In October of 2022 I finally made my musician's pilgrimage to Leipzig to visit the Mendelssohn and Schumann houses. Walking the few blocks between the apartments of these legends, seeing the differences in the way they lived, imagining all the people who visited before me, was so meaningful. 

My favorite exhibit was a series of watercolors painted by Mendelssohn while traveling through Switzerland in 1847. Having some insight into what he found beautiful and imagining him observing these sights for hours made him feel like my friend.

The logistics of traveling with my cello often leave me feeling like an organizational disaster, but I feel so grateful for the chance to explore while doing what I love. It's hard to share all these new experiences through words and iPhone pictures...somehow sharing through paintings, sketches, and music feels more real. With that in mind, I've started keeping my own painting journal in the spirit of Mendelssohn of the people and places I love. Here are some of my favorite recent adventures! Click on each picture for a description and to enlarge.