The 2018 DART Summer Invitational, Pimp Your Sketchbook, in which artists open a window onto their creative processes—and their summer travel experience—begins with Paul Hoppe, who spent July in Europe.

This summer I was able to do a month-long trip to Europe, to visit family and friends, and also to have time for further exploring. During this time I kept a simple sketchbook diary and set the goal of doing at least one drawing in every city I visited.

Taking photos is nice, but doing a drawing on the spot, including the watercolor, is a completely different way to experience your surroundings. I enjoy remembering the time when I did a particular drawing, recalling details that I saw, and even the mood I was in. The drawings don't have to be perfect—it’s more about the moment—it’s very Zen.

I spent my first week in Poland, flying to Gdask, a beautiful seaport city that’s rich with history and slightly overrun with tourists. It was the first time I’ve traveled by myself in Poland, the country I was born in. From there I continued first to Olsztyn and then to Poznan, visiting family I hadn’t seen in many years and some who I’d never met.

Next stop was Berlin, where I took it easy, and visited some close friends from University days. It has been interesting to see how Berlin has changed, even in the last few years. It has gotten much more international, and a bit more expensive. But compared to New York it is still much more relaxed. I did only two pieces on actual watercolor paper in a different pad, this is one of them (above).

For the second half of my stay in Germany, I traveled all the way south to Weingarten / Ravensburg where I grew up. I spent time with my mom, and hung out with high school friends. There was even an Oktoberfest-style beer festival going on at the time.
 

In-between, I did a little side-trip to Munich, staying with another friend from college. She has a house! My friends in Germany have houses now. What a life!

Throughout my trip, most of Europe, including Germany was in a heatwave, almost like summer in New York. But the Germans don't really have air conditioning, so they aren’t used to it! Hello Climate Change-(: 

On the last leg of my trip, I went to Karlsruhe, not far from Stuttgart, where I also lived for a while. I got to meet my friends’ one-year-old, Theo, for the first time. My new picture book, Neymar: A Soccer Dream Come True, is dedicated to him and it was great to give it to him in person.

Paul Hoppe is an illustrator and cartoonist living and working in Brooklyn, creating images for magazines, publishers and corporate clients on both sides of the Atlantic. His work has been recognized by American Illustration, Communication Arts, and the Society of Illustrators amongst many others. He teaches in the SVA Illustration Residency.

His new picture book about the international soccer star NEYMAR, written by Mina Javaherbin, is out now from Farrar Strauss Giroux. This Sunday, August 19th, he will be reading from the book and drawing with children at powerHouse On 8th, 1111 8th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY [Park Slope]. Info dart-interview