, Quebecois culture, and magnificent vistas.