Paul travelled through Europe from Italy north to England. In London he saw paintings of North American natives. After three years of wandering through Europe visiting museums and galleries, Paul was ready to return home and begin his travels to the west.

Paul Kane met many well travelled people while he lived in Cobourg. He planned to travel to Europe, the traditional training ground for young artists. He travelled to Europe through New Orleans, painting portraits to pay his way. Paul's father Michael worned him that if he did want to pursue art as a career, he should not marry too early.

Michael may have known that Paul had grown fond of his employer's younger daughter Harriet Clench,