WAVES OF EXPRESSION

This blog post will be a little different—I’ll be sharing artwork from my trip to Paris! I took this trip back in 2019, but I recently came across the watercolor sketches I created while I was there. Looking through them felt like such a sweet walk down memory lane, and I thought it would be fun to share that with you. Along the way, I’ll share the memories tied to each location and the emotions these pieces still bring up for me.

The Eiffel Tower holds so many memories for me, and understandably so! I remember my tour guide mentioning that many tourists feel disappointed when they first see it, describing it as bulky and just a giant piece of metal. But my reaction was the complete opposite. Honestly, I hadn’t been looking forward to it—I thought it would be too touristy, and after seeing countless photos over the years, I assumed it might feel underwhelming. Yet standing beneath it in person, I was enchanted. The sheer capacity of humans to create something like this is astounding. What a marvel this tower is! The amount of work it must have taken, and the fact that it still stands strong today, is truly remarkable. When I think back on that moment, I remember the feeling of joy and disbelief that I was really there.

Notre Dame: this piece was created from the closest view I was able to get. I traveled to Paris with my art history class, and we had spent the entire semester studying European art—including the majesty of Notre Dame. Just a few months before our trip, we turned on the news and saw the cathedral in flames. Our class mourned the loss and grieved that we wouldn’t be able to explore it up close. Still, we managed to get as near as this painting captures. Looking at it now, I feel both the sadness of being so close yet so far, and the peace of having experienced that moment with my classmates—finding comfort, fun, and even joy together despite the loss.

This overlook was near the Place du Tertre, the artist’s square in Paris. My friend and I decided to stop and paint the view, so our tour guide stayed behind with us. About ten minutes in, we suddenly heard some intense arguing nearby. Our guide went to check it out, asking us to stay put. A moment later she came back, motioning for us to follow. To our surprise, when we peeked through a fence, we discovered a stage play happening just below us! What began as concern quickly turned into laughter, and the whole moment felt like an unexpected gift. I ended up finishing the painting later that night back at the hotel, still smiling from the experience.

The final piece I created during our Paris trip was of a tree outside the Arc de Triomphe. While the Arc itself is surrounded by high-end shops featuring some of the fanciest brands imaginable, my memory of the moment is far less glamorous and far more special. Our group stopped at a restaurant where the plates were about forty euros each. My friend and I—apparently the only ones traveling on a budget—looked at each other and said, “Nope.” A kind chaperone walked us over to McDonald’s instead, where I had the best potato wedges of my life. We sat on a nearby bench, in full view of our teacher and tour guide, who were enjoying coffee. As we ate and people-watched, my friend and I pulled out our paints and chose a tree to capture.

An older gentleman sat beside us for a while, quietly watching as we worked. Later, our teacher came to fetch us and pointed out a little store around the corner. It turned out to be a bakery, where we treated ourselves to macarons for dessert. From there, we wandered through the nearby streets, enjoying a mini photo shoot and soaking up the charm of the neighborhood. By the time we reunited with the rest of the group, they had just finished their long, elegant meal. That moment still makes me smile—it’s a reminder of how differently each person can experience Paris.

Looking back on these pieces, I know it isn’t my most refined artwork, but it embodies exactly what art should: the ability to transport you back to a memory and evoke the emotions of that time. This sketch is my portal to that day, reminding me of laughter, friendship, and slowing down. In the midst of a busy trip, art gave me a way to pause, breathe, and take in the small details.

The next time you travel, consider bringing along an art journal. I carried a small watercolor kit, but you can do the same with just a pen or pencil. The goal isn’t perfection—it’s presence. A few minutes of sketching or painting can anchor you in the moment, helping you notice details you might otherwise miss, and giving you a memory that feels alive each time you look back at it.