pages

Thursday, May 29, 2025

Paris Cafe Letter

 

Everyone loves Paris cafes ☕️ 

Right?
So for the May letter (in the post ๐Ÿ“ฎ) I thought I would repurpose a La Coupole watercolor 
But Bonnie, my VT expert consultant said, “The bikes ๐Ÿšฒ have to go.” 
Ok. Perhaps outdoors tables & chaises would coverup the horrible bikes ๐Ÿšฒ๐Ÿšฒ๐Ÿšฒ
Ah Ha! 
I went out 
To do Paris cafe research ๐Ÿ”ฌ 
And browsed…
A few Paris desserts (multi-tasking)
(Monster cookies) ๐Ÿช while I was at it…
I found the perfect mini cafe scene on an old Paris Letter! Eureka!
I enlarged it…Hmmm…it did not work.
I do quite a few Paris cafes …why did this one eluded me ๐Ÿ™„
After 3 - 4 days of endless doodling ✍️
 I had my patch ๐Ÿคธ‍♂️ Bonnie gave me thumbs up ๐Ÿ‘ 
Bonnie suggested I go to La Coupole for business cards to pop in the Paris Letter envelopes ๐Ÿค”
I found an old waiter drawing on the floor…
Redrew it on an old color test scrap instead.
Voila - Never throw out your old test paint scraps. Or doodles.
One thing I forgot was to include Paris Pigeons ๐Ÿฆ 
☕️ No Paris cafes without a few pigeons around ❤️

28 comments:

  1. Anonymous9:05 AM

    always enjoy your blog!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous9:52 AM

      Thank you ๐Ÿฅฐ

      Delete
    2. Thanks for the La Coupole memory! I’d always avoided the big Montparnasse restaurants. On my last trip we went for Sunday lunch. Lively crowd but not loud and no long wait. Lots of groups and families. It was lovely!

      Delete
    3. Anonymous2:54 PM

      I loved the bikes!!!!!

      Delete
  2. Anonymous9:12 AM

    Love seeing your process, Carol! And now I am longing for a Paris cafe…

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous9:51 AM

      Trial by fire ๐Ÿ”ฅ Sometimes you think something will be easy (usually) and then it eludes you. The ‘creative process’ ๐Ÿ˜

      Delete
  3. Anonymous9:22 AM

    Wow!!! What a treat those letters will be!! For me, what would make it even better would be if you drew yourself at one of those cafรฉ tables!!!! I miss your smiley face

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous9:24 AM

      Oooops sent it before I was finished! Sending L❤️VE from ๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฆ

      Delete
  4. Anonymous10:01 AM

    It is wonderful to be brought along while you process the artist decisions you need to ponder and discard. l liked the bikes but I also really like the one you landed upon too. ๐Ÿซ 

    ReplyDelete
  5. Anonymous10:10 AM

    Yes. It’s always fun to see your process!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anonymous10:40 AM

    Carol, if you decide to do your green ballerinas, I would definitely be interested. I would hang them next to the ones I purchased from you before. I love them. They always make me smile. Let me know what you decide. Thanks, Sheila Troppe

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous11:49 AM

      Thank you Sheila,
      My ballerinas on Etsy

      Delete
  7. Anonymous10:42 AM

    What needs to go more than the bikes are the smokers. Truly disgusting and the way to destroy a nice time.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Anonymous11:01 AM

    Hooray! Found it in your shop. Can’t wait to hang it next to the first one. Keep them coming. they are wonderful. ♥️๐Ÿ˜€

    ReplyDelete
  9. Anonymous11:23 AM

    I love this one! ❤️ Ordering it when I get home.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous6:54 PM

      I have to put it up!!

      Delete
  10. Anonymous11:36 AM

    I like the art work but I want that nut covered ice cream cone. Lol Lynne

    ReplyDelete
  11. Anonymous11:47 AM

    Fabulous Post!!! Lois BenderArt

    ReplyDelete
  12. Anonymous1:22 PM

    Bikes are NOT horrible!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous6:32 PM

      No of couse not but I don’t like the design of the public velos

      Delete
    2. Anonymous6:55 PM

      Or rather MY drawing of the bikes was not good ๐Ÿ‘Ž

      Delete
  13. Somehow, sitting in a streetside cafe in Paris and sitting in one in Lansing just isn't the same!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous6:33 PM

      Come back to Paris Jeannie ❤️

      Delete
  14. Mai oui! All your posts make me want to explore more in and beyond Paris -- but your marvelous watercolors of cafe life really make me pine for Paris!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Sukicart5:42 PM

    I love this one - Paris cafes are so special and your sketches are perfect. I treasure my cafe map - it's one of my favorites.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Bonnie L8:47 PM

    This is classic Gillott!! A superb example of a Carol Gillott watercolor. L❤️VE it❣️
    PS; No one would ever say your vรฉlos ‘have to go’…no way Josรจ! I just prefer your peeps, they are so whimsical.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Anonymous12:00 AM

    Bravo on the letter…great job, as usual! Dorrance

    ReplyDelete
  18. Anonymous7:50 PM

    I love the insert of the tables! Great work

    ReplyDelete

Love hearing from you