This is one of the small narrow streets in the

little town of Chartres. I made the buildings

a whole lot more colorful than they were...one

of my other watercolor teachers always told us

that we were the masters of the environment;

we could control the color. We were not always

limited to what they call "local color." Anyway, I

am not entirely satisfied with this one, I will try

again.

I am still waiting on the arrival of the Paris sketchbooks.

Chartres Street 11 x 14 $150.00

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Collage Fun

I finished these two Paris collages today. I used some

reproduction vintage Paris postcards that I bought in

the gift shop at the Arc de Triomphe, and some decorative

papers, etc. They are done on 9 x 12 canvas.

Pair of Paris Collages 9 x 12 on canvas $50 each/$100 pair

sheltongail@hotmail.com

More Paris

Original Watercolor Cafe de la Place 11 x 14

$150.00

sheltongail@hotmail.com

I am in the process of planning our trip for next

summer. We are doing the Mediterranean cruise:

Leaves out of Venice, goes to Greek islands, Croatia,

and back to Venice. It will be in early June 2010.

I will know the exact dates soon. If you are interested,

please let me know, and I can get the info to you.

I am also planning to go to Yellowstone in the fall, 2010,

and take a photography workshop. I will know more

details later also. Should be really neat. They take

you places in the park that regular visitors don't get

to see. I would like to take a group with me if anyone

is interested.

Metro Mania

Anyone who has been to Paris has probably taken

the Metro. It was a fun experience, very clean,

and safe. We rode it a lot.

I was intrigued by the variety of Metro signs...

from the vintage ones on Montmartre, to the

more modern versions I saw in Montparnasse.

The two pages are from my sketchbook, and are

included in the printed version. The Metro sign

is one of the only two left in the Art Deco style.

This one is at the Abbesse stop. It is also in the

sketchbook.

Original Watercolor Metro 7 x 11 $50.00

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Sketchbooks Finished!

I have permanent computer cramps in my hands

and back...I have logged countless hours trying to

get the uploaded version of the Paris Travel Sketchbook

finally finished. It would have been done earlier if I

weren't such a perfectionist...I kept changing and

re-arranging. Anyway, I am happy with it now, and

they have been ordered. They should be here in

about 2 weeks. If you would like one, please let me

know.

Paris Sketchbook Art and Photography from

Paris Spring 2009 $60.00 40 pages/leather cover

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Fun Food Page

Here's a photo collage page from the printed version
of the sketchbook. I had some great food in Paris, as
you can see, mostly sweets! And pastry...ooh la la.
I am in the process of trying to lose the weight I
gained while there!

Paris Sketchbook Art and Photos from Paris Trip
$60.00 each Free shipping
sheltongail@hotmail.com

Sunset in Paris

I was able to take some photos at sunset one evening while in

Paris. This statue is on the Place de la Concorde, one of the

five royal squares in Paris. It is flanked by two royal palaces,

and the obelisk from Luxor is in the center. It was here that

Louis XVI, Danton, and Robespierre were publicly guillotined.

It was much more peaceful while I was there!

I am almost finished with the printed copy of my sketchbook.

It should be available early in June. I will let you know.

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Original Watercolor Concorde Plaza - Sunset 11 x 14 $150.00

More Cafes'

My watercolor instructor in college always had
issues with the way I paint. He always wanted
me to loosen up...to get more abstract. He said
that if a painting was going to look like a photograph,
you might as well just frame the photograph. A
painting should look like a painting.
This is the same sidewalk cafe that I posted a couple
of nights ago. This however, is a little looser version.
I am TRYING to loosen up...sometimes it is such a
struggle. Will keep trying Dr. Bryant!!

Original watercolor 10 x 7 Rosy Cafe' $50.00
sheltongail@hotmail.com

Maison Catherine

Our guide told us that this was one of the oldest restaurants in

Paris. It is up on Montmartre, where the artists paint. Charming...

Original Watercolor: Maison Catherine 11 x 14 $150.00

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Snack Time

People in Paris dine out on the sidewalk...and raccoons dine

on my sidewalk every night! I came home to find the little

scavenger finishing off the cat food on the back porch. He

was very bold, and refused to be afraid, and stayed right

there till he was finished, despite me moving closer and

closer to get the photo! He comes every night to polish off

whatever he can find....my grapes on my grapevines,

birdseed in the birdfeeders, etc. I guess that is part of living

in the woods...we are not alone.

Original Watercolor Pink Cafe 12 x 7 $50

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Charmed by Boats

If I had to single out one experience that was my

absolute favorite while in Paris, this is it. This is

Allun and his handmade boats that he rents to

children at the pond in front of the Louvre in the

Tuilleries Garden. I just happened upon them,

and I was instantly charmed by the cherubic

children running and pushing the colorful boats

across the little pond, squealing with delight,

and entertaining us all.

I spoke to Allun at length. He told me he had

hand crafted the boats himself about 25 years

ago, and has been there almost every day since.

He wears the bright purple shirt most days so

the children can spot him. He rolls in the cart

loaded with the boats and poles, and sets up by

the pond, and waits for his daily participants.

He rents the boat and the pole for 30 minutes

for a few euros. He lets the child pick out the

boat..he says they always know just which one

they want.

I did some painting while there, and did some

sketches of the children as well. It was a grand

time; I had a peaceful smile on my face while there.

I am doing several other paintings of these boats

and children...will post soon.

Original Watercolor 3 boats 5 x 7 $25.00

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Tower Eiffel

Another pen & ink and watercolor sketch of the

Tower. I will probably do several more versions.

Original Watercolor 11 x 14 Eiffel Tower $150.00

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Rolling Stone

I traveled outside of Paris to the little town of Giverny to

tour Monet's home. This little stone cottage was down the

road from his house. I loved how the vines were growing

all over the building...it looks so quaint, so "French".

Original Watercolor Stone Cottage-Giverny 11 x 14

$150.00

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Down by the Riverside

I love the water...When I was growing up, we always

had a place on a lake. I learned to swim and ski very

young. And I still love being around boats and water.

I enjoyed strolling along the river in Paris, and seeing

the boats and the beautiful bridges. I believe this river

creates part of the magic and romance of the city. There

is one bridge where lovers gather at sunset to view the

sun setting over the river...very romantic.

This is a page from my sketchbook of the charming boats

and one of the bridges. I am working on some finished

paintings of some of these scenes. Will post soon.

sheltongail@hotmail.com

http://www.gailshelton.com/

More Paris...

Three more new Paris paintings...

The top one is in the area around our hotel,

the Montparnasse district. There was one

street where many of the theatres were located,

and this is one of them

The middle one is Notre Dame as seen from the

river.

And the flower market is one of the oldest ones in

the city, along the river as well.

All are 11 x 14, and are $150.00 each

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Wet Paint

Three new paintings of places I loved in Paris...

The first one is La Mansion Rose, a great little

cafe in Montmartre where I had the best meal I

had in all of Paris. It was tiny inside, and the two

waiters did a "ballet" to get everyone served inside

and out. Wonderful experience

The second one is the view up the street to Sacre Cour

in Montmartre. We stopped here and listened to our

guide tell us some of the history of the area. I took this

photograph, and knew I would paint it...

The third one is a flower shop (one of the thousands I

saw!), also in Montmartre (can you tell I liked it up

there... :)

I am working on some more, and I am also working on

the printed copy of the sketchbook...will keep you posted.

Original Watercolors 11 x 14 $150 each

sheltongail@hotmail.com

More Notre Dame

I love this view of the cathedral, from down the river.

You can see the wonderful flying buttresses, and the

whole structure. I will be doing some other paintings

from this angle..this one is in my sketchbook.

sheltongail@hotmail.com

St. Chapelle

If you are ever in Paris, you MUST go and see this

small chapel. It is a hidden treasure that is worth

the trip. It was built in 1242-48 by King Louis IX

to house a relic of the passion...the crown of

thorns. He acquired it in 1239 for a sum that

exceeded the cost of the chapel itself. (we all know

it was probably a fake...but he believed it was the

real thing, obviously!)

You climb a narrow winding set of worn stone steps

to reach the chapel, and are asked to be reverent and

quiet. Which is hard to do as you gasp, and exclaim

out loud, "how beautiful!" I was lucky to be there on

a sunny day, and the glass simply sparkled, and cast

lovely colored specs across the mosaic floor. I sat and

lingered awhile, just resting in God's promises and

"being still" in His presence...awesome.

sheltongail@hotmail.com

In the Garden....

More photos of the Japanese water garden at Monet's

home in Giverny. That is me in front of one of his large

water lily paintings that is in the Orangerie Museum

in Paris. They have two rooms entirely devoted to his

over-sized paintings of the water lillies. The rooms are

oval, and the paintings wrap around the room; you are

surrounded by them...immersed in them. Fabulous...

sheltongail@hotmail.com

More Monet

These are a couple of the watercolors that I did while

at Monet's home. While I painted the one in the Japanese

garden, a woman from Japan sat next to me on the bench...

ironic. I gave her a card, and she may be looking at this

blog! The world is getting smaller and smaller. And I still

have so much I want to see!

sheltongail@hotmail.com

A Little Monet

Who hasn't seen and admired a Monet painting? I

think he would be flattered that his images are on

umbrellas, sticky notes, and mouse pads....

We made the journey out to Giverny; Monet's home

during most of his lifetime. The home with the famous

gardens, and the infamous Japanese water garden.

When you visit, you are overwhelmed by the riot of

color in the gardens, and you begin to understand his

color selections, and his palette of blossoms. It is

breath-taking, especially this time of year.

You can begin to understand his fascination with painting

it; everywhere you turn, is a painting waiting to happen.

What a thrill to stand where he stood; to view it

first hand, and see what he saw. To sketch and paint

where he did... too cool.

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Flower Markets

When we left the cathedral, we walked

along the river where these lovely

flower markets are. They are next to the

river, and offer an extensive variety of

potted plants and flowers...absolutely

gorgeous. The colors were vibrant, and

the variety was intriguing. I understand

there are birds for sale here as well on the

weekends...must be really amazing.

There is a video on www.geobeats that shows

these same markets. Just go to "Paris flower

market"; there are lots of others there as well

that feature other areas of Paris. Really neat.

I plan to do several large paintings of the

flower markets, and will post when finished.

I am still finishing up my sketchbook, and will

begin uploading it soon to do the published version that will be for sale. Let me know if

you are interested.

sheltongail@hotmail.com

Paris Sketchbook $60 available June 09