Babar, Louis Vuitton and Doggie Clean Up Bags

The sun broke through the rain late this morning and we had great weather today.
Did you ever read the Babar the elephant children's picture book? It was written by the French artist, Jean de Brunhoff and later by his son Laurent. We went to the Museum of Decorative Arts today to see an exhibit of the original watercolor paintings and drawings. It was inspiring, in the same museum we saw an exhibit about Louis Vuitton which had everything from his original trunks to his current purses and clothing. I have new respect for Louis.
The dog clean up station was seen on our way home.

Sennelier Art Supply Shop and Shoes

Today we did some paintings in the morning and then following a tip from a French friend we went off in search of a store she recommended for inexpensive ballet flats. After many pairs of flats were purchased we paid a visit to Sennelier Art Shop across the street from the Louvre. If you stretch your imagination and have been up late painting the night before you can almost see Monet and Degas over in the corner picking out some new oil paints. The shop is 3 stories and you walk up a narrow staircase to get to the pen section and believe me, its truely worth climbing the stairs to see the amazing selection of pens, brushes and ink up there.
Tomorrow is May Day, the French labor day and it will be interesting to see how it is celebrated in Paris.

Paris Breakfast, the Refrigerator and the Marmottan Museum

The day started with a trip to the corner grocery and a stop at the bakery. Breakfast for me was my favorite pastry called Pain avec Raisins, the others enjoyed croissants. I have to post about the refrigerator. It is only one drawer that you pull out and open like a dresser drawer. I was very impressed.
After our Paris breakfast we ventured out in the rain to see the most incredible exhibit of one of the few successful women impressionists, Berthe Morisot.
Google her if you are interested and look at her paintings. Her artwork is incredibly beautiful and you've got to see how her paintings evolved over the years.
The exhibit was at the Marmotten Museum, which used to be a private mansion and houses many works by Claude Monet too.
We helped the French economy in the afternoon by doing some shopping and then home to do some painting and sleep soundly dreaming of the French Impressionists....

Painting in Monet's Garden

We took a train out of Paris to visit Giverny where Monet's home and garden are located. All I can say is WOW! The gardens were all arranged in color patterns and the flowers were all blooming. We were able to walk through his home and see his bed, his dinner dishes and his studio. It was a very special experience to be able to sit on a bench by Monet's waterlily pond and do some quick paintings of his famous Japanese bridge.

Paris Apartment Activities and Travel Art Journaling

The weather was fine on our arrival day . Even though there were a few rain showers today we were able to walk through the Luxembourg Gardens and see the palace.
All of us agreed it was magical to buzz ourselves into our own Paris apartment where we be staying for a week and I will be tutoring Terrie, Debbie and Eileen for a week on painting and drawings for their travel journals.

Made it to the airport

My husband dropped me at the airport this morning and after many months of planning its finally time to get on the plane and go to Paris.
My suitcase zipped closed after lots of rearanging. It's supposed to be raining in Paris all week so I had to bring sensible closed walking shoes....
My cellphone went off at the security checkpoint and I am now people watching as I wait for my flight. I am not buying breAkfast at the airport as I am waiting for a Paris breakfast.

I Am Teaching a WaterCOLOR Workshop in the Mountains

Would you like to spend June 28, 29 and 30th  in the tranquil San Jacinto mountains with me learning how to use color effectively? This workshop is for watercolor painters and anyone else who is interested in using color more effectively. After this workshop, where you will spend your time relaxing, eating meals prepared by someone else and doing a bit of painting, you will feel much more confident in your use of color.
You will learn how to take the mysteries out of mixing color, how to control mood with control and you'll practice lots of different color combinations in postcard size paintings. In addition, you will go home with your own personal color notebook.
The WaterCOLOR workshop is sponsored by Idyllwild Arts Academy and you can stay on their campus in the middle of the forest or in a hotel or cabin nearby.
Visit the Idyllwild website for more info www.Idyllwildarts.org or www.barbararothart.com  or email Barbara for more info at rabjsl@pacbell.net

News From Monet's Garden

I opened up the L.A. Times the other morning and could not believe that on there was a story about Monet's Garden on the front page! At first I thought my husband had somehow pasted the story in our newspaper since I had been telling him tidbits about the garden as I studied about it in my travel books in preparation for my upcoming trip. However, the story was for real. It seems Monet's Garden has hired a new head gardener and he is from Great Britain.  Maybe he will be there when I visit the garden next week. Anyway, it was an interesting story and if you like Monet's Garden work, then read on...

By Devorah Lauter, Los Angeles Times

April 17, 2012, 1:12 a.m.

GIVERNY, France — When James Priest is asked to strike aClaude Monet pose and stroll under the famous arched trellises lining the pathway of the painter's world-renowned garden, he becomes almost giddy, his excitement melting into a grin.

"Compare me to Monet?" asks the 54-year-old gardener, standing between the lush strokes of yellow, pink and red tulips — nature's spring palette — that glow in the midday light in this preserved village 45 miles northwest of Paris.

To Priest, no compliment could be higher, and, as he quickly insists with playful charm, undeserved: "Nobody can fill his shoes. There is only one Monet."

More than a century ago, the French Impressionist created what is now one of the world's most beloved gardens, with the water lily pond and arched bridge that have been painted in countless tableaux memorializing the groundbreaking artistic movement here.

Now Priest is a bit of a groundbreaker himself: He's an Englishman who has just been appointed head gardener for this utterly French patch of land, and is only the third person ever entrusted with the master task (one being Monet himself).

"The responsibility is a great one that is not to be taken lightly, but not in a heavy way, either. It's a great pleasure," says Priest, who has gardened for prestigious French estates for some 25 years, including the Rothschild family domain outside Paris. "It's heartwarming to know I'm involved with this public love affair with Monet, and trusted to carry it on."

Even if the public knows little about the elite gardeners who keep the country's chateau and palace gardens fit for kings, "head gardeners get a reputation" within their small circle, Priest says. That's how the Claude Monet Foundation learned of Priest's green thumb and offered him the job last year. On April 1, the foundation reopened for spring displaying the work of Priest and his team of eight gardeners.

Rest of Article:  

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-france-monet-garden-20120417,0,3544700.story

Paris and Provence Pre Trip Painting Practice and I found my passport

This year some students and I are going to France to do some painting and touring together. We are going to be doing most of our painting in journals. We prefer journals because they are travel friendly and small enough to fit into any painting situation.
I have been looking at photos and reading about the places we will be visiting. I have done some mini paintings to prepare.
Now its time to pack my suitcase. The passport goes in first, then art supplies and if there's still some room I will pack some clothes and shoes

Color Art Class

Now that I am going to teach a workshop about color for Idyllwild Arts I am seeing examples of color everywhere. In my favorite after lunch snack I found enough colors to create a rainbow. I did have to go out to the garden to find violet to complete my rainbow.

Want to learn all about color in the mountains with me?

Do you know about Idyllwildarts?  Its a wonderful school in the mountains near Southern California and Palm Desert.  They offer special summer workshops for adults who want to run away to a peaceful mountain village and take all kinds of art classes.  June 28, 29 and 30, I will be teaching a workshop there called WaterCOLOR.  You can find it under the drawing and painting classes by using this link-  http://www.idyllwildarts.org/summer.aspx
If you are interested in improving your color skills, this workshop will give you 3 full days of uninterrupted workshop time to learn all the ins and outs of color in this idyllic mountain paradise. You can stay on their campus and eat all your meals in their wonderful dining room and never have to think about anything else besides painting.

Practice Painting Of Monet's Home in Giverny, France

I am busy in my studio trying top secret color experiments to find the perfect pink color to match Monet's house. Is it watery permanent rose? Quinachrodon rose or magenta mixed with a touch of cobalt? And what about those green shutters that protect his house from the sun and wind? The color possibilites are endless. Anyone want to give me some paint mix suggestions? I have about two weeks to practice painting before I leave for France and will pay a visit to his hpme and gardens with my students.

Carlsbad Flower Field Painting

I painted this in the Artist garden in the Carlsbad Flower Fields. I went there on a field trip with my Mira Costa College acrylic painting class and awesome teacher, Kris Nugent. If you live in the area you should visit these fields and gardens, they are really beautful.

Taking in Art With All Your Senses

Recently I have been struck by the fact that art is all around us. We absorb art with our senses and store it in our own personal memory banks to be withdrawn when we are in need of inspiration.
In the last week I found several sources of  artistic inspiration . The first inspiring item I encountered was the 7-11 Mini Mart's Slurpy machine.Imagine all the color combos of Slurpys you could make if there wasn't a line of people waiting behind you! Then a young artist, named Charlie came to visit. We were both inspired when we found a fence made of colored pencils in our neighborhood. The cupcakes from the cupcake bakery where my daughter works have inspired me with their colors and tastes. I discovered the
 urns I love to paint in Europe at my local Home Depot.  I've placed two on my fence and they inspire me everytime I leave the house. Have you found any inspiration around you lately? I would love to hear about your experience.