Over the weekend I went to another Meetup with the same group as before. It was a smaller gathering than last time, but again at a museum — this time the stunning Petit Palais (Little Palace), just a short walk from the Seine.
{as always, mouse over photos to read notes, or click to enlarge}
(And yes, there is a Grand Palais, right across the street. Way more crowded — queues all day long!)
I really loved Le Petit Palais. Both it and its bigger neighbor were built in 1900 for the Universal Exposition, when they must have looked even more splendid then than they do now.
Astoundingly, it is free to visit the museum’s permanent exhibitions, and these are not only very good, but quite extensive: sculptures, paintings, drawings, antiquities, and contemporary pieces. Even more surprising was that it was not at all crowded, even on a Saturday afternoon.
I made a number of quick sketches in the galleries. Dov has been encouraging me to work faster and focus more on getting the sense of things, rather than trying for so much perfect detail. You can tell these sketches are much looser than my usual.
The note at the top of the below page refers to a portrait painting I loved, Donat Nonnotte’s “Madame de Sevré en Hebé.” Have a look and tell me you didn’t smile back!
After the museum, a small group of us went to a café across the Seine. I had a decaf espresso, which made me feel very fancy — café here is always espresso, so it’s what you see everyone drinking at all the sidewalk tables. We had an interesting conversation. The others have all been in Paris for anytime from a year to more than a decade, having come here from all over as well: Ireland, Israel, Turkey (yes, Istanbul!). It’s great fun chatting with everyone, and I’m so glad I have been doing these Meetups.
Oh, and the organizer of this one, Edith, took a photo of me sketching in the Petit Palais:
I don’t know if I’ll have the chance before we leave, but I’d love to return to the Petit Palais for some more sketching and a slower tour of the galleries. I didn’t even see half of it while we were there!
satsumabug.com | Lisa Hsia 
I am truly proud of you!
And thanks for letting me put on some pressure, I adore the results!
And keep on having fun (you seem to be doing a good job so far 🙂
Thank you! 🙂 Challenge is good. And I am having lots of fun… still haven’t got a portable watercolor sketchbook but when I went to Versailles I took some loose sheets with me (didn’t get to use them, unfortunately)!
wow you are good for LIsa!
Carla
I love line work, and I especially like your “entry” one and the staircase. I hope you get chance to visit Rodin’s house, Lisa. But there is so much to do ! 🙂
Thanks, Alan! I know, there really is a lot to do — I’ve been hitting up the museums every other day or so, and still, I doubt I will see most of them. We walked by the Musée Rodin the other night (dunno if that’s the same as his house) but didn’t go in. ;b We’ll see if we get another chance!
I love the faster looser sketches. You are getting the essence of the subject matter. Keep going. Glad Dov is nudging you on!
Thank you, Carla! I think of your sketches and Dov’s while I’m out practicing. 🙂
I still say I’m practicing. I wonder if we ever get to think I’m not practicing anymore ??
I read a Pema Chödrön book once when she said the answer to “How long will this practice take?” is “At least until you die.” I think she was speaking of meditation, but it holds for other practices too, don’t you think?
[…] remember me mentioning Meetup before, it’s the website through which I went to various museum visits and drawing sessions in Paris. My best drawing friend from there, Dov, started his own Meetup for […]