Thursday, February 08, 2007

Rue de la Grande Chaumiere

Yesterday The Promoted Princess said...Your blog is inspirational. I'm off to paint something pink!
If you want to go paint something pink in Paris go to rue de la Grande Chaumiere in Montparnasse, an artist's dream street...

At number #14 is the Academie. You can walk in and take a sketch class just like Calder or Modigliani did...

Across the street at number#13 is my favorite art store, Maison Gattegno, NOW CLOSED) You can browse in there happily for hours...

Their selection of watercolor brushes is like looking in a display case of macarons at Pierre Herme - delicious!


And down the street at number #4 bis from the Academie, is a branch of Sennelier's art store.

In Sennelier's vitrine/window sits a complete oil painting kit to take into the Academie to paint something pink, blue or...

21 comments:

  1. Anonymous5:30 AM

    Coming over to have some Paris Breakfast is like having a freshly baked sweet roll of inspiration every morning. Thank you for this lovely post.

    In less than two months I'm taking my 11 years old artist to Venice, and I am really looking forward to browse the art shops with her. Her 11th birthday is in two weeks, my birthday is during our Venice week. I plan to give a combined present to both of us which includes art supply shopping.

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  2. Anonymous6:06 AM

    I would so LOVE to walk down that artist's street in Paris.
    Thanks for the dream...
    wenchamoi

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  3. Anonymous6:10 AM

    WHOA!
    if you click on the ACADEMIE link you can "hear" artist's drawing and the model changes poses like in a croquis class! NEAT
    :O

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  4. Anonymous6:57 AM

    I love the paris paint shops, but the tupperware! guelle horreur! you have to warn us before performing such controversy on your site - we've become accustomed to fondant coloured boxes and cups of the naturelle! x

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  5. Anonymous7:01 AM

    Sorry, meant quelle not guelle! and there is an accent on the e of 'the' which may help that sentence make sense. I so wish i could paint.

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  6. Anonymous7:01 AM

    And spell...

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  7. Anonymous7:18 AM

    Thank you for letting us be a little mouse and going to the art class with you! Aren't you sneeky hiding it under a photo! "Paintbrushes are like macroons..." if we meet in Paris, I'll buy the macroons, and you can buy the paint brushes. We can share the chocolates!

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  8. Malheureusemente (and excuse my French spelling) I never took any art classes at the Academie..
    Too busy hanging out in the pastry shops and tea salons. I paint in my hotel room anyway in my jamies.
    Rita, those are not Tupperware in the 1st picture, but a universal traveling cup for watercolorists- they don't work any better than a coffee cup. I was just smitten with the pink and green colors...

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  9. Anonymous9:40 AM

    Your blog's are always timely. I have been on a search for Art supplies the last few days. We live in a lovely, but small town with a wonderful Art center and about ZIP art supplies and getting worse. So I got out an old Dick Blick catalog and checked them out on line then called in an order...it's not quite like handling them in person, that can be such a rush, but one can still drool over a catalog.. all because of being inspired here on your blog.

    How fun it would be to go Art store shopping in Paris. The pink would be a bonus. ;-)

    Oh and I have one of those Silver looking Turpentine holders for cleaning your brushes in the bottom photo.. they work beautifully.

    Another great blog day.
    I am inspired to paint again today.
    Cris

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  10. See that skeleton didn't go into any patisseries...she just stayed in the art shops and dried up. Thankfully you had the good sense to feed yourself!

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  11. It looks like paradise! A beautiful boutique of art...

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  12. Anonymous5:00 PM

    I love your photos! I have been to Sennelier in Paris for pastels. I use these few pastels as if they are rare diamonds for I know I shall never get to visit Paris again. I did not buy one pink pastel but I wish I had now! LOL

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  13. Thank you for taking me along....I so wish to be there now....let me paint something pink as well...I`m now inspired

    Chamara

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  14. I can't stay off that academie site it's addictive. Thanks, great post!

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  15. Anonymous11:12 AM

    The brushes and paints are my eye candy!!

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  16. Anonymous5:15 PM

    Wonderful scenes. What a city. I went to Sennelier when I was in there, but didn't know about Gattegno: next time!

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  17. I was catching up on your blog after a busy week and what do I see, I warranted a mention on your blog. Yaaayyyy me! As soon as I finish my pink painting I'll photograph and share it with you. You painting are so soft and sweet. I am really enjoying your blog. I've always wanted to go to Paris so maybe I can live vicariously through your writings.

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  18. OH you have stumbled upon "my" street! I always stay at the Villes Des Artistes on rue de la Grande Chaumiere right next door to the artist supply shop. I love to wander in and smell the paint, the restaurant across the street is wonderful, and I stand in my window at night sipping a last glass of wine and wonder what artist lived in my room before it became a hotel and did he/she stand at the same window looking over the Paris roofs just thankful for the view. Thank you for causing me to gasp with joy and bring tears to my eyes on this snowy cold day in Boston. For a few minutes I was "home"...

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  19. I'd love to go there. I'll put it on my list of things to do if I get to Paris.

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  20. Anonymous7:21 AM

    What a great blog! I'm planing a trip to Paris in October and I'm desperately searching for art-stores online already! This street seems great, just what I needed! I'm sure I'll spend a whole day on that street and reluctantly go back to sightseeing spots and promising myself to go back to Paris some day. Thank you for sharing!

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  21. We love Wadja for lunch, it is unique

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