Bonne Maman, Maine

This is going to be short and sweet. Wifi is intermittent in my lovely, enormous room in Owl's Head, MAINE.  I've been here a week. When I arrived my host made a fatal error. They bought 5 BONNE MAMAN blackberry jam instead of hard-to-find raspberry. I took this as a sign to paint French jam instead of Maine rocks all week. Hooray. 

Meanwhile I brought them 4 boxes of divine French chocolates + some bars.

I can happily recommend Pierre Marcolini (yes, he is Belgian) if you need chocolate gifts. Perfect in every way: variety, color, flavor, number, price. 

My hostess Katherine in front of The Mariner's Grill in Camden. 

Where I ate a single blueberry pancake chock-a-block with Maine's tiny berries + real maple syrup. 

Of course I had a lobsta roll on a bun(?) and a pile of mayonnaise with some slaw included the day before. 

One cannot visit Maine without going for a whole lobster at Archer's. 

Oh and those rocks. 

I was attending David Dewey's Fall watercolor workshop. 

But mostly I was up at 3am painting jam jars. I stayed on Paris time (and got poked during class for snoozing. Zzzz)

Per usual I made a mess in my enormous bathroom with all my painting stuff. If you're into Bonne Maman there is plenty lurking in my Etsy shop. Is Lavender a flavor? It is now. Thanks for reading and sharing Parisbreakfast. Paris letter and maps subscriptions + jam watercolors are in my Etsy shop. With love💋from Paris (back on Wednesday)🐻

Walking along the Seine

No jet lag to speak of here but too relaxed post-Maine to knuckle down to present matters.. Mind you I have been to see; KLIMT: ATELIER DES LUMIERES, CARRAVAGIO INROME, RELAIS DESSERTS and EBLOUISSANTE VENISE. Reports to come soon I promise. Meanwhile I'm still WALKING DAILY, mostly along the Seine.

And what a revelation it is to see Notre Dame in morning light.

I recommend to all Paris visitors.

Its not crowded

You can walk under so many bridges, all different in design. There are 36 bridges/ponts. I've walked under 5 so far...

Are these trawlers? They bring jam and butter to Paris. They were much missed when the Seine was high in March.

Morning light is stunning. But morning doesn't begin until 7:05am these days. I'm not one to walk in pitch dark.

American painter EDWARD HOPPER may have walked the same path while living in Paris for 2 years. He said it took him 10 years to get over Europe once back in Greenwich village.

This Hopper view is on the other side of the Seine

An early bird Urban Sketcher taking advantage of the light on Pont des Arts

I've been told my Arcopedico shoes are not good for proper walking. All suggestions are welcome. My feet are not a pretty sight...wide and bumpy. I have absolutely no problem finding a proper breakfast post-promenade. Walking is a wonderful way, maybe the best way to see Paris. Come join me! 

Thanks for reading Parisbreakfast. 

If you'd like to receive Parisbreakfast letters & maps in your mailbox 📬, look in my Etsy shop. 

BONNE WALKIES! 🚶‍♀️🚶‍♀️

David Dewey watercolor workshop, Rockland Maine

First day DAVID DEWEY WATERCOLOR WORKSHOP in Rockland (really Owl's Head) Maine. We head to the dog rock at Owl's Head Beach to paint.

David explains,'Let the color release into the shape'Leave bits and pieces of white in the rocks'

David's palette is always a work of art on its own...a vintage enamel butcher's tray is the best to see your color mixtures. Check ebay.

David's motley crew of old-as-the-hills paintbrushes.

How ever does he make those light-as-a-feather marks and washes with that crew is part of the fun of watching David paint. 'Use the brush to drop color into it' 'The first touches of color down tell the story'

An early stage of delicate washes making the foundation and structure of the painting.

'The shape is formed by the colors that are there'

'Your painting is always on your palette first' David reminds us.

'A touch of dark anchors it. Let the white paper reveal the color. Know where to be clear and where to be vague' 'there has to be light in your darks, so just don't go black'

I paint the facing big Etretat-like cliff across from Dog rock

First thumbnail

Later stage

Rock time

Really fun finding all the colors lurking in these rocks

I do 5-7 small watercolors to everyone else's 1-2 full-size paintings. Comme d’habitude

My palette/paintbox trying to reflect my watercolors..

David likes this one

The crit end of day. Always exciting to see what everyone has done.

Dinner at the fabulous McLoon's

An absolute must if you're in this part of the world.

Et volia. This lobster was picked out of the baskets just off the warf and steamed to order.

Top that! I Love❤️❤️❤️ Maine!!

Maine Paintables

 There was a lot to paint in Maine and I should have painted it, but mostly I didn't.

 Unlike this gal oil painting en pleine aire down by the wharf

 I should have painted the lavender drying on the bench.

 Or two chairs set out ringside by the pond waiting for frogs to sing...

 Or lovely reflections in a Camden pond.

 A Victorian big house nestled in the woods - too perfect to paint.

 Or Just Henry apple pies.

 Apple sauce in the making, waiting to be painted.

 Or these blackened heirloom tomatoes..

 Or darling Jackie sneaking into my room for a pet. Instead I mostly painted in the bathroom/studio I set up. Watercolors to come tomorrow I hope. 

Instead I mostly painted in the bathroom/studio I set up.

Watercolors to come tomorrow I hope.