Gardening Fair

When I saw Di's post on Petersham Nurseries my heart melted...

Then the chance came along to be in an outdoor art show at GARDEN FAIR in Winterthur.

Here is one of Di's divine photos...Please take a look!

And here is a gorgeous photo from the Petersham Nurseries website!

I'm trying to figure out how I can run over there from Paris in October...

Should I go?

Meanwhile back in Paris I stumbled on this tiny nursery by the Seine...

Au Jardin d'Edgar... For Parisiens with terraces and balconies..?

Hmmm...do you think I need this silly pup to paint for GARDEN FAIR?

Will you come see me?

September 26 - 28

Back to painting more flower pots...

BONNE WEEK-END!

Macaron Mathematics

100 grs., original watercolor,9" x 11"

Class, today we are going to tackle the complex subject of macaron math.

You walk into any Parisien patisserie and you are instantly dazzled by the array of colors and flavors.

...And the multiple array of flavors or parfums. Your first thought is how many to choose and which ones to choose. Correct?

Then you take a look at the price (and you come down to earth with a thump. 66.00 Euros! You run from the shop tearing your hair out and shrieking.

Here is where a little macaron math comes to the rescue. This will indeed help you when buying anything in France. You MUST learn the difference between kilos and grams.

By the way, class, in these two pictures the macarons (large "individual" ones) are being sold by the piece. Please note you will pay a different price in you eat them sur place (on the spot) or for emporter (take it away).

OK here's where the math comes into action.

1 kilo = 1000 grams

or

1 kilos = 2.2 pounds
So if you are buying 100 grs (most often the case in patisseries) you will be getting around 3.3 ounces (just a bit under 1/4 of a pound and quite a managable amount to buy without costing an arm and a leg etc.).

When you see this sign, no need to shriek or tear out hair. Simply know you will be getting about 4-6 very nice macarons or a little under a 1/4 of a pound and not too many calories at that. Remember these are much smaller than the individual macs previously mentioned.

But here is another factor just to confuse you a bit. Most of the better patisseries will have a ready made pack of 100 grs waiting for you, so you can put away your calculators and start munching. Usually you can choose the flavors you prefer.

 For your edification: 1 kilo of macarons = usually about 70 macarons. Except in the case of Pierre Herme macarons, where I was informed that a kilo = is 60 macarons

Because their macarons are FATTER! Oui bien sur, and I got this from a reliable source.
You will be tested on this tomorrow class, so please review your notes carefully. Say after me please, san gram (cent gram).
MERCI et BONJOUR!

Mini Interview

Jennifer in Australia requested help with her essay for art class..."we have been asked to choose 6 Artists to include in our essay, I would like to include you" 1. What inspires you to paint?...especially the food side of it.

History has to come into it, since I used to sneak down to the pantry at 6 AM and steal cookies when I was 5. Who knew I'd end up painting cookies? I did start out painting coffee cups and petit dejeuner , but swiftly moved on to desserts. Now it's mini desserts Less calories.

Fantin-Latour - Roses and Lilies

2. What three artists have been your inspiration? Odilon Redon - Vase of Flowers This one is easy, though the list is much longer than just 3 artists. Chardin - Brioche

Manet - Brioche

David Dewey

A lot of brioche and flowers and not a cookie in the bunch?

3. What would you call yourself?...You probably don't like being tagged, if not I will completely understand, eg- impressionist, contemporary, etc...purely to satisfy my essay. I have no clue what to call myself - Obsessed mini-dessert-still life-watercolorists? You tell me. 4. I also have to analyse/describe 3 of your paintings...I'm never going to be able to choose. You'll have to do that one on your own Jennifer. As Anne Corrons said...macarons seem to be always close to me! A key analytical clue to my paintings... BONNE CHANCE et BONNEJOUR!

DIY Painting Glass

With all the glass paintings I did last week, Jeanette said: you didn't paint it all in, but the eye/brain fill in the missing bits...Damn! I'm going to have to buy David Dewey's book ...sounds like he thinks the way I like to see. I thought I'd do a little review on painting glass. I painted this one back in David's class at Parsons in '96.

A very old, much looked at copy of one of David's class demos of painting reflective surfaces...... and the notes from class on the "closure effect".

"Break it up so the eye fills it in automatically. Simplify! Color effects create the form on the patterns. You want to relate the reflective patterns to the overall 2D pattern! Use chromatic neutrals (grays made from mixing complimentary colors, never black or gray paint)." A page from David's watercolor book, using Wayne Thiebaud’s painting demonstrating using compliments on glass. Thiebaud paints quite a bit of glass. I'm always adding to my reference files.

Another Thiebaud. OK! I’ll do a pencil thumbnail of my subject. Remember the lesson on thumbnails class? Early stage of the painting is mostly pale washes of warm and cool color.#171B Hydrangea in a water glass, sold, original watercolor,9" x 11"
Voila! The finish. I mustn't forget to show you the subject matter.

Going Postal

#170B J'ai écrit une lettre, original watercolor,9" x 11"

Still writing letters, still painting glasses of flowers because...

Directly across the boulevard from Passage Jouffroy is

The Passage des Panoramas another 19th century shopping mall, built in 1799 and one of the earliest venues of the Parisian philatelic trade. And of course I found a STAMP shop in there. Did you ever collect stamps when you were a kid? I collected specifically French colonial stamps when I was 1. I dreamed of running away. And because of the bright colors. I still have them lurking somewhere.

Paris shops are full of unexpected memories. Old stamps on old letters - how do they end up here? And French post marks! I bought a faux set of rubber stamps to put on what? Who knows? Irresistible though. French script is the BEST! I spent a year trying to write French calligraphie like this...Hmmm Dress up as a French postman (ooops - person) Or deliver the poste yourself in your own yellow toy truck... And poste banks as well here, Brit ones too. The best is this miniature postal office. So much better than going to a real French postal office = terrifying! Will they ask me questions I can't answer in my limited French? One trip I carried around my postcards in my purse unsent, for fear of having to wait on line and speak to a poste person.
Has this ever happened to you in Paris?
BONNE JOURNEE!

Le Valentin

#169B Le Valentin,original watercolor

We're still in Passage Jouffroy today.
 

As Miss Sushy kindly reminded me, "I'm sure that you also know the tea room just in front of Pain d'épices: Le Valentin with macarons, and a lot of french pastries."

I certainly do! Who could forget this charming old fashioned salon de the? Or the glorious piece montee de macarons in the window?

I went in early for their chocolat chaud, while waiting for the toy store to open. They have everything to suit a 5 year-olds desires - tall jars of Guimauve!

And many, many jars of home made confiture!

And the salesperson was doing the job I dream of doing someday (when I grow up) writing out the day's menu on the ardoise.

Plus she gets to play with all these ribbons! ...tea prints on the walls... Even more French rubans = paradise!
Oh and don't forget those cookies in the front window..I mean bisquits!
BONNE WEEK-END!