So when I spotted this poster for a map fair in one of the passages the following Sunday I was hooked.
Les Macarons a la framboise,watercolor on Etsy, sold 5.5" x 7.5I'm not sure what I thought I'd find there but it was free and I LOVE maps! :)
Over at Hotel Ambassador on 16, boulevard Hausmann, there was room after room of plenty of maps...
And map dealers from all over Europe...
And throngs of people seriously perusing all the maperie...
Maps are a kind of flat art that is immediately engaging. So much imagination is implied. You can put things where ever you want them and decorate the hell out of them.
It was the crazy decorations that drew me...
There were books and books full of the things...
I love all the hand lettering too....
But particularly these illustrated cartouche called out to me...
A cartouche is an oblong enclosure originally found In Egyptian hieroglyphs and flung all over these hand-drawn maps in the most colorful and whimsical way.
So the next macaron map that comes along, I'm ready to do the cartouches. In fact I may have to create it myself from start to finish.BON LUNDI!
GAWD!
ReplyDeleteWhere do you find the time?
What with chateaux and musees and chocolate salons up the whazoo and now map fairs!
Who could keep up with you?
Love the whimsical design of these cartouchie things and how you've interrpreted them!
ReplyDeleteGood job!
tres charmante!
ReplyDeletePerhaps you can create a map of Paris with all your favorite pastry shops highlighted on it. Another with your favorite miniature shops, another with favorite flowers. This could be endless!
ReplyDeleteJan
Another thing we have in common. I old maps too. Makes me feel like I am ready for a treasure hunt. Another thing I can't get enough o is old geneological trees, like those of the kings throughout the ages.
ReplyDeleteThese little cherubs are exquisite, Carol! I love seeing all your new paintings. I read the most interesting article about a man who stole antique maps from the map room at the NY Public Library in the New Yorker magazine a few years ago...fascinating, crazy article...interesting, CArol!
ReplyDeleteJ'adore the heralding macaron cherubs. Adorable!
ReplyDeleteOoh, LOVE these maps, and especially the cartouches... fun fun...The inside covers of my childhood set of storybooks had fanciful maps on them. Hours, I could spend hours here at this kind of fair.
ReplyDeleteCherubs actually eat macarons I think. At least they can sing their praises in a hallelujah chorus....;-)
Few things get me more excited than maps...old maps, new maps...anything. That promise of adventure and allure.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing.
I love your cherub WCs too.
Victoria
Love these charming paintings you have done. I think joyful artists is right, you need to do a map of your favorite places in Paris or anywhere else for that matter. Maps are fun. I had a friend who had a couple big maps of CA years ago she framed. It was fun looking at them. The charm came from them the aged look of them.
ReplyDeleteThe macaron is the king's cake ! Nice !
ReplyDeletebeautiful work... so many pretty details
ReplyDeleteI LOVE old maps
ReplyDeleteSuch FUN!
ReplyDelete