For my Lovely, Lurking Francophiles--> Paris, for You. *Dialup Warning*

[Sugar Smack]

You know who you are. Anything that reminds you of Paris puts a smile on your face. I have some new items to add to the Paris sketches from when I took classes at the Sorbonne.

I hope you enjoy them. :loveya: :loveya: :loveya: :loveya:





Here's my brother & me in front of the Seine.



And here are my sketches from the Sorbonne:








And This, bi-baby? This is for YOU. :* :* :* :* :*

[ScreamingMeemie]

1. What Talent!!! I love them all.

I also love the picture of you and your brother. The grin on his face is priceless.

:hi: :pals: :loveya:

[Sugar Smack]

3. Thank you so much! Tell me,

because my old computer's on slow-cook, are the first two pics too huge? I'm going back into Photobucket to resize them if they are. Thank you so much for your compliments. And I love my brother so much, That little tiny smirk always means he's up to something.

:D :toast: :hi: :loveya: :yourock: :pals:

[ScreamingMeemie]

5. No, they are not too big at all. In proportion with the rest of them.

:hi:

[Sugar Smack]

6. OH, thankyouthankyouthankyou!

I'm in Salvador Dali mode with my computer, so everything's either way too big or way too small.

*kisses*:D :* :hi: :loveya:

[Sugar Smack]

7. Shit, thanks, Salvadore. Dupe

Delete.

[spindrifter]

2. Great sketches!

[Sugar Smack]

8. Thank you, spindrifter.

:D I really loved doing them.

[Elidor]

4. Where are the lampreys?

I want to see the lampreys! :7

I love these, too. You have a perfect touch for human expressions and body language. You're overdue for that book deal, too. Encore! More!

[Sugar Smack]

9. Hardhead, you want lampreys?? *blush*

I'll give you lampreys!!

This was me as a Girl Scout:



and this is me all grown up:

[Elidor]

10. O that's precious

I can never get enough of these. :) They're so perfect. Reminds me of my little sister at that age.

[Sugar Smack]

12. You're so good to me..

Thank you. When I sent these to syndicates, some came back frowning upon my "anti-child" drawings. WHAT? I like kids. I see them as tender, curious souls, with sweetness and imagination. Who happen to have fangs. Thanks for getting it! I'll put more in today! :D

[Sugar Smack]

43. This is for you: FANGED URCHINS--->

[Elidor]

63. There they are!

I think I saved these to my computer last time, because they make me laugh so much. Thanks! :)

[u4ic]

11. They are SPECTACULAR, Sugar Smack!!

Wow!!! :wow:

What classes did you take at the Sorbonne? That must have been one hell of an experience!!:bounce:

ah...to get to Paris again...:loveya:

[Sugar Smack]

13. Ma cherie!

Thank you so much, mon petit chou! :loveya:

It was the perfect early-morning & late-night activity for me. I could actually look over my balcony and into the street, people-watch, draw and write in my journal. I took French Culture, which I aced because I loved it and our teacher so much.

Then there was French grammar. That was terrifying. Terrifying. I couldn't understand anything but one of ten words. I don't know how, but I got a "B" in that class. Our teacher upped the speed on my own known French by a thousand.

The rest of the time was a hoot, and it was fascinating. So you've been to Paris??? Do tell! :D :* :* :* like they do in France.

[xchrom]

14. wow -- soooo good!

you make me think about paris!

your pictures are so sweet and funny.

i love paris -- i really want to live there -- best city in the world.

[Sugar Smack]

15. If I could make you think about Paris-just a little escape,

then I have done what I set out to do. Thank you for the compliments! To me, Paris seems like a little sparkle I can escape back to when times are so dark here. I mostly remember people who were never afraid to be openly joyful or affectionate.

:toast: :hug: :pals:

[xchrom]

16. it's an amazing place isn't it?

and what i love is that parisians KNOW they live a in a very special place.

i love to walk around{well, up and down} the seine -- there's nothing like it.

[Sugar Smack]

17. They do know it. I love modern cities that are surrounded by

their own history. I think it gives people a sense of perspective, and it seems like so many of them have their social guard down. Have you ever hiked up Mont Martre?

[xchrom]

18. oh yeah -- i love it!

it's exciting to be surrounded by the buildings and the crowds.

i love going up and down some of the side streets -- and just peering into peoples apartments{no, lol --not like a peeping tom} -- it's so grand.

i can't really describe how it makes me feel -- just all wonderful.

[Call Me Wesley]

19. These are great!

Are you still making journals like that? I'm the worst drawer, unfortunately, but I tried to maintain these things, which I haven't done in a long time ...

[Sugar Smack]

21. That's great stuff, CMW!!! WOW!

I love other people's journal pages. I would really like to see more of yours.

:wow:

[Call Me Wesley]

27. Crappy scans, and I don't want to make this dial-up unfriendly ...

But here are a few more:











Nothing compared to yours ...

[Sugar Smack]

42. God, those are GREAT!!! You remind me of Ralph Steadman.

I have his book "Untrodden Grapes" and he mixes beautiful writing with his painting and incorporates it into his artwork. Is there a name for that? Writing as part of a painting? I'm honored at your contribution to my thread.

:pals: :pals:

[Call Me Wesley]

59. Thank you so much!

:pals: Ralph Steadman was always a big inspiration for me, and even my handwritten letters look like this. But I can't remember if there's a name for this 'technique.' I believe rather not.

[Sugar Smack]

60. Somehow, I knew your handwritten letters looked like this : )

My father was the lucky recipient of such letters from an artist named Gene Halbrook. They contained wonderful & charismatic sketches. Gene was ALSO influenced by Ralph Steadman. :wow:

I'm going to scan one in so you can see what I'm talking about. Again, I think your work is wonderful. :pals:

[Sugar Smack]

65. Here's a copy of the letter!

[Call Me Wesley]

67. That's gorgeous!

I just love the use of the brush and the old typewriter. Yes, that is what letters should look like. Everything else is ... blergh. Isn't it great how email just microsofted our creative skills? :(

[Patiod]

20. Merci beaucoup. Très agréable

Loved the French class pictures - they bring back terrifying memories, including the time we all had to say what we had done over summer vacation, and I told the class I had gone "a la merde".

We have got to save our $$ and get over to Europe.

[Sugar Smack]

32. French class=terrifying.

There was nothing I wanted less than my teacher's undivided attention.:D

Let's do it, pool our bucks and we're THERE.

[no name no slogan]

22. Looking good, angelface

:* :loveya: :hug:

[Sugar Smack]

24. Thanks!

:)

[Richardo]

23. What a great sketchbook!

I especially like the watercolors. :bounce:

Great eye, SS!

[Sugar Smack]

34. Richardo-! Hey!

Thank you, Richardo. Watercolors are tricky, sometimes, but easily blotted if you find a mistake soon enough. Food & wine are two of my favorite subjects to draw (can you tell? ;-) Please give your lil' beagle a smooch for me.

[grace0418]

25. Gorgeous drawings of one of my favorite places on earth.

Thank you for that!

[Sugar Smack]

35. I'm so glad you like them! : )

Have you been to Paris much? A few times? I'll bet you were never the same. I changed fundamentally on my last visit. I wanted to stay there forever. Thank you so much.

What are your experiences there? When was the last time you went?

[grace0418]

44. I been there 3 times.

Once when I was fourteen, with my parents. Not the best circumstances for visiting Paris for the first time, but it was still amazing.

The second time I went was on our belated honeymoon in 1998. It is one of my happiest memories. We were there in October. The weather was perfect. We stayed in a little neighborhood hotel on Rue Cler, one of the prettiest streets in Paris, IMHO. We walked everywhere, ate picnic lunches (of the most delicious food on earth), marveled at all the amazing art and architecture, petted dogs, chatted with charming people (who says the French are snotty? NOT me!), and enjoyed ourselves immensely. We ended every day of our stay by walking over to the Eiffel Tower (just a few blocks from our hotel) and sitting in the park watching all the people walk their dogs. It was perfect.

That whole trip was perfect actually. We also visited Madrid and Barcelona and had a splendid time everywhere.

The most recent time was in February of 2000. I surprised my husband with tickets for his 30th birthday. He'd been having some trouble dealing with turning 30 and some other issues so I thought it would cheer him up. The trip itself was fantastic but my husband was still in a bit of a funk, so it wasn't quite as magical as the first trip together. Nevertheless, we still didn't run out of things to do and see (and taste!). We stayed in the same hotel so that was fun. It rained and was chilly, but Paris is beautiful no matter what the weather. We still visited Tour Eiffel every night, and because of the millenium it lit up like a giant champagne bottle every half hour. Beautiful!

The next time I go (and I WILL go again), I want to rent an apartment. We didn't know about that option at the time, but starting in 2002 we've been renting cottages and apartments when we go on vacation instead of staying in hotels and we've LOVED that. We've done it 6 or 7 times now all over the U.S. and in London and it's a fantastic way to travel. It's more comfortable, it's a better value and you don't have to eat every meal out. Plus you usually stay in more neighborhoods instead of touristy areas, so you get a better feel for the place. And for folks that love to cook (and eat) as much as my husband and I do, it's the perfect way to try local foods. Anyway I think Paris would be the PERFECT city to rent an apartment and just take it all in. I want to do it in Barcelona as well.

Of course if I were given the opportunity to live in Paris, I would do it in a heartbeat. Since that hasn't happened, I will have to be content with visiting. So thank you again for the beautiful drawings. They really took me back. You must've spent a great deal of time there? Were you actually living there or just visiting?

[Sugar Smack]

47. I melted reading your reply. Completely.

I was there at the Sorbonne in 1993 for summer school. This is where I sat up in the windows and wrote in my journal before my roommate woke up. I'd go down to the lobby and get a Lion bar & two cups of coffee from the machines. Then I'd inhale the smell of Paris with the window open, because there isn't anything that imitates that. I'd also enjoy having the window flung open at night and hear the festivity 4 stories below.

My second trip was with my Dad and my brother. With one exception I found that they, the Parisians, were NEVER rude. Guess what? I was there in Aug of 2000, so we missed each other by a few months. I SAW what you're talking about. My god, the Eiffel Tower lit up like that!!

I'll never forget spending six hours in the Musee D'Orsay. My bro, not a huge art fan, was flabbergasted. It was a comfortable six hours & we left with some regret. We ate 2 meals at the cafeteria.

There isn't anything as charming as a French cafeteria. Believe me, If I lived in Paris, I could NEVER get used to it. How could you look around every day, see the history that surrounds you, watch people who are openly affectionate, and get used to it?

I even took a series of photos of people kissing, for example. They didn't seem to mind! :D

[Sugar Smack]

50. Remember the window displays?--->

[Sugar Smack]

51. That's what I got this from:

[grace0418]

56. Oh how wonderful for you!

I would've loved to study there. How amazing that must've been!

Yeah, I don't get the Parisian=rude thing. I mean, sure, everywhere you go there's bound to be somebody who's an asshole. But I experience that in Chicago all the time and I don't constantly hear about how rude Chicagoans are. I think some people go there expecting to be treated rudely and either a.) see rudeness where it doesn't exist or b.) act preemptively touchy or bristley or c.) act like boorish ugly Americans and deserve the disdain they get. The other possibility is that people who visit there from small towns or rural areas don't realize that folks who live in big cities naturally grow a certain Big City Exterior. It keeps you from being targeted by thieves and other jerks if you look like you know where you're going and you're not going to take any bullshit. But it doesn't mean you're rude.

I think that's always helped my husband and I that we do live in a big city. We know how to navigate public transportation, crazy traffic and other things that leave some people mystified it seems. In fact, we always pride ourselves at the number of times we get asked for directions by locals. So at least we look like we know what we're doing even if we don't. :) In any case I've found learning a few key phrases and local customs, politeness, and a smile can get you pretty far when traveling abroad.

Anyway, yeah, Musee d'Orsay was amazing. As were all the museums we visited. I really enjoyed the Moreau museum as well.

The photo and drawing of the shop window were just quintessential Paris. Rue Cler, where we stayed, is an entire market street full of all kinds of shops like that. Wonderful cheeses, wines, pastries, breads, roast chickens, fruits, vegetables, sausages, and all manner of prepared food could be found on that street. It's a foodie's paradise!

Sigh...I want to go back right now!

[StaggerLee]

26. Those are cool

I love sketches. It's eye-candy for me.

I'd love to visit France someday.

[Sugar Smack]

36. Eye candy? NEAT!!!! I think you just made my day.

Do you sketch, or are you more the voyeur? I relish other people's notebooks, doodles, and sketches. I am a real voyeur that way, because people's notes & pictures tell so much. Look up at Call Me Wesleys'.Those are BRILLIANT, and yet he insists they're not.



:bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[StaggerLee]

46. I have lead fingers so I'm stuck being strictly a voyeur which is ok by me

My thirteen year old niece has been impressing me with her paintings lately. Her work is geared toward cartoon characters but I see a lot more potential if she decides to take it into a different direction.

I can tell by your and Wesleys work that you both love what you do.

:thumbsup:

[Sugar Smack]

49. Well, I love it when a sweet voyeur like you'll come out of the

woodwork. You seriously made my day. I can see that Wesley's absolutely uninhibited. That's something I want to learn from his journal pages.

:D :pals:

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

28. Fantastic - I love it.

You have quite a feeling for line and tone. Keep it goin'!

[Sugar Smack]

37. Thank you, Chavez *blush*!

Doing these has made me want to be fearless in drawing & painting. I consider myself controlled, but the stuff I do without using a pencil first is what I like the best. I used pencil on everything but that sketchbook & the watercolor sketches. :D

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

73. Be fearless - I used to draw with only a pen and it turned out to be some

of my best stuff. Now I sketch in pen and I love it. What ever comes most natural to you explore it. Channel it.

Please show more soon :thumbsup:

[Sugar Smack]

74. May we see some of yours on this thread?

I think it would really add to it. I would like to see what you did with ink and without pencil.

:D A sample, please!!

[In_The_Wind]

29. Beautiful!

[Sugar Smack]

38. Jonai, thank you! Now that I think of it,

wouldn't the ULTIMATE road trip be to Paris?

(From someplace else on the continent, I mean-LOL) :hi: :loveya:

[In_The_Wind]

45. Darlin' Sugar Smack, any trip we take together will be the ultimate!

We seriously need to talk about my next visit south.
I'm going to a birthday party in mid-March.
Maybe NYC the end of April. :think: Road Trip :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo:

[Sugar Smack]

48. LOL!!! I love it, everything about your post-

"We seriously need to talk about my next visit south." Please let's. I miss you. If you can squeeze me into your schedule & I can get time off work ( }( Which I MUST), we can form a plan.

And F-U-N is something I haven't had in a while, barring the last local DU meetup & spending the night over at D's house.


:bounce: :toast:

[In_The_Wind]

54. At this moment there's nothing standing in the way.

Miss Fr odo has a clean bill of health. It's actually in her best interest for me to be out of her life from time to time. You see ~ she can live many years after I'm gone. Sometimes when a parrot has bonded to a person (as she has with me) they stop eating within days of the death of the human they love. For her own good Fr odo needs to know and love other humans. BTW ~ She Is 5 Years Old Today! I do need to travel a few times this year before I take off west just to wean her away from the closeness we've experienced for most of this winter.

Seriously - take a look at your planner and have your people call my people Darlin' I'm packin' light.
Catch me at the airport!

[schmuls]

30. These reminded me of Paris and are just beautiful! Thanks for sharing

[Sugar Smack]

40. Thank you!--tell me,

when did you last visit Paris? Haveyou ever lived there or stayed there for a while? :)

[schmuls]

61. I visited Paris in March and June of 2004. The second time was

to visit people I met on my first time. However, each time was about a week. Can't wait to go back!

[Magrittes Pipe]

31. Makes me feel like I was there.

Seems like you even appropriated some of the classical French style for your sketches. Just like something that stepped out of a '50s magazine.

Tres bon! :hi:

[Sugar Smack]

39. Oh listen-

I really appreciate what you just said, more than you know. I have always been heavily-influenced by Bugs Bunny cartoons; the off-registration in the ones from the fifties, the lines around blobs of color having so much detail. I'm 36 and I love the artwork in Bugs Bunny (and the animation, and the humor, etc.)

I remember trying to tell my brother that curlicues and busywork made the world go 'round. He's a graphic artist too, but one who likes sleek, "mature" lines. Ah, what're you gonna do?

:hi: Merci bien!

[SouthoftheBorderPaul]

33. Beautiful work!

Color me impressed!

[Sugar Smack]

41. Hey, SouthoftheBorderPaul

I thank you for that. There's a MIA DUer whom I'd hoped to lure into the site! She lurks, and I HAPPEN to know she loves Paris as much as I do!

[Missy Vixen]

52. Have you ever heard the Judy Collins song "My Father"?

Everytime I hear it, I think about Paris. I've never been there, but someday I hope to see the Seine, the light, and all that is Paris.

Julie

[Sugar Smack]

53. I've never heard it--

But I really hope you will be able to visit Paris. Everytime you inhale it, you change. Strangers trying to sell stuff are funny, not smarmy. People can be so engaging.

One thing I also really like is that there is "formality" and a language that adheres to it. Informality is one thing that crushes our privacy and our wish for respect here. And then once you get to know someone, you can be completely different with him or her.

:D

[no name no slogan]

55. beauty AND talent-- I knew there was a reason I loved you

Methinks WE need to take a trip to Paris sometime in the near future. What do you think?

:loveya:

[In_The_Wind]

57. Me thinks ~ you and I need to help Sugar figure out her time.

Last year YOU crashed my birthday plans with Sugar. I would have handled things exactly the same as she did so I didn't get my feelings hurt at all. I love you both. Can we please coordinate the travel plans better this time. BTW ~ you two go right on ahead and go to Paris without me! :P

[Sugar Smack]

58. I want to show you Paris!

I want to show you all of it- the streets of the Left Bank, the wonderful castle at Cluny, the luridly-lit underbelly, the top of Montmartre. You are the best companion I can think of for such a jaunt, other than Joani. :P

We have GOT to do this sometime this/next year!! :loveya: :loveya: :*

[no name no slogan]

66. ABSOLUTELY!

And could we also go to London? I could show you where I lived, where I hung out, where I nearly got arrested for public indecency :o.

And then, off to the south of France. I want to visit Arles and see where Van Gogh lived. I want to hear the gitanos play their unique brand of the gipsy rumba at their all-night juergas. I want to get lost in the Carmargue with you. *sigh*

:loveya:

[Sugar Smack]

75. Let's do it. We'll go to London, for sure.

Tell me where you hid pennies and we'll go see if they're still there.

Un beso. :*

[Misunderestimator]

62. Those are beautiful!

I love the detail... especially in the period costumes... well, and everything else. Beautiful work! :thumbsup:

[Sugar Smack]

64. Thank you so much-

The sensory overload I felt in being in such a place warranted every bit of attention I could give it! The costumes were from a comedy we saw at the Opera house. I loved those costumes.:D

[progmom]

68. wow!!

beautiful stuff, sugar smack.

it's really impressive to see it all together like that.


oh - and :hug: to our favorite lurking francophile.

[Sugar Smack]

69. Thank you!

This thread is starting to feel like a collage, and with Call Me Wesley's additions, I like going through the whole thing. I especially like gathering other peoples' impressions of Paris. It's making me want to go back.

:)

I miss that girl.

[no name no slogan]

70. Almost forgot to ask, Sug...

are you adding these to your big portfolio? Because they REALLY should be in there if they aren't already!

:loveya:


PS:
:kick: this thread while I'm here

[Sugar Smack]

76. They're in, baby!

In there like swimwear! :loveya:

[no name no slogan]

89. Oh yeah!!!

So glad to hear it! And if you need a soundtrack (for some dumb reason), let me know. I'm feeling very musical lately. :* :hug:

[kay1864]

71. Those are WONDERFUL!!

:wow:

and

:yourock:

I've been to Paris 5 times, and you've so captured the charm and uniqueness of it.

Are there larger scans online somewhere? I want to read all the little notes! :9

[Sugar Smack]

77. WOW. I don't have much larger scans, but I can PM you some of the stuff..

Don't tell me---> You're a lot like me; you like to read other people's journals, too! I'll send you a scanned-in page of mine if you PM me!

:D :toast: :bounce:

5 times, you've been there? Thank you for the compliments! WOW!

[barb162]

72. you are awesomely talented!!!!! Love your stuff

[Sugar Smack]

78. Hey, barb- I really appreciate that. Putting together this thread

was the most fun I've had in a while. And look at the people who contributed! I'm completely honored! :D

[Sugar Smack]

79. LOOK! 3 beautiful shop windows plus a bunch of Parisian junk food!

[In_The_Wind]

80. Ooooh! I think it's time for another snack.

And plane reservations!

[Sugar Smack]

81. I think so too, frankly.

We need to build a little time out of "here" is my thinking! :loveya:

[Redstone]

82. Sugar:

Hey.

Redstone

[Sugar Smack]

83. Redstone-

are you joining me in Paris, just for a few minutes?

[Redstone]

84. I'm there. You're there. We're there. Even if just for a while.

Redstone

[Sugar Smack]

86. Look at all the pictures DUers have given us,

imagine we're somewhere that people can publicly display their affection. A place where people know this is the greatest city on earth. Where you can buy food cheaply and watch people show off, and it actually amuses you.

At night, you can throw open your curtains and hear the mute fesitivity of those on the street while smelling the scents. A breeze blows in, promising good breakfast tomorrow. And it's real butter, not margarine.

:loveya: bijoux!

[Redstone]

88. I live there. Come visit.

Redstone

[In_The_Wind]

85. Exactly!

Real time will be great!

I honestly do laugh out loud as part of DU but I miss seeing my friends so much that I'm willing to start flying again.

[Sugar Smack]

87. Me too.

We can sit next to each other on the plane. I'll show you the book I'm reading. We'll get to Charles deGaulle without any problem. There are hotels there for $20 a day. But you can't complain! You may have to take cat-baths in the sink! Can ya handle that? :D :D :D :D

[BurgherHoldtheLies]

90. Sugar Smack: Are you sure that's not MY brother?

Seriously, I can't believe the resemblance...at least in that photo...really freaked me out.:scared:

Beautiful artwork you do. Very talented!:yourock:

I love Paris.

[Sugar Smack]

91. You know what's funny? A lot have people have said the same thing!!

Heha, as he would say.

Thank you so much for your compliment. You just made my day. And may I just say that you've got one of the best usernames I've ever seen.

Paris is my favorite subject, both for drawing and for writing. :toast: :bounce: :hi: :pals:

[BurgherHoldtheLies]

92. Self-delete

Oops.

[Sugar Smack]

93. I mean about my brother.

:yoiks:

[BurgherHoldtheLies]

94. What do you think...

Separated at birth? (I'll probably delete this pix later...hope you get to see it)

Picture deleted.

[Sugar Smack]

95. That is spooky!

Thank you for posting it!! He has THE VERY SAME FACE! Does he ever wear those black wraparound shades my brother wears? I'm glad I got to see that.

:o :o

[BurgherHoldtheLies]

96. Normally, he wears those exact shades as YOUR brother...

that's what really spooked me.:wow:

[no name no slogan]

97. My cats are named after authors, you know

Leo is named after Leo Tolstoy, and Edgar is named for Edgar Allan Poe. I didn't know if I ever told you that.

I had a nice chat with you last night. I hope we talk again this weekend! :loveya: :* :hug:

[bridgit]

98. we have two g-kids named after authors...

London, for Jack London (upper left) & Dasheill, for Dashiell Hammet red shirt right :hi:

[Sugar Smack]

99. I LOVE it!!

:loveya:

[Sugar Smack]

100. Tomorrow is ALL for you.

:* :*