Here in my Gallery on the French Riviera I talk to you about my latest painting. Cafe Le Descartes. A nocturne Parisian cafe scene from my signature series the Blue Hour of Contemporary Paris. This cafe is on rue Descartes in the Latin Quarter. I have walked by this cafe often.
It’s going to be fun to be back in Paris for a visit.
Limited edition greeting cards from my originals are now available on my e-shop. They come with an envelope and are blank on the inside. More details on each item page.
These are print-on-demand with a good company. The postage is calculated according to your location so they are not shipped from France, unless you live here too, LOL! They are available on my e-shop. Clic on the image or the button to purchase. I new window or tab will open where automated checkout is available.
During my 14 year sojourn in Paris a few sights always caught my eye. The Eiffel tower and the cobblestones. During its construction the Eiffel tower was heavily criticized by artists and writers. They considered it to be a monstrous erection that violated the Parisian canon of beauty.
The skeleton is sort of out place amongst the Haussmannian architecture. Perhaps it was the beginning of the dystopian era. Where beauty and harmony are sacked for function and shock. It is a “sight” and climbing it is always an event. I took the photo for this painting on my way to meet girlfriends for dinner on rue de Monttessuey. The drizzly fog cast halos from the shop lights. My minds eye saw the painting while I stood in the middle of the friggin boulevard with cars racing around me.
The first time I went up the Eiffel Tower I was 9 months pregnant. Pregnant women didn’t wait in line, despite nasty protests from tired tourists. At the time the lines were awfully long. Now that’s changed. My idea was that my baby would be born on the top. Luckily that didn’t happen. I was more than ready to lay that egg.
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The cobblestones in the Latin Quarter and the 6th arrondissements are the other thing that always mesmerize me. I had visually integrated cobblestones because I walked on them for years in Italy. Feet baking rocks they are. The could probably melt iron in Florence. The rocks on Nantucket Island that feign for cobblestones are insane. You need moon boots to navigate them. In Paris they are special because it rains often, like all the time. You can get away with stilettos unless the apéro dinatoire lasted until 1am. Then it’s a barefoot boogie.
These two sexy paintings are available for sale via Singulart. Clic on the images for the link.
#eiffeltower #latinquarter #Paris
Before I show you my new work, I decided to spill the beans about a secret that I’ve kept for over a year. In 2020 I began donating a percentage of my sales Saving Lives in Rishikesh and to the Shakti School of Arts for girls in Rishikesh.
Through a series of events and a common friend I was put in touch with Ram Das and Tarini Ma who take care of lots of people in Venezuela and in Rishikesh. It all started when I was cleaning out my closets and saw a post on Facebook from Ram Das saying that they needed clothes and if anyone could donate them. I’d been following them for a while. I never sent the clothes because the pandemic blocked all entry of used clothes. But now my art sales go to helping young girls learn art, girls who otherwise would have no education. Hopefully one day I’ll be able to go there and meet the wonderful Tarini Ma and Ram Das. And what a dream it would be to teach a few classes on painting and drawing.
And here are the three Parisian Waiters. They are each 120×40 cm, oil on canvas. I love these three magical Parisian Serveurs. They look so chic in this white kitchen with a marble wall. Red, black and white are the colours of Parisian bistrots. One of these guys worked at L’académie de la Biere on Boulevard de Port Royal before he moved on the Cafe Delmas in Place Contrescarpe. These three waiters were all working the terrasse of Cafe Delmas when I immortalised them. Ever since I saw the Flute Player by Manet, I wanted to paint a full body portrait on a simple collared ground. Le Fifre inspired me also for the colours. These make a great triptych and they are available here on Singulart. They are named Gars Dumas 1,3 & 4. Number 2 sold. There were four of them.
The Latin quarter in Paris was my digs, but I spent lots of time in the 12th. I lived in the 5th arrondissement and walked up or down rue Mouffetard at least once a day. I wrote a flash fiction about it. In the summer time, on Sunday mornings, it smells like roasting chicken, fresh seafood, camembert, wine, kebob, fresh baked bread, tobacco smoke and a cocktail of smells from last night’s partying that isn’t worth mentioning. Quite the cacaphony for sensitive nostrils.
The market on rue Mouffetard is a wonderful muse. I painted it many times. This painting is one of my best. I like the white reflecting off the cobblestones. Once it poured down rain when I walked on those stones. I ended up removing my shoes because they were useless. I had to toss them.
This painting has a history. It was in a gallery in Beruit and in Honfleur. Now it is for sale through Singulart. Here is what it would like hanging on your wall.
I just love sipping coffee in the morning and staring at Angie’s painting of Paris on my wall. I feel like I’m there everyday.
Client in California
In the 12th arrondissement the yoga studios were concentrated. I’d ride my bike there or fly down the sidewalks on my kick scooter to get to Om Sweet Om, where I taught classes. On my way I’d stop to photograph the cafes.
The Brasserie l’Européen is one of my favorites. It’s directly across from Gare de Lyon. It’s shiny; all chrome and mirrors. Paris 1980’s. I enjoyed painting this awning. The yellow and green light contrasts with the violet color of the buildings in the background. The man in the red coat is making seafood platters.
Here is what it would look like on your wall.
Angie Brooksby-Arcangioli 