A DATE WITH MYSELF ON LAKE COMO

This year, I celebrated my Birthday in March with a Date With Myself to explore my beloved Lake Como.

Off I went with my camera and my sketchbook journal, and it was such an amazing day!

I went to Mandello del Lario this time, and since it was out of season, there were no tourists around- and to be honest, not too many people either!

I felt on cloud nine to have such a quiet and beautiful paradise all for myself, and it was such a wonderful Birthday treat!

It was a nice Spring day, when the sun was not too bright (something I loved).

The colors and the lights on Lake Como are so very different depending on the weather! And this is one of the aspects that I truly love about this place.

I was so blissful and peaceful, that I didn’t even sketch. I just wanted to take it easy, and do nothing except exploring and savoring it all.

I took many pictures with my new camera, I chatted with a few people, I had lunch, and I basically walked slowly- observing and noticing.

I found a lot of fantastic corners to paint, and took reference pictures so that I could do that in my studio.

If you want to virtually come exploring with me, and journal together, you’re very welcome to  use the pictures in this post as refernce to paint this trip in your watercolor journal!

I absolutely loved this corner with teal door, and the secret garden behind it. While I was taking these photos, a heron that had been quiet for a while on the top of the roof of an adjacent house, did a parabolic flight and disappeared among the plants in the secret garden. So cool!

I also loved the signs on the door- “beware of the ducks”, and “nobody is a stranger here”. Probably welcoming all the thousands upon thousands of tourists that come to Lake Como from all over the world every year. Such a warm, inclusive feeling! It made me so happy.

I ended my trip with a yummy gelato, and I filled my eyes and heart with all the Beauty of this place and of the Lake, before driving back home. I will remember this Date With Myself for sure!

xoxo,

P.S. If you want some inspiration & tips about watercolor journaling & sketching, and learn about my personal way to do it, see my posts in this section of my blog here.