Vacation sketches – European train

Our time in Prague was over so we took a cab to the train station. We got there a few minutes early plus there was an announcement that our train was running 10 minutes late, so out came the sketch book!

I loved every minute of the 4 1/2 hour train ride to Berlin. The four of us had reserved seats in the First Class car, which was only $20 more per person, very well worth the small extra cost. It was lovely to sit in comfortable wide seats watching the beautiful countryside go by through the large windows.

We were moving too fast for to sketch anything outside, but we did make a few stops. Most of them lasted all of 2 minutes, but when we got to Dresden the conductor announced an 18 minute stop. Enough to sketch something! I had to move a few seats back but then I had a great view of this beautiful old Hauptbahnhof (Main train station) in Dresden. Eighteen minutes was barely enough time to finish this sketch . . .

What I really loved about this train ride was the dining car! First I went with my two children and we all had hot chocolate sitting at a table for four watching the countryside. Well, my kids were actually playing cards, I was watching the countryside go by. I decided to sketch the inside of the dining car since the kids were content to stay for a while and in the Europen tradition, there is no hurry to get the check so I had all the time in the world. This sketch was difficult and this is actually my second attempt, the first one went wrong quickly and ended up in the trash can.

A while later I dragged my husband to the dining car and we each had a little snack. I just loved it! We arrived in Berlin that afternoon and I was sorry our train ride was over. We spent one night in the hotel and then caught a flight back home to Houston the next morning.

I am so glad I brought along a sketchpad and pen, this was a first for me and these sketches will always bring back fond memories of this trip. In fact, I had so much fun sketching that I may teach a class on keeping a sketchbook. My church has asked me to teach a class (art related) at the Annual Women’s Retreat and I think a class on “How to keep a sketchbook and journal” would make a great class.

6 thoughts on “Vacation sketches – European train”

  1. Karen

    Hi Joan, These drawings are so beautiful. I love the sensitive line quality of them, I love that the lines kind of meander around and really seem to feel their way around their subjects. They’ll probably bee way more special than the photos.
    Sounds like an amazing trip.

  4. Jason Peck

    Hi Joan,

    Sorry I haven’t been by for awhile. I’m really enjoying your sketches. They have so much life to them. What are you using for your brown wash in? I love it.

    Best Jason

  6. Deborah

    I looked back through older post to see the whole trip. Thanks for sharing. I love to take sketching vacations. It is a great way to really see things and remember them. Great sketches!

Comments are closed.

Scroll to Top