La Bonne Etoile Artists Retreat was specifically developed to assist artists and writers who would benefit from an experience in another culture, along with a time of seclusion and solitude. But through the years it has developed into more....a community of friends. La Bonne Etoile Blog has been designed to expand the richness of that community by continuing the quest to create and recreate together.
La Bonne Etoile workshops are ALL-INCLUSIVE, starting and ending with hospitality shuttles to and from any Paris airport. Our workshop instructors are well known for quality, patient instruction for all levels of students. contact [email protected] for full information. Be sure to visit the individual websites of the artists, you will find links to La Bonne Etoile workshop information there as well.

Michelle Wells Grant Blog – France – Part 3 Paris and Provence Excursion

For those that are still on the fence on whether a stay at La Bonne Etoile is in your stars for the summer of 2015….pull up a chair, and have a good read.

It is always a blessing to experience La Bonne Etoile through the eyes of our guests. Please welcome Michelle Wells Grant from Austin TX as we share her blog from 2014 while attending the summer workshop of Margaret Dyer. Reprinted by permission of Michelle Wells Grant.

Saturday, July 19, 2014

We’ll Always Have Paris

It was touch and go but we made it to Paris.Despite the transit strike that was going on when we arrived in France, our artists group managed to make it into Paris by train one day. Jane and I had never been to Paris before, so we were going to be mighty disappointed if we were that close but couldn’t go. It was a bucket list issue for us.

First we all walked over to the Musée d’Orsay where a few of us lunched in the exquisite restaurant before touring the museum.
(It’s possible that you might be seeing the remains of some absinthe cocktails.)

Jane and I then went through the Impressionists wing of the Musée d’Orsay and because we were so awestruck we wandered through too slowly. So we didn’t have time to view many of the other rooms in the museum before it was time to meet up with our group again. I think that means a trip back to Paris is necessary, n’est-ce pas? (Alas, we weren’t allowed to take pictures.)

Then off we went across the Seine river and through the Tuileries Gardens to the Musée de L’Orangerie. Monet, Degas, Matisse … oh my! Again, sorry I don’t have pictures to show.

We crossed one of two bridges in Paris with the “love locks,” the tradition of lovers writing their names on a padlock, locking it to the bridge and throwing the key into the Seine … a symbol of their undying love.

The bridge is packed with locks on both sides … you have to see it to believe it! Recently a portion of the railing collapsed from the weight of them.

As our day in Paris neared the end, we walked a different route back to the metro, through some elegant areas.

The window shopping was phenomenal.
Paris …. CHECK!
After 10 days, for Margaret’s 5th year bonus…we packed up the class and headed to Provence for a grand adventure.

Friday, October 3, 2014

Las Portes et Fenetres de France

By God, I’ve done it again! I’ve neglected my poor little blog for three whole months!Last I checked with myself, I was going to continue sharing my painting excursion to France with y’all. Oh well, as fabulous as it was I’m now onto the next exciting thing. But I did come across this draft that I had all ready to publish … photos I took of doors and windows of France. They are all so beautiful and interesting …. worthy of a blog post.

Enjoy! Then I’ll share some of my latest work. Thanks for stopping by! Au revoir!

 

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