Paris Sketchbook: The Notre-Dame Cathedral

The Notre-Dame Cathedral, with a splash of pink cherry blossoms — at Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris.

Paris Sketchbook: Macaron madness

All the pretty colors and flavors., but Psst... here's a secret. I don't actually like mararons. Well, let's put it this way, it wouldn't be my first choice in a French patisserie. I'd much rather have something buttery or chocolaty!

Paris Sketchbook: Aaaahh, choux!

One can find all manner of confections made with a basic choux recipe. Here is a delicious one—chocolate eclairs!

Paris Sketchbook: Qu’ils mangent du gâteau!

Let them eat cake!

Paris Sketchbook: L'opera gateau

Ode to Parisian opera cake!

Paris Sketchbook: Cherry blossoms galore

I simply can't resist painting the beautiful cherry blossoms again! April is Paris is glorious!

This pretty specimen was at the Jardin des Plants (which, yes, means garden of plants. It’s a pretty cool botanical place set up by I think Louis XIV; there’s a zoo and arboretum and geological museum too.)

Paris Sketchbook: A fine cartouche

The hammered copper cartouche on the Pont Alexandre III bridge in Paris is spectacular. They don't make bridges like this anymore.

Paris Sketchbook: Painting + picnicking

Painting + picnicking in the Luxembourg Gardens—that was a good day. I sketched this stag sculpture in the Luxembourg Gardens today. The tulips were standing at attention, the birds were singing French chanteuse melodies and all of Paris was ‘a moveable feast’ of picnickers—including Dan and me. Our own private stag party!

To market, to market...!

Yesterday morning our Paris apartment fridge had only the bare necessities (a bottle of champagne and some chocolate bon-bons), so off we went to the Edgar Quinet outdoor market (in Montparnasse) to stock up. There, we bought a cornucopia of fresh culinary delights, including these small, but oh-so-sweet Cavaillon melons.

The strawberries here are always so ripe, red and sweet. There are different varieties too, including the elongated ‘gariguette’ strawberries, which are the small sweet ones seen all over the markets, and available only from March to mid June.

At a market today—two types of strawberries.

Paris Sketchbook: 2018

Well here we go again. There's just something about this city that keeps pulling us back. Come along with me, won't you?

Paris Sketchbook: Soufflé avec Grand Marnier

 

This sketch pays homage to the delightfully ethereal soufflé that was the punctuation mark of our anniversary dinner. Pass the Grand Marnier, please.

Paris Sketchbook: Pont Alexandre III Bridge

 

The magnificent Beaux-Arts style Pont Alexandre III Bridge spans the Seine River in Paris. The Art Nouveau lanterns that stand like soldiers along both sides of the bridge are works of art alone, never mind all the other amazing details. Here is the backside of one of the nymphs—with her golden laurel wreath and torch—looking towards the Eiffel tower. Cherubs and nymphs and winged horses—oh my!

Paris Sketchbook: Sweet treats

 

Paris Sketchbook: We are home from Paris, but I can't stop sketching this beautiful city. Here are some of our favorite pâtisserie treats that we indulged in. Four sweet reasons to go back!

Paris Sketchbook: La tour Eiffel

The greenspace at the Parc du Champ de Mars in the 7th arrondissement is a lovely respite from the hustle of the city proper. You can see the École Militaire way off in the distance, below the Eiffel tower. The park is a gorgeous spot for a picnic—a little wine, bread and cheese.

Paris Sketchbook: Picnic essentials

  

We're packing up essentials for one last picnic in Paris.

Paris Sketchbook: Uptown shopping bags

 

Uptown shopping bags from the Champs-Elysées shops.

Paris Sketchbook: Moulin Rouge

 

The top of the Moulin Rouge building.

Paris Sketchbook: View of the Louvre

 
 

Here's a pretty view of the Louvre from the banks of the Seine, from in front of the Orsay museum. It was early morning and we enjoyed our patisserie treats here, before the crowds set in.

 

That's me! Where are all the other tourists?

 

Paris Sketchbook: Louvre classics

Johannes Vermeer's 'Milkmaid.'

We toured the Delacroix and Louvre museums yesterday and are heading back to the Orsay today for some more ahhhht.  These fun sketches were inspired by these magnificent classic paintings from the Louvre—old friends that I never miss seeing when I visit Paris. I had fun sketching some of my favorite Masterpieces. Above is Vermeer's 'Milkmaid.'

Jacques-Louis David's 'Portrait of Madame Rèclaimer.'

Jacques–Louis David's 'Napoleon Crossing the Alps.'

Rigaud's 'Portrait of King Louis XIV.' The man, the myth, the legend...

Paris Sketchbook—sculptures, Musée du Louvre

 

We were enchanted, once again by these three favorite sculptures—and many others—at the Louvre Museum today. Each time we view them—with different lighting or from various angles—t produces a spine-tingling result.