Relais Desserts Buches de Noel

This year's Relais Desserts tasting of christmas cakes/ buches de noel was held on a boat on the Seine

I came prepared with pen and watercolors to do on-the-spot (en pleine aire?) cake drawings

Yesterday was London.  Tomorrow a junket to Amsterdam. I'm in the Apple store right now

Wifi is down and IOS 10 doesnt like Blogger anymore.

20 beautiful gateaux to taste is a still a lot of cake!

I told myself I was going to just look and paint. No eating. Ha.

Beauty everywhere.

Attention to detail

Perfection in spades.

Pierre Hermé's witty Chistmas log within a log, doubling up on the intense chocolate.

Lots of marmalade in the mix to add a touch of acid and counter balance the très riche chocolate ganache.

Always fun and wit from Frederic Cassel of Fountainbleau.

Chestnuts galore. Enjoy PBers!!

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Chanel Spring 2018

The grand finale of Paris Fashion Week. Chanel at Grand Palais. I wouldn't miss it for the world.

Too much fun to watch the parade of harried invitées in their Chanel finery.

The day started with Paris drizzle. By 10:00 the sun was wrecking shots right and left. That's Paris weather for you. Be prepared. *Note bag and back bow.

Plenty of shine and dazzle always at Chanel shows.

Love this Anna Magnani type woman with great hair.

Another beauty in a stunner beige coatdress.

Love love love

Golden snakeskin booties

The best. Chanel golden, quilted of course fingerless gloves iPhone ready.

The envelope please. And your passport. The guests take pics too.

White is huge. And fluff.

Guys wear Chanel quilty bags plus Chanel classic gold-trimmed jacket. Why not?

Hurry up Cinderella. Its almost show time.

Les girls in their tweedy Chanel jackets, bags and shoes.

One bare shoulder, ruffles, a fur. Ready, set, go.

Shall I paint the Grand Palais? Or your cat at Chanel?

What fav Paris monument shall I paint next? 

Any in London? Bear is going to London tomorrow morning!

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Paris Opera Garnier

The opera Garnier is my favorite building in Paris hands down. Take the TOUR.

I took the tour back in January. But do not take a stuffed toy (Bear) with you. He was removed from my bag at security! FYI the lines at security take a while and you can miss your English tour so go early and leave bears at home.

Once inside the grandeur gets you.

Everyone was wearing the wrong clothes. They should give us fancy dress for the tour imo.

We got to see the glorious grand ballroom. Women were not allowed in for the longest time. Can you imagine the cigar smoke.

A peek at a rehearsal inside the theatre.

The opera library has stunning treasures - miniature theatre maquettes.

Costumes from Mozart's marriage of Figaro.

The opera house has its on art gallery. The costume designer Leon Baskt exhibit was fabulous earlier this year.

With accompanying Nijinski videos of Bird of Paradise. 

I've been back to draw the interior several times.

I would love to paint the grand staircase.

Outside the shapes are enthralling.

I could stand in front of it all night. So dramatic. Appropriately a crich chocolate-layered cake was named after the Opera Garnier.

First get the drawing down and then an all-over warm watercolor wash.

The cool dark sky beckons. I should be painting it last but I'm not good at waiting for dessert.

Then the windows and figures. At last touches of gold paint to highlight the sculptures. They are gold patinaed. Perhaps it is a gaudy, flashy building but its win my heart over.

What do you think?

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