I couldn't help noticing how Sorolla loved his summer straw hats.
He mostly lived and painted in Valencia, 30 minutes from the beach.
He uses hats (mostly straw FYI) to focus on his subject's face by losing the edges like here. Try squinting and the hat disappears. Other times he contrasts the hat's edges(known as 'found' edges in painter's 🎨 lingo).
I tried my hand at it after a sunny visit to Paris Plages along the Seine yesterday. I need to do a few hundred more before I get even close. Fortunately I've got August to work on them.
You had to squint it was so bright yesterday yet the temperatures were perfect, in the 80s.
A whole variety of seating arrangements and sun umbrellas
These girls were in a book-lending area provided by publisher Flammarion, except they were reading email..
Free sparkling and flat water provided. BYO bottles svp.
In a Sorolla sketch beach people were well-covered up.
Unlike Parisians yesterday
Sorolla in this photo is wearing a lost-and-found straw hat
Another 'lost' hat makes the red dress 'pop'. Squint and you'll see it.
If only one could take a dip. They say by 2020 the Seine will be cleaned-up enough. Hmm..🙄
Of couse one must have thes obligatory ice cream mustn't one, here provided by Pozzetto.
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Describe what you love about France in 3 words. Can we make it 5 words? Eyes, ears, nose, tastebuds + brain. Paris stimulates all my senses constantly. I’m inspired all the time – endlessly surprised and amused. New York doesn’t do it for me anymore…