Traveling Artist Captures Europe’s Charming Cityscapes with Watercolor and Ink

While many travelers keep their camera in tow, artist Danny Hawk brings along his sketchbooks too. His colorful ink and watercolor sketches are painted en plein air, capturing the architecture, streets, and rural landscapes of Europe.

Hawk has always had a love for drawing, but like many creative people, he struggled to find the time to pursue his art. He reveals, “Growing up as a kid, art was one of my favorite subjects. I loved to sketch, especially when it came to buildings and places. But somewhere along the way, that passion got pushed to the side.” Hawk spent the next 10 years studying for a double major in International Relations and German. He then moved to Germany in 2012 to fulfill his dream of living abroad, which ultimately shaped his creative future. He explains, “In 2017, something magical happened: creative people started to come into my life, I began following artists online, and I joined my local Urban Sketchers chapter here in Frankfurt—and bam! I was hooked.”

Since then, Hawk has filled his sketchbooks with ink and watercolor paintings that depict the many places he visits. From the historical castles of Ireland to the charming riverside towns of France, Hawk beautifully translates cityscapes into delicate paintings.

While in Dresden, Germany during the spring of 2019, Hawk was captivated by The Zwinger—an ornate palace, as well as the many historical churches, and bell towers. “As an urban sketcher, it’s hard not to fall in love with a place like Dresden. With its beautifully restored old town and scenic location on the river Elbe, it’s practically begging to be sketched,” Hawk writes on his blog. “I feel like that was only the tip of the iceberg considering all the sketching subjects that this city has to offer. So watch out, Dresden, because I’m definitely not finished with you just yet!”

Scroll down to check out some of Hawk’s fantastic travel sketches and find more from his ever-growing portfolio on Instagram.