Notre Dame by night – Ink and Gouache in a small Watercolour Moleskine
Margaret has suggested a few days in Paris as and end of the year break. Oh no! This means getting on a plane and travelling. As a compromise I have created this scene, from a photo taken during an earlier visit, of the Cathedral at night to remind her that it can get cold here. Maybe this will work.
roseindigo 12:10 pm on August 22, 2010 | #
So, Margaret wants to dig you out of your comfort zone? Good for her! But I must admit, whereas flying used to be fun, it hasn’t been for a long, long time what with all the fire drill one has to go through at airports these days. Have you ever thought of driving? You could, you know, all through England and under the tunnel into France. On the map it looks no farther than the trip my son does to come here from L.A. Or is driving even worse than flying for you, like it is for my daughter-in-law? I love to drive; it’s such a wonderful feeling of freedom to be able to stop anywhere, look around and sketch a bit, and then go on to the next place that interests me.
Well, in this case, either way, I’m no Margaret’s side.
Nikira 3:24 pm on August 22, 2010 | #
Bob, you can bring sketches from your trip, that would be wonderful adventure.
I like your dramatic sketch.
Uncle Bob 3:42 pm on August 22, 2010 | #
Curses! I feel trapped my the sisterhood of Rose and Nikira. All right – I’ll consider the trip. Its much, much longer to drive, from Scotland, through the UK that most folks think. Although it might look small on a map we don’t have the infrastructure of roads that you folks do. I’ll try to explain in an email. The other thing is we drive on the left here. In France they drive on the right like you guys. When I say “drive” well – lets say the French are a lovely, friendly people but go near them in a car or their roads at your peril. This is a video of some traffic near the Arc de Triomphe:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/28475994@N00/2777597842/in/set-72157606822540062/
But, if you cannot access this, look at the concentration of cars in this photo from the top of the Arc:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/28475994@N00/2777731318/in/set-72157606823197250/
They have an engaging habit – if the lights are against them at red, but they think they can avoid pedestrians – then ignore the lights. I’m not criticising – they are a brilliant, friendly people but I just couldn’t drive there. Rose – Margaret thanks you and realises she has a friend.
renefijten 3:16 pm on August 23, 2010 | #
Trebor, I remembered you commented on my similar sketch of the Notre Dame by night last year (oct 3rd), so I return the favor
. Paris is a beautiful place to sketch.
Uncle Bob 9:02 am on August 24, 2010 | #
Jings! I remember this. Your effort is almost exactly the same as mine. Honest – I didn’t plagiarise your stuff, Rene. I concocted this from my photo:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/28475994@N00/2776705163/in/set-72157606822540062/
Isn’t it amazing. We must have been almost exactly at the same spot. Even the tree, in front of the cathedral, is in the same place. This was taken in 2004 but we returned in 2006. I agree that Paris is a beautiful place to sketch. One of my best memories is sitting in the Tuileries Gardens sketching on a warm afternoon. Heaven on earth.