*Painting above Kandersteg, Switzerland*

Last fall, we had the pleasure of being able to go to Europe one last time before my parents moved away from Switzerland. We went intending to visit a few more iconic places in Switzerland, and for Wes to visit Paris for the first time. I have split this trip up into three posts to go with each of the three countries we visited. This is the post for Switzerland, where we were able to spend a few days in Geneva, Mürren, Lucerne, and Kandersteg. To read about the other stops on this trip, click here for France, and here for Croatia.

*Painting Oeschininsee, above Kandersteg*

Our first stop on our Europe trip this year was Switzerland. Geneva was where my parents lived and was obviously going to be our home base for the duration of this trip. From Geneva, we took a weekend trip to the mountains, to a little Alpine town called Kandersteg. My goal this trip was to continue my Strada daily painting challenge I started in Utah (click here for the collection of those paintings).

Above Kandersteg was a lake called Oeschininsee. Its crystal blue glacial water was beautiful to see and I knew I had to get a painting. The clouds kept moving in and out and I really loved the spotlighting the sun rays created on the cliffs and the surface of the water.

That evening we stayed in an old Swiss chalet that creaked and groaned in the wind, but was a really unique experience. The next day I explored the town a bit more and found a couple beautiful views, but I decided the scene I resonated with most was of some adolescent cows and the rainy clouds swirling around the mountains. The cows were very curious and kept me company and made very good models.

*Below the Cliffs*

Gouache on paper, SOLD
Painted from reference after getting home

After another magical day in Kandersteg, we decided to drive the long way back to Geneva over the mountains through Gruyeres. We hoped to be able to catch the fall Des Alps celebration when the ranchers bring their cows down from the mountains for the winter. They adorn their cows with giant bells and flowers and walk them down through the towns they pass along the way until they get home. Our stop was in Charmey, where we were able to catch the march of cows and join a little bit in the festivities. I painted while the cows and their massive bells jangled below me.

*The Des Alps parade. You can see the scene I was painting in the background hills.*

After our trip through the Alps, my cousin joined us in Europe and we headed to Paris and Croatia (I wrote about those trips and those paintings in other blogposts). Our goal after getting back from Croatia was to tour more of Switzerland: beloved places we had been to before, and new areas we hadn’t yet explored.

Our first stop was to head back to Lauterbrunnen. We hoped to be able to show my cousin around one of our favorite places in Switzerland. We were heading farther into the valley this time and staying the night in Mürren, a small town on the cliffs above the canyon.

*Swiss cows in Mürren*

Drawing in my sketchbook

That evening, we went on a hike around the town, and I found a place to paint the setting sun on the mountains around us. We were only staying in the mountain town for one night, so I only had a little bit of time to paint.

*Sketchbook spread in my sketchbook of the surrounding mountains. Drawn while watching the sunrise on our second morning.*

Later the second day, we made our way back down the canyon and over into Grindelwald in the neighboring valley. We took a cable car up the mountain and went on a hike around with a beautiful view of the Jungfrau and Eiger mountains. The summer was still holding on, even though it was already October, and the green fields and towering mountains made for an idyllic afternoon.

After getting back to Geneva, we took a day to slow down and rest before heading off on our next adventure. While in Geneva I did a quick study of a local manor house that reminded all of us of the Beauty and the Beast castle from Disney. I have been working on a large scale painting of the manor tower and will share below when it is completed.

Our next stop in Switzerland, and last getaway before heading back to Utah, was to Lucerne. I hadn’t been to the city since I was a kid and Wes had never been there. We were determined to see all of the main sites in the city, but also take some time to hike in the mountains above it.

*Hiking the Rigi Kulm above Lake Lucerne*

Our final day, and my final painting in Switzerland, was of a view over lake Geneva. It felt like a final farewell to the city that had been a home for my family for four years and a beautiful and peaceful place to visit. I have grown to love Switzerland for far more than its beautiful mountains and green valleys, but also for the time I was able to spend there and the memories I was able to make. I’m sure Switzerland will always be a place I go back to visit, but it still felt bittersweet to fly home once more from that small city, knowing my parents were heading out on their next adventure.

Artist Travels: Switzerland Part 2

Artist Travels: Yellowstone National Park

Artist Travels: Croatia