In February at the C'est Bon le Japon event,I picked up a cherry blossom 🌸 drinks coaster. I showed it to Bonnie, my chief letter idea consultant and said, “Wouldn’t this make a great April letter!” She agreed 👍When April rolled around…I forgot about cherry blossoms 🌸 I was caught up in painting mono-product pastry shops in Paris…
Eclairs, Pavlovas, macarons, meringues, gaufre. Maybe with tiny figures. Or maybe floating on the sky like balloons🎈So much for planning ahead😵💫
Ah the wonders/wanderings of the ADHD mind. Life is full of endless surprises 😮
At the copyshop, while blowing up the Shakespeare sketch, as an afterthought, I blew up the cherry blossom 🌸 drinks coaster. It was obviously the best image. An instant smile 😊 on copyshop guy’s face said it all.
Back to the drawing board ✏️ I remembered a notebook cover with cherry blossoms, birds & the Eiffel Tower I’d seen somewhere…
Loads of letter 💌 inspiration at the exhibit, but skip their so-so lunch
The Hiroshige birds 🐦 in the fans were a reminder
Birds 🐦 must be included in an April in Paris letter = a sure sign Spring has arrived !
Of course I had a consultation with Jill & Solli over tea at Mado. Happily I got positive feedback 🙏 👍 🌸
The couple in the rain are from a really old photograph of mine
Hopefully Kirin Beer will not sue me for being inspired by their Sakura beer coaster 😨🙏
Yesterday, on a stamp run, I went looking for more pink inspiration
More Cherry blossom 🌸 inspiration.
What a long shaggy dog story.
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🌸 🌸 🌸 Bon Dimanche PBers 🌸 🌸 🌸
So beautiful how the Shakespeare and Co pink umbrellas and the cherry blossoms all came together. You are a great artist!
ReplyDelete❤️💋❤️💋❤️💋❤️💋❤️💋
DeleteSO gorgeous…I am going to add this to my Carol’s Eiffel Tower Collection! I don’t know how you come up with new ideas month after month. May Paris, your muse, continue to inspire you.❤️
ReplyDeleteDear Letter consultant, Bonnie,
DeleteWhat would I do without your input?? Your ideas, your feedback???
My touchstone 👍
Although mapping out all the Asian restaurants in Paris would be quite an undertaking…
This is so beautiful Carol. I love how you have added color in the couples clothing, the street light and the ever wonderful Tour de Eiffel! You go through a lot of steps to reach the final product.👏🗼❤️
ReplyDeleteThank you for your observations
DeleteOnly Through trial & error 😵💫 I realized using black outlines was a no-no & went with colored lines instead for a softer feel 👍🤸♂️
Love the post, especially the Kirin beer coaster. Looking for some for our town's cherrry blossom days. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteLove umbrellas..:). I remember an arrondissement in Paris full of them..Here also one area has had them the last few yrs..
ReplyDeleteIt’s a passage off rue Royale, though umbrellas ☂ now popup all over France.
DeleteApril in Paris is pretty darned beautiful! Love those blossoms and oh, the sweet treats!
ReplyDeleteI love seeing your process. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteCarol, you draw the BEST figures/people! Always wonderful.
ReplyDeleteLoving all of the ideas in this post! I am especially fond of all your little test drawings, the birds especially! I laughed when I opened the hallelujah music!! So you!!!
ReplyDeleteIt's so fun to see the developmental stages of your letters and maps and how one small change here or there can make a huge difference in the final piece.
ReplyDeleteIt’s true 👍 I was about to run out the door to the printers and I thought,
DeleteL”Too Pink. What if I make the falling petals white?”
Out comes the liquid white-out - it made a Big difference.
Sigh of relief.
I took the white-out with me in case I had another revelation on the Metro. The lighting is much better in the Metro 👍
Hi Carol. Love your process! annie
ReplyDeleteIt is kind of torturous…I’m never sure it will work out😵💫
DeleteWhat can I say? I Love your work Carol!
ReplyDelete