Thursday, November 19, 2015

Post Paris

I was lucky enough to spend two months in Paris in August and September at the Cite International des Art.  Oh boy was it hot in August!  Going from freezing winter temperatures to that 30plus degree heat was something.

And then last week to wake up to the tragedy that has befallen that great city.  Thank goodness all the friends made at the Cite are fine and keeping a low profile.  But having been there so recently, my thoughts are constantly on Paris and the people.

What a wonderful city Paris is.  There is just so much to see and do and to discover.  Besides the visits to the numerous museums and galleries (big and small), there are the streets and the buildings and that amazing river, the Seine. 
The Cite is opposite the Seine and we had a great view of the river when the leaves started to fall in September.  It was great to take a sketch book and pop over the road to sit and sketch and watch the river traffic go by.
I did a few paintings - this one is of a young girl texting in the gardens at Place des Vosges.   
 The Notre Dame from the river
 One of my favourite museums - Musee Montmatre where Renoir lived and painted
 and his painting of the swing
 with the original swing in the garden
 And to crown everything, a visit to Giverney - I don't know if this is the original boat that Monet painted, but it looked rather great.