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Friday, February 5, 2010
YSL Paris, original watercolor, 9" x 11" 
When John Travolta goes to Paris, in the new movie out today, he takes along "his precious energy drinks whose containers hide firearms. Corn syrup, caffeine and water it's not" the New York Times reports...
French Girl in Paris, likes me to bring her some Essie Alure nail polish. Like all the best nail polishes don't already exist and originate in Paris? Who knew?
Of course I take my watercolor paintbox. Not really that weird a thing to bring along to Paris.
BUT with all the art stores in Paris (homeland to artistes from the get-go), would you not think you could find a decent pad of tracing paper?
You can NOT find any tracing pads in all of Paris. Well I have not, so I bring my own nice, cheesy thin tracing paper pads from Utrecht art supply. C'est comme ca.
Here's a weird thing I like to bring to Paris - Japanese travel books on Paris! They are the BEST in my opinion.
There is not one word of English in these books, though they throw the occasional French word or two around. I like them for the illustrations and maps - they give me ideas. Go figure...
Sue of Cottage Way of Life used to take "Bessie" with her to Paris(the size of a cat). "Why? So I could photograph her travels (I was thinking of writing a book). Bessie got lots of attention in Paris, I constantly heard, "La vache!" And everyone wanted to take a picture of her. I got to talk to a lot of people because of that cow...Monday, February 16, 2009
Sennelier-Paris,original art
So today I'm giving it a whirl!
But back to old favorite Parisien art shop, Magasin Sennelier on 3, Quai Voltaire 75007. By the way they've been around since 1887, which means the Impressionists probably got their gear there. But why is it when I show up, the place is always closed!!!
And the windows are full of goodies one can yearn for just as much as any box of macarons.
How many watercolor boxes do you have?I've lost count but it's more than 10!
You can usually find interesting paint brushes abroad. So many art companies have globalized, it can be hard to find something different, but in the brush arena you can.
This "artists" smock is a decidedly European necessity... 
Rest assured that there are many more erasures on the other side of the pond. I know you really care about that :) 
How many art shops you frequent are featured in a fabulous guide to Paris. It's well worth a look inside even if you don't paint on Sundays or any other time. Plus there's tons of galleries nearby and gorgeous views of the Seine. 
Here's the jewel in the window - this mini (but British) Rowney travel paintbox. The prix..ahem, is not mini. 
Quite a few of you have asked me, where can I find an art class in Paris? The best place is to check out the signs posted on any art shop's door or inside. You won't be disappointed.PS
Please let me know what you think of these new Parisien facade paintings..?
Monday, July 23, 2007
While Paris has lots of grey skys and grey Baron Hausmann buildings 
And I'm not just talking about all the high glossy tartes - the L'abricotage.
But tons and tons of silvery, reflective tableware that make French tabletops so delightful.
Here, the window of L'Argenterie at 19, rue de Turenne, 75004 in the Marais. 
Alexi Worth said in his book review for the New York Times on my favorite book,
Jonathan Miller's book, ON REFLECTION:
Reflective surfaces, from puddles to pewter to mirrored glass,
have always been catnip to artists.
What makes these images so especially puzzling and delicious?
I certainly can't keep away from shiny things.
And they're a real challenge to paint...
I've painted this lone original silvery teapot at the Petrossian Boutique over and over..
The Vaissellerie shop in Paris has lots of silver bargains...
I found a terrific silver-plated chocolatiere for a song!
Laduree's teapots are a delight and an ongoing challenge...
Last but not least a silver water flask for the watercolor artist..
Surely something you can not do without!
For more silver, visit the Musée de l'Argenterie 109-113,avenue Daumesnil
From the French book of silver marks, Poincons d'Or et de Platine :
"Silverware will always be the most beautiful ornament of the table"
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