I've been having so much fun with the sketches that I've only done one full watercolor so far this trip, but here it is. The garden of the Hotel Sens in the Marais.

I was heading out to do a second this afternoon, but the Paris weather turned on me and started raining instead. Maybe tomorrow. It's usually hard to tell here from hour to hour, but I'm sure I'll get some more work done at some point.

I had a lovely day out yesterday. It started with a brocante (flea market) in the Place des Abbesses, which is one of my happy places anyway. I found three small letterpress ornaments for my press, which was neat. And a lovely set of canisters that was too expensive....

Then I hopped the metro to the Left Bank to hear my friend Rene play. I always love his music. Did a little sketching while I listened.

I walked Rene to his metro station and then stopped to paint in the garden of thE Hotel Sens. I forgot to photograph the watercolor (the first full one I've done -- I've been having too much fun with my sketch pad), and it's too dark now. I'll post it later. But I did a quick marker sketch after painting. And then walked past the Hotel de Ville and sketched my favorite whimsical knights up on its roof.

I ended the day sitting a while in the Tuileries. It was busy on a gorgeous weekend day, but I bought a lemon ice cream cone and scored a chair by an installation of wind chime bells. They were utterly lovely. A whole forest of them chiming when the wind blew. I couldn't sketch the sound, but I did do a sketch just to remember.

I did one very quick watercolor at the end of the day. I was about to head home, but the Louvre looked glorious in the late afternoon sun, and I couldn't resist. It really is my favorite building to paint.

I saw a banner up at rue Ordener advertising open artist studios at the city of Montmartre, and I had to go check it out.

It was a block of three studio apartments (actual studios, for a change), just for artists. A number of them had their living/working spaces open in a coordinates open house, and it was fascinating to see both living and working spaces.

Studios that were open were marked by a red balloon or three.

I loved this woman's garden. There were also bee boxes and garden allotments in the back.

And here's the view from the balcony of the third building. I love Paris rooftops.

More In transit travel sketches.

Arriving in Paris. I was too jet lagged to sketch much yesterday.

But I did manage to shop. Found a thrift store and a couple of neat jackets. (Went back and did the sketch today.)

And, of course, sketched trees...

I have the ridiculous good fortune to be asked to house sit again in Paris. I'm giddy excited and flying out this afternoon. I can't wait to do some sketches there. I'm going to try to keep a real sketch journal this time as well as doing some watercolors for my spring show. Here's my first to get me started.

I know I keep saying this, but I really am trying to sketch more in those small corners of time I have in my day. I did the above sketch when I got to a restaurant first and was waiting for friends to join me.

I sketched Mr. Darcy (again) the other night. I was playing my banjo as watching him sprawled out on the couch, and I just couldn't resist reaching for my sketch book.

Then I spent all weekend demonstrating at the Pink Palace Crafts Fair. I was mostly carving a block (what I was out there to do) and talking to people who came by, but I took a quiet moment to do this sketch. For some reason, I really like the shape of a line of port-a-potties. I know I've drawn them before.