Meet: Aquarelliste-Reporter Noelle Herrenschmidt

Last week I met brilliant watercolorist/reporter Noelle Herrenschmidt by chance. Find her on Facebook here. And at the French Sénat.

I discovered this morning her wonderful interview on Youtube at the Boston French Cultural Center. Coincidentally I had my first watercolor exhibit there in 2009.

Good things happen when you take the bus in Paris. As #89 rounded the bend at jardin du Luxembourg I couldn't believe my eyes.

I jumped off to see rows and rows of watercolors from the French Senat plus other stunning architectural renderings all from her book, DANS LES COULISSES DE LA LOI.

I love Herrenschmidt's loose, casual sketchie quality. Don't you?

Leaving areas unfinished, unpainted, you feel you are looking over the artist's shoulder. These are painted onsite not from photographs later in the studio, Noelle reveals in the Youtube interview.

"What gets done onsite is the finished artwork." She does not rework later.

So they have a 'fresh' intuitive feel to them - characteristic of the best watercolors IMO.

Here the Palais du luxembourg and the actual building below caught through the grills.

Noelle Herrenschmidt's watercolors are up on the Luxembourg grills till January 14, 2018 Do go look.

I was delighted to see Noelle would be having a book signing Saturday.

I ran over in the pouring rain.

Hollington is a très chic mens clothing store 9, rue Racine 75006. I wish they did women's clothing.

You can pick up Noelle's illustrated catalog there and she has many wonderful books on Amazon US, FR.

I bought her 'In the halls of the Law' (in French only) Over 200 pages of her watercolor illustrations.

Of course I was fascinated by her art materials. Look at her super mini seche cheveau (hairdryer)! A very rare find she said...we talked shop in my broken French.

Her paintbox! Heaven.

While others got lengthy, written messages in their books

I got dabs of fresh color straight from her paintbox. 

Visit Noelle's site and like her on facebook. The French Cultural Center video offers a good French leçon too. I brazenly showed Noelle a few of my watercolors. She approved. 

Merci Noelle pour tous!

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Cheers PBers!

Le Grand musee du Parfum, Nov Paris letter, Miss Dior

Last Sunday I finally went to the new Le Grand musee du Parfum at 73, rue faubourg St.-Honoré.

Definitely a don't-miss visit if you love French perfume.

A sensory immersion discovering how and why we love perfume

Displays of celebrities from the past who influenced perfume makers and trends.

My fav, the old graphics from past French brands and bottles.

Historic illustrations of 18th century miniature perfume flacons

Currently on a show of legendary perfume bottles by designer Pierre Dinard plus the stories/sketches behind each bottle. Who knew that the red inari bottle specially designed (and rejected by Kenzo) would become the adored and celebrated Opium perfume bottle of YSL? Many secrets of the perfume trade revealed.

On the main floor two glorious shops, one for perfume books

The other a splendid cornucopia of the best French perfumes

You can test out

As you wish.

For men too...try out Boucheron's famous and costly Jar scent.

Your ticket to Le Grand musee du Parfum includes a chance to partake of atelier classes. Book online.

Leaving the museum, I waltzed down rue Saint Homoré, a string of perfume shops looking for ideas for the November Paris letter.

Inside Galignani book store, inspiration and the solution. Why not focus on Miss Dior perfume, this year celebrating its 70th anniversary?

Just across rue de Rivoli and a few blocks down a quickish run back into the Dior exhibit at musee des arts Decoratifs, (still madly mobbed and free on the first Sunday of the month).

A look again at the 'Miss Dior' flowered dress.

More Paris letter inspiration from Dior's favorite illustrator, Rene Gruau...(and mine too) with his wonderfully fluid, black ink lines.

Miss Dior perfume first appeared in 1947, capturing othe essence of maison Dior and became the fragrance of haute couture. It was named after Dior's beloved sister, Catherine, a representative of cut flowers at les Halles (mandataire en fleurs coupée) flowers she grew in Provence. Legend has it when Catherine burst into the salon unexpectedly, Dior's muse called out,

"Ah, here's Miss Dior!"

Chrisitan replied,"Miss Dior, now there's a name for my perfume!" 

FYI Miss Dior is sprinkled daily in the 30 Avenue Montaigne salon.

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There's a new bonus watercolor - a Miss Dior bottle with your name on it!

Bonne week-end PBers.

Paris Photo - pictures at an exhibition

Last night PHOTO PARIS opened.

You have 4 days to go bask in the magnificent Grand Palais, always a pleasure.

There are many arresting images.

Roses everywhere.

Yves Klein blue everywhere.

Here in Richard Caldicott's 1990's still lifes. This gallery owner wants to have me arrested.

A very silly Yves Klein blue doggie bag.

A real dog on a visitor's arm. This is a first. Did she hide it under her coat at entrance?

Cat in the bag?

My bag was definitely not big enough.

Fashion photos always captivate. Arther Elgort shot models in Chrisitan Lacroix.

Franco Fontana Italian models.

Vintage Twiggie carrying her roller skates at the Eiffel Tower on a gallery wall. No credit available.

Old Paris, 1949 by Robert Frank

Really old Paris by Ilse Bing, a leader of modern photography in Paris in the 1930s .

Vintage photos of Grace Coddington by brilliant fashion illustrator Antonio Lopez. He discovered so many models int the 70s.

My photo of the inimitable Grace...outside a Chanel show. (Not in the show FYI).

Last night

The drink of choice

Was La Parisienne beer. I love his Yves Klein blue watch...

Thanks for reading PB! If you like this newsletter, forward it to a friend, Receive Parisbreakfast letters, maps and watercolors in your mailbox or follow me on INSTAGRAM. 

Paris was chilly last night. In the 40s PBers.

Cheers.