Joyful June Letter and the Creative Process

You know it's summer in Paris when all the ice cream cases start showing up in the street, even in front of the most ordinary no-name boulanerie. You never know. They could make fabulous ice cream. I found one on rue Monge yesterday...I must go back and get the name and another dip of Praline.

Instant love for all the ice cream accoutrement as well.

And the sweet little printed cups. Do you save yours too? Nuts really.

I decided in March to do a letter on Ice cream. I thought it would be easy peasy. Ha.

Seeking last minute inspiration at Berthillon. Paris' crème de la crème of ice cream makers is just a dangerous block away from me.

I tried to color match the cassis sorbet (and apricot) when I got home.

If you're going to do an ice cream sketch letter it goes without saying you Must do your research.

I'd read a lot about Classico Argentina's helados/ice cream.

The vanilla/dolce de leche combo (2,50 euros) did not disappoint. I asked how it was different from other Paris ice creams?
"Our chef is from Argentina".
"Oh OK".
Still it was excellent.

I was forced to try La Mere de Famille's new tubular popsicles (4 euros) - pistachio covered in their divine milk chocolate = highly recommended.

Bet you haven't tried frozen food supplier Picard's double mini cups of almond ice cream (3,50 euros) with macarons and brandied cherries (I toss those out). Coco Jobard loves this too so it has got to be good. Try it.

Even with all the ice cream-eating I found myself still scratching my head how to translate French yumminess into watercolor.
Plus the boys at the copy shop said it should be 'joyful'.
Hmmm..

In desperation Sunday night I ran up to the Louvre Carrousel not for more ice cream but looking for joyfulness. I found it at Printemps. Yes!

Framboise-colored marshmallows = joyfulness.

This watercolor-splashed purse said 'Joy' to me.

Pylones is never short on joy and general silliness.

Back to the drawing board to sketch, sketch, sketch.

Pamela Druckerman has a terrific essay on the difficulties of the creative process, a must-read for anyone struggling with finding inspiration to creative solutions.
Some of her excellent lessons:
'You need to be blank, and even a little bit bored, for your brain to feed you ideas. (Why I love the pool) The poet Wendell Berry wrote that in solitude, “one’s inner voices become audible.”
*Figure out your clearest, most productive time of day to work, and guard this time carefully.

Your first attempt will be terrible.
It’s O.K. to be an obsessive. (Does that include ice cream?)
Louis C.K. said, “Anything you do should be better than anything you did before.”
This herculean extravaganza is totally worth it.'

This herculean extravaganza is totally worth it.
Why does painting ice cream require a 'herculean' effort is beyond me but it did Sunday-Monday.
My landlord helped out suggesting I add a colorful wash to the background btw.

And the boys at the copy shop said the June letter was "joyful'.
Hooray!
Hooray too for those of you who signed on to the new PARIS MAPS letter series. I know they look a bit alike but try not to sign up for the wrong series. Any suggestions are most welcome PBers!