18e Rendez-Vous du Carnet de Voyage

Sometimes you hit it lucky. In the pitch dark Saturday morning, 6:00am I was desperately trying to find Gare de Bercy train station from line 14 exit. I saw a woman ahead and asked her the way. Of course I didn't understand a word but followed along anyway, wishing and hoping. The words Clermont-Ferrand were spoken - my destination and town of the annual November Carnet du voyage (travel sketchbook) exhibit. Remember last year's post? Not only was Françoise going but she's a terrific sketcher! She fills a new beautiful sketchbook on every trip.

Françoise was meeting her friend Jane, who does walking sketch tours in Trouville! I'd taken a picture of Jane's poster last June but was a day too late. And Françoise and Jane were staying at my hotel Republique. We talked sketching/watercolors for 3+ hours and arrived in no time.

130 carnetistes (sketchbook artists) had stands displaying their work at the Polydome center.

Everyone is friendly and chatty - Santi Sallés.

I love shooting the tiny paintboxes. Lord knows how they achieve so much with so few colors?

This spanish artist, Hugo Barros Costa told me proudly he never cleans his paintbox. I heard that a lot...

He was in New York for a year teaching at Parsons and produced a terrific book, NEW YORK GRAPHIC CHRONICLES.

Most sketchbook artists have books for sale either self-produced or published.

There is a mind-boggling huge area of artist's books to buy.

Then you bring it back to the artist to sign, usually quite elaborately. Bring a hairdryer.

Artists are drawing, painting, coloring

French artist Marielle Durand is giving a visitor's sketchbook a crit.

Artists have glass display tables showing the range of their work.

So many sketchbooks.

Meet my architecture Professor Jeremy Soheylian. I love his book. You can get it on his facebook page.

He signed a print, 'To my best American friend'. I think I may be his only American friend...

The town of Clermont-Ferrand is in the Auvergne. Many Auvergnoise left, came to Paris and opened all the cafes and brasseries you love to frequent like Cafe Flores and Les Duex Magots.

The volcanic black lava cathedral in town is worth visiting night or day, if you can tear yourself away from the exhibit.

I was so inspired by everyone madly painting and drawing. Back in my hotel room I had a field day painting pastries. Rendez-Vous du Carnet voyage show IS inspiring. Françoise and Jane never stopped sketching. We have an open date to sketch out my window and later in June in Trouville.

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