I am not French...

I am not French. I do like to pretend I’m French. The term ‘I like to pretend I’m French’ resonated with me when I bought a zippered pouch in NYC that had this quippy sentence printed on it. I then started to use this phrase in this way #iliketopretendimfrench. The maker of this bag and other quippy wonderful bags is Pamela Barsky aka The Bag Lady. She called me out and claimed that I was using her phrase to promote my business. Her business is quippy sentences on bags. I was gobsmacked that I breached a business etiquette and, well, sweet Jesus, plagiarism. I removed everything with the hashtag and will not be using this any longer. I will not stop pretending I am French. Unfortunately, the said pouch is retired and not available to purchase on Pamela’s website. I did try to buy some wholesale but the minimum order is daunting at this time. Lucky people who came with me on my first Tour de Paris received a pouch as a gift. I will eventually get them in the shop!

I was in France recently for a better term, art sabbatical. I found a terrific work/live space in the 11th arrondissement of Paris. It is a little out of the way and on the fringe. The area is not touristy by a long shot. The only tourist attraction that is close is Père-Lachaise, the cemetery full of literati and artists like Oscar Wilde, Proust, Collette, Chopin, etc. But just a going in any direction by foot you end up in Bastille, Le Marais, Republic, Canal Saint Michel, so pretty convenient. I walked so much because I think I’m not far from home but then the angle of the street takes me on a tangent and then I am half again not far from home. After a few of these walking mishaps I did learn where I was and could gauge my walking. Shall I take the Metro? Shall I rest? I keep walking. I am a Flâneuse [flanne-euhze], noun, from the French. Feminine form of flâneur [flanne-euhr], an idler, a dawdling observer, usually found in cities. But I prefer the masculine version. So for me, Paris is walking. Because of this I take amazing pictures of things that inspire me. Mostly buildings, details, storefronts. Color is a big factor. The storefront compositions really inspire me. I take pictures that I can use as reference for paintings in the studio. This time in Paris I really paid attention to the abstract composition of some buildings and focused photos on details. I have been painting watercolor storefronts for a few years and lately I am feeling confident to paint the overlooked paint compositions of the abandoned storefront even to go further by painting blown up and abstract with watercolor or acrylic.

While in France I also let my mind wander to what is going to happen to Baby Buddha Studio. What do I really want it to be? In my mind the fine tuning is there but the plan to get there is slow and well, not arduous, but it is taking patience and discipline to focus on one thing at a time. Writing this Blah Blah Blahg is a tool to sort my ideas and I welcome your thoughts in the comments.

Some of you know I have a card line and it desperately needs updating. I have had it as a running appointment on my project calendar and I keep skipping over it and adding it to the next page. The advantage to this procrastination is that I have better ideas about how I want it to look and I experimented with some things while in my studio in Paris. It will take a whole revamp but I think infusing the card line with fresh new design will be something that I will want to nurture and grow rather than push aside. The other pieces of the pie include Workshops, Gift Shop, Art Shows, and collaborations. All of these things are evolving as time allows on a slow and steady schedule.

Since my entire world is on my project schedule and the website in flux, you may not know how to buy things, schedule workshops or studio visits, or just shoot me an idea. Well, the old fashioned way works, you can call me. Or the new old fashioned way works, email or text or message! Workshops and treasures are ready for you here in my cottage studio.

I’ve freshened up the workshop and changed the name, added some fun bits to spark your creative life. Here is the link to book: Spying Beauty: The practice of creativity.