The Doors, not Jim M.

As usual when it comes to creating the letter art, I did a complete U-turn last minute, when I found this old sketch of tiny 19th century figures with parasols…

Instead of painting your favorite French foods as promised, I fell into drawing PARIS DOORWAYS with little figures for the new letter.

Mind you, I researched 🔬 a lot of cookies 🍪 & madeleines before the creative lightbulb 💡 went off 🙄 The waistline did not appreciate ☹️

Ah an artist’s life…you have to do what’s the most fun. Or else what’s the point?

On Thursday, I went out to look at some of these doors in person, instead of just in picturebooks 📚 

The Castel Béranger apartment building is in the 16th, at 14, rue de la Fontaine.

It was architect Hector Guimard’s (then only 27 years old) first & most important Art Nouveau creation. The building won him 1st prize 🏆 for the most beautiful Facade in the city of Paris. 

This prize led to many commissions including Metro entrances like Place des Abbesses (with the 220 steps when the l’ascenseur is not working).

A 5-minute video in French is worth a watch.

While I was taking pictures of all the beautiful, curvy Art Nouveau details, a resident came out & offered me entré. Like a fool I declined 🙄 She decided I looked suspicious and kept her eye on me. One would think my ‘just waft in’ skills would be further developed by now. My excuse - she was French. I didn’t want to get yelled at ☹️

RATP Bus 72 stops 5 minutes walk away (at Radio France-Pont de Grenelle). 

I crossed the street & took bus 72 back down to see Paris’ most beautiful doorway at Petit Palais.

The Petit Palais was built for the 1900 Universal Exhibition, like its neighbor the Grand Palais, on avenue Winston Churchill. It became a museum in 1902. Designed by Charles Girault, it is based on a trapezium shape and is made up of four wings around a semi-circular garden bordered by a richly decorated peristyle. The architect achieved a successful blend of traditional and modern architecture which is evident in the natural flow of visitors around the building and in the bold openings he created onto the Champs-Elysées gardens and inner courtyard garden'.

We sometimes walk through doorways without noticing their beauty. I couldn’t resist painting ✏️ le Petit Palais.

Here’s a beautiful 2-minute time-lapse visit inside and out.

I’ll visit more doors this weekend. The in-person experience makes a big difference 👍

Meanwhile Anita asked if I’d ever do a story on Jim Morrison’s residence & grave at Père Lachaise? At first I thought 🤔 probably not. But then I checked out Morrison’s address at 17, rue Beautreillis. What a beautiful door 🚪 !

The streets of Paris are full of beautiful doorways. Don’t miss out. Just stroll & throw away your to-do list  👍

*Don’t forget to visit my Etsy shop for Paris memories