Paris Sketches

The day we arrived in Paris it was cloudy and gray, but we didn't mind.

Usually, the weather was sunny and crisp so we did a lot of walking...once taking a 3 minute break for me to sketch a quick view of Notre Dame.

We visited Sacre Coeur and found a quiet spot where I could draw.

After sketching in Luxembourg Gardens, I needed to go to an art store for some Winsor red.

I joined the very welcoming Paris sketchers for a sketch in a bookstore...

where I also sketched a couple of other sketchers...

It was sunny and busy in the Marais and many people were out enjoying the weather...

This isn't a very good sketch of the Rodin Garden, but it reminds me of the very well-dressed little toddler who tried to take my purse, presumably to complete her ensemble...

On another sunny afternoon, I did a quick sketch at the garden of the Palais Royale. Nearby,  we saw ads for a Le Corbusier exhibit.

In the courtyard, a class of art/architecture students were practicing perspective. I decided to join in for a quick sketch.

I finally got to see a closeup of the sculptures in the fountain at Place Igor Stravinsky, behind the Pompidou.

When I got home, I make a map of the places we visited in Paris.

It was a fabulous trip. I don't think I could ever get tired of visiting Paris and sketching its many wonders.

Amsterdam to Paris

When we were on our vacation in July, Europe was having a heat wave. By the time we were in Paris, the city was pretty warm. Of course, visiting the d'Orsay Musem was plenty comfortable. I did a quick sketch of Degas' dancer.

Like thousands of others, we enjoyed spending some time in the shade of parks. We watched tourists taking photos eachother by the Eiffel Tower...

and people relaxing at sunset with friends and wine.

We enjoyed lounging inLuxembourg Gardens...

After spending the day visiting museums, the parks, or wandering the beautiful streets of Paris, it was sometimes just relaxing to hang out in the hotel at night...

and do things like contemplate how much our lovely hotel would charge to do our laundry.

When we go to Paris, we always have one or our last meals at our favorite cafe on the Place des Vosges. This time, I sketched the fountain. Not long afterwards, the grass filled with people enjoying the sum.

Then, it was on to Barcelona!

A Whole Lot of Paris Sketches

We had a lovely trip to Paris and London in October. In Paris,  I did quite a bit of sketching:

Before we left, I sketched my books so I could avoid the dreaded empty sketchbook dilemma.

Like every sketcher, I had to sketch on the plane. (I know Oregon isn't as pointy as I drew it.) We had a late start which worried some of the passengers, like the girl in front of me who was going to meet her boyfriend before he was sent to a different army base. Her mom was accompanying her.

 When we got to Paris, we checked in at our Rue Cler hotel, and went right to the Parc du Champs du Mars where I sketched the Eiffel Tour. We were here after school was out and there were lots of little kids on scooters and playing soccer.

 After a trip to Giverny with friends, I had a lovely meal at Tera Cafe. The food was arranged on a plate that looked like an artist's pallet. It was delicious, too!

Here's the beautiful lunch.

 Michael and I spent a day in the Marais where we had stayed on our last Paris trip in 2008. Our favorite waiter at a cafe in the Place des Vosges  (Nectarine) recognized us from before!

In the Luxembourg Gardens, I saw a group who seemed to be having a sketching lesson. I figure it's always fair game to sketch sketchers.

 A couple of quick sketches in the garden at Les Invalides.

We had a hard time getting inside the d'Orsay this trip. Once we were there the wrong day and two other days it was closed because of the strikes, so I sketched this statue outside the museum.

What's Paris without flowers and chocolate?

This is the view from our hotel (Hotel Relais Bosquet) window! Each night, from my side of the bed, I could see the Eiffel Tour between a sliver of the curtains. The sparkly lights on the tower go off at 1:00a.m. btw.

This window was across the street.

And this was our window grill. Among other things, I love the ironwork in Paris.

I tried three days to buy macarons at a shop in our neighborhood. When I finally bought them, we didn't even finish eating them...but they were fun to paint.

                                      We did finish eating all this marvelous chocolate.

Here I'm in the park, sketching in my little moleskin, but that will be another post. Au revoir!