Irving Penn + #EclairWeek2017 Fauchon

Tuesday morning was the preview of the new Irving Penn retrospective at the Grand Palais.

My photography professor friend, Sardi always told me to study Penn's still life, "After dinner games". I've vowed to do thumbnail studies every day after seeing the original (lower right on my inspo board).

Naturally post-exhibit I ran over to Fauchon for still life painting (and eating) props.

They are celebrating the 10th anniversary of Eclair Week september 14-23. Hurry up please.

You have just 48 hours to get this delightful 10-eclair box of goodies.

Upstairs their savory eclairs await.

House pastry chef, Patrick Pailler has created a daunting array of flavors and designs. Hokusai's Great Wave included.

I went for plain ole fraise/strawberry. Anything red wins my vote. Pretty to paint.

Fauchon's pastry graphics are maybe the best in Paris.

Oui or non?

To paint at home I got their classic chocolate eclair with tiny gold sprinkle decorations.

Hmmm...while helping myself to their little gold paper tray and forchette I noticed the wait staff eyeballing me. What's an artist to do. She needs her painting props non?

Rush over to Fauchon to celebrate their annual #EclairWeek2017 Take a selfie in front of the eclair backdrop and win a trip to Paris or an eclair. More on the Irving Penn exhibit to come.

You can receive Parisbreakfast letters, maps and eclair watercolors in your mailbox. Just look in my Etsy shop. Visit and Follow my INSTAGRAM for more yummy Eclair pictures and videos.

Thank you for reading parisbreakfast!

Christian Dior, couturier du reve, musee des Arts Decoratifs

Thursday I managed to sneak into the hottest show in town, the Christian Dior exhibit at musee des Arts Decoratifs. By the time I got out 2 hours later, extensive lines and anxious faces were waiting in the rain. I've heard of some taking 5 hours to see the Dior. I probably will go back for more.

If you're headed to Paris get your tickets online and go early. The show is on through 7 January 2018

A history wall in the first room. I'm sure there are still some French viewers reading every detail.

Dior's early sketches when he worked for designer lucien lelong.

Later with his own couture house on famous avenue Montaigne.

Dior said he wanted to make women feel like princesses. He dressed many including princesses Margaret, Soraya, and Grace.

In his 20s he was a gallerist. He adored art and collecting. Later many of the same artists collaborated on his collections.

Ball gowns inspired by elaborate antique wallpapers.

Details in classical French paintings by Elizabeth Vignee le Brun influenced Dior's styling

Dior's bouffant taffeta dresses will never go out of style in my opinion.

His taffeta bows, sashes, rosettes, roses...pink pink pink

Dior perfume bottles mirror the female figure. Shape and form was everything to him.

The designers who followed in the house of Dior are featured. Galliano drapping a muslin form.

Raf Simons, his seemstresses and fitting model.

One of his two-tiered pleated gowns in motion.

Audrey Hepburn in Dior shot by Avedon.

Yves saint Laurent worked first at Dior. His loose distinctive sketches with fabric swatches.

An entire room floor to ceiling of original muslin forms. I put a video on my Instagram. Link below.

A grand hall of Dior's classic tailored suits

The same suits dans le rue.

At last a huge ballroom with a dazzling light show and music, full of glorious gowns designed by Dior and other house designers. Do not miss this show please! Did you see a Dior gown you would like me to paint? Let me know. Thank you for reading parisbreakfast. You can receive Parisbreakfast letters, maps and Dior watercolors in your mailbox. Just look in my Etsy shop. Visit my INSTAGRAM for more Dior pictures.

Bon Week-end PBers!

Step-by-step creating the September Paris Letter

The September letter always has a 'La Rentree' theme. I looked at old French lesson books: syllabaires, ABCdaires.

I've collected a few and even went looking in George's candy shop. He has tons of old French school stuff.

Paris windows have back-to-school themes.

I went looking for inspo.

Such beautiful Swiss colored pencils, though not a Crayola in all of Frances.

Back to the drawing board to make some thumbnails. I don't do this enough.

Final drawing except for a big hole in the middle...

Still a hole in the middle 'cos I'd lost those little sketches...

Saved by the copyshop guy who found it. So many pieces of paper. Some always go missing

Ta Da. Fini. Terminee And in la Poste! Now on to the September map. And Chester, but that's another shaggy dog story..

All the Paris dads have been corralled to take

And bring home the kids

To and from school the first week of La Rentree. It happens every year.

This one got away. There are handmade watercolor bookmarks in this months Paris letters by the way. Thanks for reading Parisbreakfast. You can receive Parisbreakfast letters, maps and watercolors in your mailbox. Just look in my Etsy shop. And visit my INSTAGRAM for more pics.

Bon mercredi!