Paques Time

Easter happens this Sunday. Over here they call it "Pâques"; just "Pâques", I'm told, no "le" or "la" before it. Pronounced "pack."

Which is what we've been doing.

Phony Phun Phrom GREVE-DAY

DON'T ASK.


It's quiet right now.

Where are the parades?
And the riots?

I'm ready for someone to try and rip my cel.


We're all just captives.

p.s. I don't really have a cel.

"Elle Vous Fera Craquer!"

Literally translates as, "She'll make you crack!"

Found on lunch menu at Laduree, in reference to the seductive powers of their gaufres, which is a type of sweet food over here that are typically just tasty, small sections of what we U.S.-type citizens would call Belgian Waffles, often sold by street vendors; but the Laduree version is much closer to a very fresh, slightly soft version of a cream-filled wafer cookie. We cracked. And we're buying a small satchel-sized stash for the plane.

Here are some more sketches from the Louvre, executed in pencil this time, (but in that annoying blue pencil of mine--it really makes for a bad scan because of the very tight tonal range--you just don't get a good dark with these compared to typical graphite--I can only defend my use of them by citing nostalgia). So the point of these drawings is improving my "Quick Sketch" execution; I wear my iPod and try to do a new drawing for every new song; well, that's the goal, but you know me--it's more like every two or even three songs! It's misleading and a little comical to call them "quick" sketches. So let's call them "kwik" and be done with it.

REMEMBER: click on any of these suckers, and they'll grow to a magnificent size--all for you, dear reader, all for you.

The April Fools

Faces and postures glimpsed from a couple of favorite spots: the pyramide court at the Louvre, brasserie La Luxembourg, etc.

Anatomy Peek

What do you think? Too crusty? Too old fashioned? Too morbid?

My Funky Ink Style Continues

With all its pros and cons.

I was at the Rodin Museum yesterday because I had to return books to the library in the morning, and it's not a very long walk between the library and the Rodin. Was supposed to rain, but didn't, so I stood outside "sketching" for a while with my umbrella dangling from my shoulder bag.

I know these would look better if I just filled in the "shadow" areas somehow, (perhaps a clever discovery awaits), an area I am instead leaving blank after trying to encircle it with form shadows and silhouette edges; but I don't want to diminish my efforts with that pedestrian "wash" look (tho' it is quite pleasing, fer sure)--and besides, I'm supposed to be finding AN ORIGINAL way to make this all work.

Comments are welcome.

"I'm Sorry, We Are Out Of Nothing"

Two weeks left here, and we're both gripping. We don't want to go, but knowing we have to go makes the time we have left joyless. If go we must, then let's just go now and get it over with. I'd planned to have my Mom visiting us during these final days, and I realize how perfect that would have been; alas, it was not to be. We did have the truly wonderful pleasure of a visit from Dear Friends Candy and Larry just last week; for nearly five days we ate great, told stories, checked out some art and generally enjoyed each other's company. Good times.

Now our mood is telling us to spend the next two weeks packing, and sulking; mentally, we are ready to close up shop. But we have so much work to do before our flight leaves, it would be impossible to just give up now.

So we sulk. And feel tense.

The drawing above came from the Louvre on Monday, watching people at the little café service area just across from the bookstore. The large-ish caricature is of a waitress who I believe has the best face I've seen in France.

Name the 18th Century French Luminaries!

Here's a little pencil study from Houdon (pencil is amazing--you can erase!). It'll have to stand in for a real post.

We've been having a wonderful time working and esp. hosting friends for the last week. I will force myself to sit down and write more soon; for now you can see other recent art at tuesdayartgroup.blogspot.com.

Pete, tell me again how do you make those words light up and link?
(and the radio is playing "Hold Me Now," your best Thompson Twins cover--but not your best cover--that would be "(I'm in a)Time ZONE!")