Robert Flinkman

August 16, 1981      Sunday

After having a continental breakfast here , I headed for the Seine for the scene I wanted to do. I am quite pleased with what I did, and drew some attention.  I then headed for the Louvre, the for the Jeu de Paume, but found lines of incredible length in front of each. I was, of course, perturbed at my plans being altered, I want to achieve so much each day. Hungry, I had a late lunch at a restaurant near the Louvre.......Not to feel that I did nothing, I headed back to the hotel, got my pad and started a drawing of Notre Dame. One can't leave Paris without that. So tomorrow morning I'll head out there, get that done, then head to the Louvre.



August 14, 1981       Monday

Yesterday I worked pretty much on my artwork. I had the most surprising and pleasant experience. I was doing a pastel work of a scene of the Rue La Croix des petites Champs near St. Honore. While working on this, I noticed to my left from the third floor an older woman who occassionally came out to watch me. Later she called me over. I noticed that she was letting down by rope a clear plastic bag in which were drawings she did in pen and pencil. I complimented her on them as best as I could in French, and she told me  what each drawing was and where she did it or of whom. There were several, pretty much basic in style. I was then accompanied by two Parisian men, dressed rather shabbily and smelling like they've been tipping the bottle a bit. From what I could understand, they were arguing whether what I was doing was a preparatory drawing or a sketch for a painting or a finished copy. Then one of them told me of a Japanese artist he saw whose style he just couldn't figure out. It was amusing to see these two men, derelicts, almost arguing over art. Only in Paris. Yet I was so pleased by that woman's kindness to share with me her work as she did. Certainly that experience makes up for all the cool indifference I may have encountered here. Certainly that experience on that small back street, only a few buildings long, will remain outstanding in my mind.